The Wildlife Trusts are urging the public to nurture nature this June to celebrate the tenth birthday of 30 Days Wild.
This year, the month-long nature challenge to do something wild every single day in June is backed by TV stars Dermot O’Leary, Liz Bonnin and Dr Amir Khan. Since 2015, over three million people have taken part including over 20,000 schools, 1,500 care homes and almost 2,000 businesses.
(c) The Wildlife Trusts 10 year review
To mark the special birthday, The Wildlife Trusts have published a review of the history, highlights and impact of the challenge. The 30 Days Wild Effect: Ten years of noticing nature and changing lives explores how people’s lives have been enhanced by the challenge, while underlining the importance of improving our relationship with nature. People in the UK have one of the lowest levels of nature connection in Europe, while the UK is one of the most nature-depleted countries on the planet.
Research by the University of Derby revealed that 30 Days Wild improves nature connectedness and inspires pro-nature behaviour. This is defined by actions that directly benefit wildlife, such as planting pollinator-friendly plants, volunteering with nature organisations or getting involved in a community growing project.
The Wildlife Trusts want to inspire a wave of local action to nurture nature this June, at home, in the workplace and in communities. Suggested actions include:
Free activity packs provide fun ideas for ways to connect with and help nature, no matter where you live.
30 Days Wild At Home Pack (c) The Wildlife Trusts
Miles Richardson is Professor of Human Factors and Nature Connectedness at the University of Derby and led five years of research into the impacts of 30 Days Wild. He says:
“Our research consistently found that people who took part in 30 Days Wild benefitted from increased happiness, health, and nature connection. The research also showed that participation inspired pro-nature behaviours. Reversing nature loss and stabilising the climate requires action on every level, from local efforts to international cooperation. Central to this is improving individual and societal relationships with nature. Developing deeper and stronger bonds with nature provides a positive vision of a future where both people and nature can thrive.”
Dermot O’Leary, TV presenter, author of Wings of Glory, and 30 Days Wild champion, says:
“I'm a huge bird nerd – whether it’s watching the bluetits on my bird feeder, or witnessing the magic of peregrine falcons hunting, I am fascinated by our incredible UK wildlife. This June, join me and The Wildlife Trusts in the 30 Days Wild challenge. Try doing one thing ‘wild’ every day for the whole month and see how great it makes you feel! I just know that this would be top of the commands from the Royal Bird Force!”
Liz Bonnin, TV presenter and President of The Wildlife Trusts, says:
“30 Days Wild is a brilliant initiative that has resulted in millions of people connecting with and enjoying nature. Since its inception 10 years ago, it has grown tremendously and become a staple of calendars for schoolchildren and adults alike. Studies have shown that 30 Days Wild benefits health and happiness, and also motivates people to do more to help nature and wildlife. I wholeheartedly invite you, no matter where you live in the UK and beyond, to join us in celebrating a decade of going wild this June, so that we can make this our most successful year yet."
30 Days Wild has grown from 12,000 participants in its first year, to over half a million consecutively for the last three years. The 30 Days Wild Effect reveals that people’s favourite activities over the last ten years included listening to birds and planting wildflowers.
New to the challenge this year are special 30 Days Wild packs for His Majesty’s Prisons. Evidence shows that prisoner exposure to nature improves mental and physical health. There are also free packs for individuals, schools, families and businesses. Last year, the challenge was backed by the NHS, reflecting the health and wellbeing benefits of taking part.
30 Days Wild is supported by players of People’s Postcode Lottery, with funds awarded to The Wildlife Trusts through Postcode Planet Trust.
The 30 Days Wild Effect: Ten years of noticing nature and changing lives is a review of The Wildlife Trusts’ annual nature challenge, 30 Days Wild. It brings together academic studies that categorically prove how 30 Days Wild benefits health, wellbeing, and pro-conservation behaviour. More broadly, it explores societal changes around nature connectedness over the corresponding years. The review also shines a light on some of the myriad of stories of people that have benefitted from taking part. Read the review here.
Measuring the impact of 30 Days Wild
The University of Derby began monitoring and evaluating the impact of taking part in 30 Days Wild in 2015. Studies were repeated and developed for the next five years, resulting in a wealth of evidence, data and papers on the benefits of taking part. The research, led by Dr Miles Richardson, Director of Core Psychology Programmes, repeatedly found that taking part in 30 Days Wild improves health, happiness, nature connection and conservation behaviours. People reported feeling more relaxed and motivated to do more to protect wildlife after taking part. For more information, visit: 30 Days Wild 5 Year Review
Nature connection
Country-level factors in a failing relationship with nature: Nature connectedness as a key metric for a sustainable future – Miles Richardson, Iain Hamlin, Lewis R. Elliott & Mathew P. White. Here
“Britain is bottom of the 14 nations for biodiversity, having lost more wildlife than any other G7 country and been shown to be one of the most nature-depleted countries on the planet.” - Britain ranks bottom in Europe for nature connectedness | Guardian | Patrick Barkham
Prisoners and nature connection
Prisoner exposure to nature: Benefits for wellbeing and citizenship – John R Reddon, Salvatore B Durante (2019) Prisoner exposure to nature: Benefits for wellbeing and citizenship - PubMed
30 Days Wild case studies – further details and images are available from The Wildlife Trusts
Additional quotes:
Dr Amir Khan, NHS doctor and vice-president of The Wildlife Trusts, says:
“I’ve heard stories about 30 Days Wild instilling a sense of purpose and expanding people’s horizons. It has helped families and neighbours to develop closer bonds, and broken barriers that affect people from enjoying the natural world. It has shown that focusing on nature can open doors and provide opportunities that otherwise may never happen.”
Thirzah McSherry, Director of Development at The Wildlife Trusts, says:
“Every single thing we do to nurture nature directly benefits people too. Helping nature to recover is about restoring our relationship with the natural world and this also makes us feel better. Let your lawn grow long for grasshoppers, take time to notice birdsong in the park, or join a community growing project – the possibilities are endless. The success of 30 Days Wild proves that we have so much to gain from finding joy in helping nature – it’s all about taking that first step.
“30 Days Wild is a fun and inclusive idea that can be interpreted in an infinite variety of ways. As part of celebrating its tenth birthday, we want to get a many people as possible planting, growing, volunteering and campaigning for wildlife in their communities.”
This year’s 30 Days Wild challenge explores a different theme each week to help people connect with the natural world and achieve the 30-day target. The themes are, Look, touch and smell, Move in nature, Discover nature, Helping nature and Connect with nature.
The Wildlife Trusts
The Wildlife Trusts are a federated movement of 46 charities, supported by a central charity, the Royal Society of Wildlife Trusts. Together we have more than 900,000 members, 35,000 volunteers and 3,000 staff across the UK. We share a vision of nature in recovery, with abundant, diverse wildlife and natural processes creating wilder landscapes where people and nature thrive.
The Wildlife Trusts care for – and have restored – some of the most special places for wildlife in the UK. Collectively we manage more than 2,300 nature reserves, operate 123 visitor and education centres and own 29 working farms. We undertake research, stand up for wildlife and wild places under threat, and help people access and enjoy nature where they live.
We work with businesses who are committed to being nature positive and taking action to restore 30% of land and seas for nature by 2030.
