New research reveals nature’s beauty increases happiness


Tuesday 17 April, 2018


30 Days Wild pioneers action to connect people with nature
  • The Wildlife Trusts’ annual nature challenge 30 Days Wild encourages people to do something wild every day for the month of June. 250,000 people took part in 2017
  • Research reveals 30 Days Wild helps people to connect to nature and that noticing natural beauty makes people happier and want to care for it
  • Launch of first ever Big Wild Weekend of wildlife events 16/ 17 June: in Norfolk there will be a wild sleepover at NWT Cley Marshes

The 30 Days Wild challenge from The Wildlife Trusts encourages people to notice nature on their doorsteps every single day and gives them a multitude of exciting and fun ways of doing it: the Random Acts of Wildness.

The University of Derby’s evaluation* of 30 Days Wild 2017 included new measures, and reveals that people’s perception of beauty in the natural world is a key ingredient to unlocking the benefits of wellbeing and happiness experienced by participants in the challenge.

Dr Miles Richardson, Director of Psychology, University of Derby explains: “Over the past three years we’ve repeatedly found that taking part in 30 Days Wild improves health, happiness, nature connection and conservation behaviours. Now we’ve discovered that engagement with the beauty of nature is part of that story.

“Tuning-in to the everyday beauty of nature becomes part of a journey which connects us more deeply to the natural world. As people’s appreciation of natural beauty and the wild world around us increases, so does their happiness.  We respond to nature - it restores us and balances our emotions. This, in turn, encourages people to do more to help wildlife and take action for nature.”  

The latest set of results from the study of 30 Days Wild also confirms that the benefits of the challenge last well after the month has ended. There are indications that the beneficial impact of taking part could last an entire year.

Head of People and Wildlife at Norfolk Wildlife Trust, David North said: “Last year in June I walked barefoot on my lawn, got up early to listen to birdsong, visited a nature reserve, went for a wild swim, lay on my back and watched clouds slowly pass overhead, sat on shingle shore listening to waves at sunset, and walked through a wood under a canopy of green leaves listening to the wind in the tree tops. These were just a few of the Random Acts of Wildness I tried and though it was nearly a year ago the experiences are still fresh in my mind. Just thinking about them today makes me feel good. This June we hope you will feel inspired to give it a go yourself and no matter how small the action, it all counts!”


30 Days Wild pack

Sign-up to 30 Days Wild and you’ll get a free pack with a booklet of inspirational ideas for Random Acts of Wildness, a recipe for wild strawberry and thyme ice cream, wildflower seeded paper to sow, a wall chart to record your activities and wild stickers. There are special packs for schools with outdoor lesson plans and giant Random Acts of Wildness cards.


30 Days Wild 2018 neighbourhood theme

This year’s theme is all about helping wildlife in your neighbourhood and our pack has inspiring ideas for sharing the challenge locally. See great ways to green-up your street - from carving hedgehog holes in fences to putting up bird and bat boxes and doing a local litter pick.


Go Wild at Work

Between 1-10 June Norfolk Wildlife Trust is teaming up with local businesses to Go Wild at Work, in conjunction with 30 Days Wild. Businesses can sign up help raise much needed funds in their workplace to support local wildlife. NWT will send them a fundraising pack of ideas, such as wearing wellies to work or sponsored nature walk and support them throughout.

New: first ever Big Wild Weekend!

The first ever Big Wild Weekend takes place 16 – 17 June! It’s a new ingredient for 2018 to mark the middle of the 30 Days Wild challenge. Norfolk Wildlife Trust is inviting families to experience NWT Cley Marshes at night; its wildlife, its sounds and sights which are rarely seen by other visitors. Celebrate nocturnal nature with a supper, sunset bird walk, bat detecting and wildlife films. Sleep over in the Simon Aspinall Wildlife Education Centre and wake up to experience the reserve in the early morning light with a refreshing bird walk before breakfast and then finish by opening our moth traps. Suitable for ages 8-16. Please note there must be at least 1 paying adult responsible for a maximum of 4 children. Booking essential: 01263 740008.
NWT
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