How to bring more nature into your day and take part in 30 Days Wild

Find out how to take part in the Wildlife Trusts 30 Days Wild campaign and find wild inspiration with our pick of 30 easy ways to connect with nature.

What is 30 Days wild?

The Wildlife Trusts’ annual nature challenge 30 Days Wild encourages people to do something wild every day for the month of June. According to the charity, a record estimated 650,000 people took part in 2020, making it the most successful year since its launch in 2015.

Family bird watching on heathland in summer Suffolk Sandlings — A family bird watching on heathland in summer Suffolk Sandlings / David Tipling

How to take part in 30 Days Wild

When you sign-up to 30 Days Wild you’ll receive wildlife guides, how-to guides, top technical tips from wildlife webcam experts, educational and fun resources, and more. There are also special packs available for schools, nurseries, care homes, and businesses.

The challenge begins this year on Tuesday 1st June with a Big Wild Breakfast, a nationwide event where people are encouraged to download a free breakfast placement which doubles up as a wildlife spotting guide, and record any nature they see in 30 minutes while enjoying their breakfast.

“Citizen science whilst having your breakfast — what a perfect way to start your day!” commented Liz Bonnin, science and nature broadcaster and President of The Wildlife Trusts.

“I’m excited to see how creative people will be with their choice of breakfast-time nature spots and the special wildlife encounters they’ll share with our 30 Days Wild social media community. Coffees and cameras at the ready!”

Share your wild moment on social media using the hashtag #30DaysWild.

Our round-up of 30 easy ways to connect with nature and have a wild experience.

Try birdwatching from your garden window

Boy bird watching Getty — Head to your local park and see how many birds you can spot/Credit: Getty images

Grab your binoculars and see how many different species of birds you can spot. Bird watching can become an addictive and rewarding hobby, and no matter where you go — whether in a city, natural park, or at your home — you're almost guaranteed to see one.

Listen to birdsong and try to identify each species

Stonechat-bird-sand-dune — Stonechat birds are found more widely in winter and have short robin-like tails/Credit: Getty

In Britain we are blessed with an incredible variety of beautiful bird song in spring. It’s mostly the male birds that sing and they do this to demonstrate how fit and healthy they are to potential mates and also tell rival males that they have secured a territory so “keep off”.

Britain’s best songbirds: how to identify each species

Learn how to identify coastal flowers

Cornish coastal scenery at Porthmeor Cove near Zennor, UK Getty — Cornish coastal scenery at Porthmeor Cove near Zennor/Credit: Getty

Get to know the pretty summer blooms found on our coasts, cliffs, dunes and shores with our expert guide to coastal flowers found in the UK.

Go for a walk in the countryside

Couple walking on cliff path — Walking the coastal path (Getty)

Get back to nature with a beautiful countryside walk. Walking is a great way to clear your head and explore your local landscape. With blooming flowers and buzzing wildlife, it's the perfect season to take a long walk in the countryside.

Try rockpooling

Boy looking into a rockpool — Boy rockpooling, kneeling on rocks, Kimmeridge Bay, Dorset/Credit: Getty

Rockpools can be great fun for kids and big kids alike, and summer is a great time of year to head to the coast and make the most of what the shoreline has to offer.

Take a look at our rockpooling guide to find all you need to know to have a successful rockpooling adventure.

Try flower spotting

Flower spotting Getty — With Spring comes beautiful yellow daffodils/Credit: Getty images

Observe your surroundings and see how many different types of flowers you can spot. You can do this in your garden, local park or if you have any nearby, country gardens are a great place to learn about local history and spot vibrant flowers.

Watch wildlife

Badger Getty — Badgers have lived in the UK for over 250,000 years/Credit: Getty images

With spring well underway and temperatures warming up, there’s more wildlife to see all around us. See how many different species you can spot and enjoy seeing spring wildlife come to life.

Guide to British butterflies: how to identify and the best places to spot
British beetle guide: where to see and how to identify
Discoverwildlife.com is a hive of fascinating wildlife – both UK and overseas

Watch wildlife webcams

Watch livestreams of wildlife around the UK and Ireland, thanks to the work of conservationists. Enjoy views of nesting birds and the hatching of their chicks, plus feeding mammals such as badgers and squirrels.

The best wildlife webcams to watch in the UK and Ireland

Record your local wildlife

Female birdwater ©Getty — Contribute to science by recording your local wildlife/Credit:Getty

Recording the wildlife you spot in your garden or local area can help improve your wildlife knowledge, provide useful data for conservationists and be a very satisfying hobby.

Learning to record the wildlife you see and hear in the natural world can help conservationists build a bigger picture of how species are faring in your part of the country.

