BAFTA award-winning Maddie Moate, presenter of the BBC TV’s ‘Maddie, Space and You’, loves star gazing. She says: “Dark winter skies are full of wonder. Choose a clear, dry night and step outdoors to look at the moon and spot the planets. Can you see the red glow from Mars? Mars will keep brightening as December approaches, so this will be a fantastic time to see the red planet. And whilst you’re watching the sky, don’t forget to listen for the hoot of an owl or the cry of a fox. For this 12 Days Wild, I’ll be wrapping up warm and stepping outside to enjoy the sights and sounds of the night.” 

BBC TV presenter and Wildlife Trust Vice President Iolo Williams, says: “From dawn to dusk, winter wildlife is busy all around us. Otters are always up early and if you see a trail of bubbles in the water, you’ll know they’ve spotted you first. Night-hunting barn owls venture out on cold winter days to find extra food and will woosh past you in the winter sun. Then, at dusk, starlings gather in the sky forming ever-shifting shapes and patterns known as murmurations. There are so many wildlife adventures to be had during 12 Days Wild – I hope you enjoy them.” 

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 

The Wildlife Trusts are making the world wilder and helping to ensure that nature is part of everyone’s lives. We are a grassroots movement of 46 charities with more than 910,000 members and 39,000 volunteers. No matter where you are in Britain, there is a Wildlife Trust inspiring people and saving, protecting and standing up for the natural world. With the support of our members, we care for and restore over 2,600 special places for nature on land and run marine conservation projects and collect vital data on the state of our seas. Every Wildlife Trust works within its local community to inspire people to create a wilder future – from advising thousands of landowners on how to manage their land to benefit wildlife, to connecting hundreds of thousands of school children with nature every year. www.wildlifetrusts.org