Sunshine for the soul: 30 Days Wild benefits health and wellbeing

Sunshine for the soul: 30 Days Wild benefits health and wellbeing

For the month of June, Cheshire Wildlife Trust is inspiring people to take the time to celebrate nature each day – through the national 30 Days Wild campaign.

People everywhere will be taking up the cause and making the effort to appreciate the natural world on their doorstep.

It could be as simple as taking your lunch outside, or appreciating the fragrance of a flower in bloom. Or perhaps you will take the opportunity to take a walk in the great outdoors or enjoy some of our many reserves across the region.

You can pledge to join the challenge by signing up at www.cheshirewildlifetrust.org.uk/30days.

As part of the challenge, there are a selection of inspiring ‘Random Acts of Wildness’ as well as weekly updates, which give practical, fun and quirky ideas to connect you with the wildness in your area. You can spend a few minutes, or a few hours each day enjoying nature - how you do it is up to you!

Cheshire Wildlife Trust has organised a celebration ‘Go Wild @ Bickley’ event at our headquarters at Bickley Hall Farm, Malpas, Cheshire. On Sunday 4th June, from 11am until 2pm, there will be a series of free family-friendly activities available including a nature treasure hunt, willow weaving, owl pellet dissection, wild art and pond dipping. Families are welcome to bring a picnic to make the most of the day and enjoy the Cheshire countryside at Bickley Hall Farm.

The impact of taking part in 30 Days Wild has been tracked by academics at the University of Derby. Their study found that people who did something ‘wild’ each day for a month, felt happier, healthier and more connected to nature. From walking barefoot in the park to feeding garden birds, all sorts of activities proved positive for people – with added benefits for the natural world too.

Dr Miles Richardson, Director of Psychology, who led the study, said “The impact of 30 Days Wild adds to the compelling argument for bringing nature into our everyday lives. Two months after taking part in 30 Days Wild, there was a 30 per cent increase in the number of people who reported their health as excellent. Last year’s results also show people’s happiness continued to improve after 30 Days Wild ended, which illustrates its sustained impact. This is important as it is happiness and connecting with nature that influence improvements in health. Our study also shows that those who benefitted most were younger adults and those who didn’t class themselves as ‘nature lovers’.”

Charlotte Harris, Chief Executive, at Cheshire Wildlife Trust is looking forward to the start of 30 Days Wild. “Last year thousands of people carried out 1.8 million Random Acts of Wildness during 30 Days Wild. That’s 1.8 million precious moments that brought people closer to nature and enhanced their lives. I would encourage as many people as possible to take part, as there has never been a more important time for people to appreciate their natural environment.”