Member Article

Natural path to happiness gets results

This June, it’s all about nature… for everybody, everywhere, every day with Northumberland Wildlife Trust joining forces with 46 other UK Wildlife Trusts to issue its annual challenge: 30 Days Wild.

Over the course of the challenge, people will be encouraged to enjoy the nature on their doorstep in this region, as well as the ‘great outdoor’, with ‘Random Acts of Wildness’ to connect people with the wild around them. Spend an evening star gazing, build a bughouse, become a stream detective or even sit in the garden with a cup of tea (or something stronger) and watch butterflies!

People can spend a few minutes, or a few hours each day enjoying nature - how they do it is up them!

And it’s official! A daily dose of nature, even in bite size chunks, is good for you.

The impact of taking part in 30 Days Wild has been tracked by academics at the University of Derby. Their study found that people who did something ‘wild’ each day for a month, felt happier, healthier and more connected to nature.

Mike Pratt, Northumberland Wildlife Trust Chief Executive who has had a love of the outdoors all his life says: “Last year thousands of people carried out 1.8 million Random Acts of Wildness during 30 Days Wild. That’s 1.8million precious moments that brought people closer to nature and enhanced their lives.

“I’m on a mission to double that number in 2017 - last year the people of Northumberland, Newcastle and North Tyneside really rose to the challenge and I am sure that they will do the same again this year, so come on everybody, get involved.”

But don’t just take Mike’s word for it, apply for a free 30 Days Wild pack, download the phone app or look online for those inspirational ‘Random Acts of Wildness’.

The 30 Day Wild packs include a packet of wildflower seeds, activity sheets, a calendar to record sightings, stickers and a poster and schools applying will receive a large deck of ‘Random Acts of Wildness’ cards for inspiring ideas.

Sign up from Wednesday 12 April at www.wildlifetrusts.org/30DaysWild and share the fun of #30DaysWild on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook. To receive delivery of ideas and acts of wildness straight to your phone, download the app at www.wildlifetrusts.org/30DaysWild/App

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Sue Bishop .