This week, we’re shifting the focus to how we experience the natural world around us. What can we discover using the five senses? In week 2, sight, sounds, smell, taste, and touch are bringing nature into the spotlight.
Read on for some inspiration of how you could spend another wild week.
June 8th is World Oceans Day, but just because we’re landlocked in Wiltshire doesn’t mean we can’t make a difference.
Did you know the things you wash down the sink can cause significant harm to wildlife? It’s true – some of our favourite washing up liquids, cosmetics, and cleaning products contain chemicals that can have long lasting effects on plants and animals.
For day 8 of 30 Days Wild, take a look at the labels of your household cleaning products to see if you can make a change to protect our wildlife. Some research into eco-friendly brands such as Method, Ecover, and Bio-D could help you make some small swaps that have a big impact. Perhaps you’ll pledge to wash your clothes at 30 degrees instead of a hot wash, which reduces your carbon emissions and helps to fight climate change. Maybe you’ll even investigate how to avoid adding microplastics to the water table. The options are endless, and every small change adds up to a more sustainable and protected natural world.
Find out more about the Watch What You Wash initiative here for some more tips on how to protect our oceans and rivers.
A walk in Blackmoor Copse Nature Reserve © Tom Pollard
For day 9, we’re encouraging you to get walking in the wild spaces in your area. How about taking a walk to a local green space and noticing the plants, insects, and animals you find there? Or perhaps a visit to one of our nature reserves will help you discover an area of natural beauty.
There are so many nature reserves to choose from and there’s bound to be one local to you. However, if you can’t make it to one, seek out the wild spaces nearby and observe the wildlife on your doorstep.
Click here to see the full list of Wiltshire’s nature reserves and to find your local spot.
© Ben Porter
Take a moment to appreciate the day to come or the day just passed. If you’re an early bird, why not get up before dawn and walk to a spot where you can take a few breaths and watch the day begin with a sunrise? Sunrise will be at 4.53am on June 10th, so this challenge isn’t for those who like a lie in!
For those of us who balk at the idea of walking anywhere before 7am, you could choose to watch a sunset instead. Take an evening stroll to somewhere with a clear, west-facing view of the sky and watch the sun disappear beneath the horizon. Sunset will be at 9.22pm, so grab a blanket to sit on and head out to watch the landscape turn golden.
false - Matthew Roberts
Today’s challenge is to engage all five basic human senses to experience nature in a new way. Try to find at least one thing for each sense, but the more the merrier!
Can you feel the grass beneath your feet or tree bark on your hands? Will you try some local honey, or eat some homegrown fruits or vegetables? Are you able to hear birdsong, or listen carefully for bees and grasshoppers? Can you differentiate the scents of different varieties of flowers? Perhaps you’re more interested in tallying the colours of the rainbow you encounter on your adventure: the blue wings of a butterfly, a red poppy, the yellow chest of a blue tit.
See what you can find when you put your senses to the test, and share your findings with us on social media: tag us and use #30DaysWild.
Want to engage your senses in nature at home? Why not use our mindful moments video here to listen to bird sounds, babbling rivers and rustling trees along with stunning captures of nature (with thanks to Brunton Media).
Mindful Moments Video (https://vimeo.com/1198314476)
Mindful Moments Video - with thanks to Brunton Media
One of the most relaxing and imaginative activities you could do is cloud spotting. Not only is this a great opportunity to inject some mindfulness into your week, but it can also be completed from absolutely anywhere outside.
Whether your interest lies in identifying different scientific types of clouds, spotting clouds shaped like animals, or simply watching them drift by while taking a few deep breaths, today’s focus is looking upwards and immersing yourself in the calm of the sky.
Katrina Martin - 2020VISION
From picky bits to picnics, one of the best parts of spring and summer is being able to enjoy the hot weather during meal times. So, for day 13, we’re challenging you to have one meal outside. Whether you’re having tea in the garden, a picnic in your local park, or walking with breakfast on the go, the important thing is to be present amongst the wildlife where you are.
*Please remember to leave no trace, take your rubbish home with you and leave the natural space exactly as you found it.
Moss and marasmius mushroom © Ben Porter
Immerse yourself completely in the natural world and try out forest bathing; it’s simple to do, and very effective at relieving stress and worry.
To give it a try, find a wild wooded space (click here to see our list of nature reserves) and walk slowly through the area. Make a conscious effort not to check your phone and to leave the pressures of the day behind you. Notice the sounds of the birds and insects. Feel the ground beneath your feet. Watch the dappled sunlight fall through the leaves. Breathe in the scent of the plants around you.
The point of this exercise is to stay in the moment and feel the healing effects of being in nature. You don’t need to worry about walking far or doing a certain amount of steps; a renewed sense of wellbeing is what we’re looking for here.
We hope you’re looking forward to the week ahead and already making plans to explore nature with your senses over the next seven days. We'd love to see what you discover, so please tag us in your adventures on social media (Facebook: @WiltsWild; Insta @wiltswildlife) and use #30DaysWild!
