Out & About July 2017

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Seeing the world through the eyes of our
children is one of the best ways to enjoy
30 Days Wild, the Wildlife Trust’s annual
campaign to encourage all of us to be a little bit
closer to nature.
Going on daily adventures to explore and
discover is all part of 30 Days Wild, a
nationwide campaign to encourage more
people to discover their local nature in easy
ways, and feel the benefits.
Researchers at the University of Derby asked
people taking part in the initiative how they felt
after finishing the challenge.
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 weren’t nature lovers.”
What will you do in West Berkshire this June?
It’s easy and fun, and it will open your eyes to
seeing nature in a new way.
Be inspired by these suggestions for Random
Acts of Wildness, and create your own.
Share them with others using #30DaysWild
and see them on the BBOWT website at
n Go for a walk on Greenham Common or
in Bowdown Woods and create your own
artwork using leaves, twigs, feathers and
pebbles. Take a photo and share on social
media #30DaysWild.
n Make your own pollinators’ patch at home
with a tub or hanging basket of nectar-rich
flowers and watch the butterflies and bees
move in.
n Meet the neighbours: create a hedgehog
highway by putting a CD-size hole in your
fence and encourage your neighbours to
do the same thing; you will help any local
hedgehogs travel the 1-2km that they do
each night.
n Start a nature table at school or at home.
Feathers, snail shells, mosses, flower petals
and old bird’s nests make great talking
points.
n Challenge yourself to learn something
new about nature. On June 11 there’s a
guided walk at Decoy Heath nature reserve
near Aldermaston to discover southern
marsh-orchids and dragonflies, or learn to
scythe a hay meadow at Audrey’s Meadow,
Greenham on 24 June.
n Go for an early morning walk, you’ll be
amazed to discover the different creatures
that are about at dawn; hear the dawn
chorus and catch the perfume of garden
flowers before the heat of the day.
n Explore a local nature site. Take a walk
around a churchyard or local park
to discover wildlife in
hidden places.
n Admire the setting sun
from the top of the
Berkshire Downs or
Wayfarer’s Walk, a pub
garden beside
the Kennet & Avon Canal,
or your bedroom window.
Listen to birds going to
roost, and watch bats
taking their first flight of
the night.
Random acts of wildness
Get closer to nature with 30 Days Wild every day this June says
WENDY TOBITT from the Berks, Bucks & Oxon Wildlife Trust
FOR FURTHER
INFORMATION ABOUT
LOCAL WILDLIFE EVENTS
To download your 30 Days Wild pack go to
Pictures: Rob Appleby, Lizzie Wilberforce
Scything at Audrey’s
Meadow
Southern Marsh orchid