The Wildlife Trusts’ annual 30 Days Wild challenge was more popular than ever this year – 400,000 people across the UK carried out well over 10 million Random Acts of Wildness over the 30 days of June.
Throughout June, The Wildlife Trusts’ challenge participants to do something wild and enjoy nature every single day. In response, people have been sharing their heart-warming stories and colourful photos and videos across social media channels.
In South and West Wales, almost 2,000 households signed up for their free packs of ideas, wall chart, stickers and wildflower seeds, 232 schools, 55 businesses and 16 care homes also took part.
Carys Evans, Communications and Fundraising Officer for The Wildlife Trust of South and West Wales says:
“It has been a pleasure to share this truly wild month with so many people who have opened their lives to nature! We have loved seeing the wild and wonderful activities which have been going on across South and West Wales – and beyond! We can’t wait for next year!”
Dr Amir Khan from Ch 5’s GPs Behind Closed Doors is an ambassador for The Wildlife Trusts and took part in the challenge for the first time this year. He says:
“It’s been fantastic! I’ve loved the small, sometimes unexpected random acts that have inspired and will continue to inspire me every day – I’ve fed and watched the birds in the garden, I’ve noticed more nature while out running and taken breaks at lunchtime just to appreciate the world outside. I’ve truly felt the benefit to my physical and mental wellbeing and I think our wildlife has too.”
Wildlife gardening in homes, care homes and schools was a popular activity, with people creating small ponds, building homes for bugs, sowing wildflowers, noticing the birds and insects that visited and pledging not to mow their lawns, to encourage more variety of wildlife to flourish.
Other Random Acts of Wildness included:
- Waking up early to hear the dawn chorus at its best
- Organising beach cleans and litter picks
- Noticing a rainbow of flowers and trees growing in towns and countryside
- Creating wild works of art from petals, leaves and feathers.
- Care homes residents and carers have enjoyed planting pollinator-friendly blooms, making leaf art and creating wild playlists, with music inspired by nature.
We hope that you feel inspired to continue on your wild journey for the rest of the year. Random Acts of Wildness need not be big or extravagant; simply eating your lunch outside whilst listening to the birds is enough.
We would love to hear about your #30DaysWild stories, whether you are an individual, family, school, business or care home – get in touch!
Contact Carys - cm.evans@welshwildlife.org
Stay Wild!