Why not become a wildlife recorder and help add to what we already know? You just need to remember to keep note of what you see in your garden, local park or just from your kitchen window.

How to record your local wildlife

Forage for your food

Woman foraging for elderflower — Just take a few flowerheads per elder tree – leave some to develop into berries. (Getty Images)

The British countryside is full of food you can safely and legally forage - provided you know what to look for. From pungent wild garlic in spring to elderflower and juicy blackberries, why not see what you can find. Searching for your next meal in the countryside will not only fill your belly, but will also increase your connection with the land. You could also try a foraging course.

N.B. Always be sure you can positively identify any plant before you pick it, and never eat anything you are unsure of. Make sure you leave plenty for wildlife (and other foragers!).

June foraging guide: best foods to find and recipe ideas

Make elderflower cordial

Elderflower cordial in bottle — Make a refreshing summer drink – simply add water to dilute/Credit: Getty

Lacy white elderflower heads dot the emerald hedgerows of Britain at this time of the year. Elderflowers are the last of the great tree flower displays of the year. The umbrellas of dense, tiny white flowers send out an alluring sweet smell that can be captured in drinks such as cordial and champagne.

Make this delicious elderflower cordial drink

Go for a bike ride

Adult male and boy cyclists Getty — The countryside is home to many cycling paths with beautiful scenery/Credit: Getty images

Pump up your tyres and peddle through the countryside. Cycling is a great way to reconnect with nature and get off the beaten track. Take a ride on a local cycle path, or if you're a bit more ambitious and after coronavirus restrictions have been lifted you could even take a bikepacking trip across the country.

Go for a wild swim

Girl jumping into a river Getty — Wild swimming has grown in popularity in recent years/Credit: Getty images

One a warm summer's day, it doesn't get much better than taking a dip in the sea, lake or river. If you live in a big city, don't be put off as there are many wild swimming spots near London.

Sleep under the stars

Father and son looking outside tent in garden at dusk shining torch into the distance.

Pitch a tent and spend an evening beneath a starry night-sky, whether out in the wild, at a campsite, or even in your own back garden.

Wild camping allows you to escape the constant buzz of modern life and get back to basics. While not legal in some parts of the country, there are a number of smaller campsites in secluded locations, where you simply pitch up and savour the tranquility.

Get crafty – create nature inspired arts and crafts

girl drawing a rainbow her desk — Children will love creating a nature inspired rainbow to hang in the window/Credit: Getty

Find a daily fun craft project or outdoor nature activity for children to enjoy.

Help the wildlife in your garden

Young girl watering sunflowers in garden — Sunflowers are fun and quick to grow making them an ideal gardening project for children/Credit: Getty

Summer is nearly here and with the warmer temperatures on the way, there’s more wildlife to see in gardens across the country. See how many different species you can spot and learn how you can make your garden more wildlife-friendly with our guides below.

How to make your garden wildlife-friendly
How to help wildlife during a summer heatwave
Garden pond guide: how to look after your pond and wildlife to spot
How to make a bee house
British beetle guide: where to see and how to identify
Discoverwildlife.com is a hive of fascinating wildlife - both UK and overseas

Gaze at the night sky

Stargazing — There are few more captivating sights than a starry night-time sky/Credit: Getty images

Cast your eyes to the skies and see how many different constellations you can see. Gaze at the stars from your garden, or, for a really memorable experience, head to one of Britain's national parks for stunning starry skies.

Stargazing guide: Britain’s dark sky sites, best places to stargaze, plus how to get started

Improve your nature identification skills

Sunlight though trees in the New Forest — Learn how to identify different tree species/Getty Images

Learn how to identify local plants, insects and wildlife in your local area. You could create a journal to track your findings.

Cook or eat a meal outdoors

Fergus Collins enjoys a picnic in an Abergavenny field with a view of the town behind him — Editor Fergus find the perfect picnic spot/Credit: Getty

It is common knowledge that any meal eaten outdoors tastes better. Try your hand at cooking outdoors over a roaring fire. Summer is the perfect season for a garden barbecue. You could even cook a meal using something you've caught in the wild or simply enjoy a meal or picnic sat outdoors.

Listen to podcasts

Woman in headphones listening music in nature and at the mountain (intentional pale color style) — Escape to the countryside with a podcast!/Credit: Getty

Make the most of your extra spare time to listen to some of the interesting wildlife, nature and science podcasts freely available You can listen to podcasts anywhere so why not make it a wilder experience by listening outdoors. This handy BBC Wildlife Magazine guide, explains how to listen to podcasts.

