Page 10 - Natural World Summer 2018
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LOVE WILDLIFE
Stay wild
Nature is good for you – so make the most of your local Liz Bonnin is a
green space this summer, says Liz Bonnin biochemist, wild
animal biologist
MAIN PIC: PENNY DIXIE This June, The Wildlife Trusts a few days. They might even last a and science and
asked everyone to notice whole year. wildlife presenter
nature everywhere, every day.
Hundreds of thousands of you took So this summer, treat your body Families all over the
part in 30 Days Wild, carrying out and mind as often as you can. Go for UK are going to stay
literally millions of Random Acts of a long walk, pick the blackberries in wild this June, no
Wildness. the hedgerows, take o your shoes matter where they
and feel the grass underfoot, and live. Will you?
So why not stay wild? Nothing breathe. There are pockets of green
restores you like spending time in everywhere, even in our busiest make a real di erence; it’s only
nature – the breeze in your face, the cities. I live in London and love to through individual actions that we
fragrance of grasses and flowers cycle around Richmond Park in can bring about the change our
warmed by the summer sun, the soft search of its red deer, or enjoy the natural world needs to thrive.
buzz of insects and trills of birdsong. majestic oaks.
No matter where you live, you
We know nature makes us feel Many of the UK’s wilder places can benefit from our natural world
good. But now, there is mounting have a special place in my heart and play a big part in protecting it.
evidence that it can improve your too: the breathtaking mountains The people around you can too, so
energy levels and mood, lessen share your wild experiences with
hypertension, respiratory tract and You can friends and families. Stay wild, stay
cardiovascular illnesses, and reduce benefit connected to nature, and have a
anxiety and depression. from our wonderful summer!
natural world
Over the past three years, The
Wildlife Trusts have also proved and lakes in Scotland’s Cairngorms
that taking part in 30 Days Wild National Park; the magical Lundy
improves health, happiness, and the Island in the Bristol Channel with its
desire to protect nature. It starts with colourful pu ns and playful seals;
the beauty of nature, connecting us the impossibly beautiful coast of
more deeply to the natural world. Pembrokeshire (and the chance to
As our appreciation increases, so clamber over rocks and jump into
does our happiness. This, in turn, crystal clear waters).
encourages people to do more to
help wildlife and take action for One of my favourite experiences is
nature. The impacts don’t just last to listen to the echolocation calls of
bats at dusk. It’s already quite lovely
Liz on Rathlin island, famous for its to watch them darting back and
pu ns, o the Northern Irish coast forth in the stillness of the evening
as they pick o their prey, but with
a bat detector, an entirely di erent
and thrilling scene reveals itself. The
the bats vocalise with incessant
high frequency squeaks and clicks
that allow them to manoeuvre at
lightning speed without crashing into
each other, locating the insects with
sublime precision.
It’s never been more important to
protect our wild places, so that the
health of our planet’s ecosystems,
and ultimately our health, is
safeguarded. Each individual can
10 NATURAL WORLD SUMMER 2018
