The Berkshire, Buckinghamshire & Oxfordshire Wildlife Trust (BBOWT) is calling on people of all ages to connect with nature this June by taking part in 30 Days Wild, The Wildlife Trusts’ annual month-long challenge to do something wild every day.
Each June, thousands across the region embrace this nationwide movement, taking on the challenge of doing something wild every day for 30 days. From planting wildflowers for bees to pausing to listen to birdsong, 30 Days Wild is all about making space for nature in everyday life.
Whether you go wild once a day or a few times a week, the challenge is a powerful way to boost wellbeing, connect with wildlife, and make a real difference to the planet.
Those who sign up will receive a free activity pack through the post, along with daily emails full of inspiring ideas and fascinating nature facts to help make the most of their wild month.
BBOWT’s Community Wildlife Officer, Barbara Polonara, said: “30 Days Wild is designed to get everybody thinking about nature. We want to expand the possibilities of what it means to connect with wildlife. You don’t have to have expensive kit or trek for miles to form a relationship with the natural world.
“A simple moment sitting on a park bench, watering potted herbs on your windowsill, reading a book about rivers and streams, or observing the insects that thrive when you let your garden grow wild – these are all beautiful ways to engage with this campaign.
“The hope is that by finding time for nature each day, however big or small, a moment of stillness and contemplation is created. In turn, this benefits us physically and mentally, and encourages us all to care for the world around us.”
BBOWT has suggested some simple ideas to help people plan their wild June:
- Walk barefoot on the grass and focus on how the grass feels under your feet
- Hug a tree
- Listen to birdsong
- Smell a flower
- Watch a bumblebee travelling from flower to flower
- Drink your morning cuppa outside, enjoying the fresh air
- Spend 5 minutes watching the clouds. Can you see any shapes in them?
- Plant some pollinator-friendly seeds
- Try a 5-minute bioblitz in your garden. See how many insects you can find
- Take a photo of nature. It will encourage you to look closer!
The campaign is designed for people of all ages, and can be done individually, as a group, or as an institution, with schools and care homes encouraged to sign up too.
Previous years have seen over half a million people taking part across the UK, with thousands of schools, care homes, and businesses. 30 Days Wild won the endorsement of the NHS in 2023, which emphasised the health benefits of being in or around nature, urging people to get involved.
