Water vole ©Terry Whittaker/2020VISION
What is Hope Week?
Do you ever feel like you’re in the opening scenes of a disaster movie?
With all the terrible news stories and the horrible facts and figures about the climate and nature crisis, it’s easy to become overwhelmed and frightened about how it’s all going to turn out. Eco-anxiety is real and it’s growing more and more common. It’s totally reasonable to feel uncertain and worried about what’s going to happen and you’re not alone.
Hope Week is all about creating positive vibes and a supportive community of people passionate about protecting nature. While it’s really important to know what’s happening to our planet, it’s also important to take a step back sometimes and look at the success stories and give ourselves a little boost of hope and happiness.
Join us for a week filled with uplifting actions, inspiring stories, and simple daily steps to make a positive impact! And to close the week, on Sunday, 17th November, we invite you to our "Hope is in Our Nature" livestream on YouTube!
What can I expect from the live event?
This year we are going to celebrate a new generation of activists and leaders, as well as local communities who are taking action for nature, giving ourselves a reminder of just what’s possible if we come together. You can join in with …
- Calls to action – join us online and engage in some live activism, making a difference for nature while you’re watching the show! We are going to be fill social media with a celebration of nature, reminding our new government that nature matters to us all.
- Inspirational talks, with opportunities to engage directly with staff and youth forum members from The Wildlife Trusts movement, including Next Gen Nature, the young staff network.
- Films showcasing people who have helped nature recover and thrive
- An opportunity to meet others, join the online community and spread some positive vibes and hope
- A performance from comedian Andrew White, to remind us all of the need for laughter in our lives to help us through the eco-anxiety.
Can’t wait until Sunday 17th? Well, we have a challenge for you on each day of Hope Week 2024 too. Check them out below.
Katrina Martin/2020VISION
Day 1: Let's get creative
To kick off Hope Week, we’re inviting you to do something creative inspired by nature. You could write about nature, paint, play some music, write a poem, make a leaf collage, or take some nature photos—anything that gets you feeling creative. Share your creations with us on social media using the hashtag #HopeWeek. We’re excited to see what you come up with!
false - Ben Porter
Day 2: Be more tree!
Take a moment to breathe and centre yourself with a grounding exercise. You can even listen to our Wild About Wellbeing podcast.
Mark Hamblin/2020VISION
Day 3: Make a promise
Commit to doing one thing differently in your life to benefit the planet. You can even inspire a friend, family member, classmate, or colleague to join you. Together, small changes can make a big impact!
Helena Dolby
Day 4: Find an inspiring story
Discover an inspiring conservation success story! Take a few moments to search online and explore the amazing work being done in conservation. Reading about positive progress for our planet can give you that much-needed boost of optimism to brighten your day!
Bob Coyle
Day 5: Share your favourite place in nature!
Let’s spread some positivity today! Share a photo of your favourite place in nature on social media and help us fill feeds with the beauty of the outdoors.
WildNet - Zsuzsanna Bird
Day 6: Go for a mindful walk
Take 10 minutes today for a peaceful walk outside and reflect on something you’re ready to release to make space for new possibilities. If going outside isn’t an option, simply relax indoors with calming nature sounds and take a few moments just for you.
Dom Sutherland
Day 7:Hope is in Our Nature online event
Join us for the action-packed Hope is in Our Nature event, the main event of Hope Week 2024. Join us at 4pm for live performances, music, interactive panel discussions and connecting with like minded people!
If you are interested in environmental activism and want to hear more about opportunities to get involved with The Wildlife Trusts, or would sign up for our Discord community, then please feel free to email Arran (Youth Activism Manager) on: awilson@wildlifetrusts.org.