Don't forget to tune into the BBCCountryfile Magazine 'plodcast'

In each episode of the BBC Countryfile Magazine podcast, we go on a great escape into beautiful landscapes where we look for great wildlife, explore curious historic sites, meet interesting rural people and discuss the big issues affecting the countryside.

Catch up on each season and enjoy a countryside escape

The podcast is available on Acast, iTunes, Apple Podcasts and most major podcast apps

Try butterfly surveying

Try and catch a glimpse of those fluttering wings and see how many different kinds of butterflies you can spot. You can head down to your local park, or you can make your garden butterfly-friendly and they can visit you.

Guide to British butterflies: how to identify and the best places to spot

Capture the moment

Woman photographing view, standing on north shore of East Loch Tarbet, North Harris, Outer Hebrides, Scotland — Capture the moment by taking shots of wildlife or the landscape/Credit: Getty

Try and snap your best picture of the outdoors, whether it be of wildlife or a landscape. Not sure where to start? Enrol on a photography course that will show you how to snap that perfect countryside shot.

If you'd like to share your photos to feature as our 'Photo of the Day', simply email photos@countryfile.com or tag your image using #photooftheday on our social media channels.

Sketch the landscape

Sketching outdoors Getty — Nature has inspired amazing art for centuries/Credit: Getty images

You don't need to be a professional artist to try sketching your favourite scenery. Drawing is a fantastic way to examine the local landscape and take your mind off the day-to-day stresses of normal life. Sketching feathers is a great starting point for novices.

Join the Countryfile Art Club

Seagull on rock Countryfile — Take inspiration from the Countryfile Archies/Credit: BBC Images

Calling all budding artists – join the Countryfile Art Club and celebrate the British countryside through art and the Countryfile archive. Plus learn how to improve your artistic skills with tips and tricks from professional artists.

Countryfile Art Club: how to take part and improve your artistic skills

Learn how to identify trees

_{Get to grips with Britain's trees, they shape the country's landscape/Credit: Getty images}
Take a stroll through the forest and examine the trees to see how many different types you can find. You might be surprised to find the number of different kinds in your local woodland. You may even see one of Britain's fascinating, famous trees.

Guide to British trees: how to identify and where to see

Take a bark rubbing

600-09013880© Raimund Linke Model Release: No Property Release: No Moss covered ground and tree trunks in a conifer forest with the sun shining through the trees at Loch Awe in Argyll and Bute in Scotland — Moss covered ground and tree trunks in a conifer forest with the sun shining through the trees at Loch Awe in Argyll and Bute in Scotland (Getty)

One of the most effective ways to understand the incredible diversity of nature is to do a bark rubbing. Pick a tree, hold a piece of paper against its bark and rub it with a soft pencil, pastel or piece of charcoal. Observe your rubbing, taking note of the various shapes and questioning their existence. You needn’t know the answers – simply thinking about the physiognomy of your subject matter will increase your connection with it.

Many trees have distinctive bark patterns, which you can use to identify them, even when they have no leaves. Get to know the various patterns by making bark rubbings - they're great fun and can be done at any time of year.

Read this handy bark rubbing guide by discoverwildlife.com

Geocaching

Enjoy hiking, the countryside and treasure hunting? This might be the hobby for you. Download the free app and find one of many secret geocaches hidden in the countryside.

Learn how to identify animal droppings

Hedgehog in daytime — Create a safe space for hedgehogs in your garden by offering a home/Credit: Getty

Droppings or scats can tell us a lot about which animals have been visiting our gardens, parks and countryside, including hedgehogs, foxes and badgers. Discoverwildlife.com's expert guide to animal droppings or scats explains how to identify which animal species it comes from and what information it contains about the health of the animal.

Experience a sunrise and sunset

Summer sunset from Sutton Bank in North Yorkshire/Credit: Getty

Get up early and experience sunrise, then watch it set later that evening. Wherever you are, set your alarm clocks early in June to see the Summer Solstice. Stonehenge isn't the only place to see it.

Summer solstice 2021: when is the longest day of the year and best places to celebrate

Catch up on the best nature programmes

Chris packham, Gillian Burke and Iolo Williams in woodland — Programme Name: Springwatch team, Iolo Williams, Gillian Burke, Chris Packham - (C) BBC BBC

Although watching TV might not seem a particularly wild activity, for those of us with less access to the outdoors, you can still learn more about nature and find a bit of much-needed escapism with our round-up of the best countryside TV, film and radio.

Carys MatthewsGroup Digital Editor

Carys is the Group Digital Editor of countryfile.com and discoverwildlife.com. Carys can often be found trail running, bike-packing, wild swimming or hiking in the British countryside.