Page 9 - Natural World Spring 2018
P. 9
Get your
daily dose
of nature
Climbing Haystacks above Buttermere,
Lake District, October 2017
With a lipstick palm at the Andromeda Examining a marsh thistle at the Pen Do something wild every day in
Botanic Gardens in Barbados, Feb 2017 Ponds, Richmond Park, June 2017 June, and feel better
People think this is a millennial thing, too – we This June, we’re asking you to
seem to be think we have to have things that are make room for nature by taking
scared of letting organised and personalised for us, part in 30 Days Wild. Now in its
their kids rather than going out and discovering fourth year, our month-long
roam around things for ourselves. People aren’t campaign attracts thousands of
very good at being bored! people, all of them doing
letting their kids roam around. something wild every day for
There’s such a tiny perimeter for When I was young, my mum would 30 days.
children where they can play on their send me into the garden. I’d think,
own. But you can’t be scared of a ‘What should I do now?’ and it’s that Whether you decide to walk
child falling over in a wood. It’s just a gap between asking the question and barefoot in the park, feed the
grazed knee. People say, ‘Don’t climb no one answering that your birds or make elderflower
a tree’. I spent my childhood climbing imagination starts, and you actually cordial, there is now evidence
trees! Yeah, I fell out of a few of have your childhood. that these Random Acts of
them. But I also learned not to climb Wildness can boost your
right out onto the twigs. How do you think nature and mental wellbeing. A study by the
health are connected? University of Derby found that
Why do you think we’re becoming Loving nature and being involved in 30 Days Wild participants felt
disconnected? nature gives people a way of talking happier, healthier and more
We chase things that we think will about mental health, in a way that connected to nature – and that
make us happy, rather than the things they might not have been able to continued to improve even after
we know will make us happy. When before. People have wanted to share the campaign ended.
someone’s old and looks back, they their stories with me online about
think of family; but the things we get their own mental health problems. It Sign up on our website, and
het-up about on a daily basis are was someone online who gave me we’ll send you a free pack to
nothing like that. the idea for a 15-minute nature fix. It help you go wild throughout
helps to build something we’ve lost, June, including ideas and ways
It’s the same for nature. I think we all too – community. We’re all so lonely to get involved with friends,
know that when we go outside in nowadays. That shared passion for neighbours and on social media.
nature we feel better. But now we just nature helps you to find your kindred
download an app and make things a spirits, and that’s where real What are you
bit more complicated for ourselves. I friendships happen. waiting for?
Share your photos of wild plants Sign up, find out
every Sunday at 8pm using how to take part
#wildflowerhour and get your
FREE pack on
wildlifetrusts.
org/30DaysWild
spring 2018 NATURAL WORLD 9
