The Wildlife Trusts worked with the University of Derby who evaluated the benefits of daily nature contact with 1,000 people over five years and revealed some astonishing results.

The feel-good factor from simple daily contact with nature can last for months, once initiated, according to a new review. The review is based on surveys completed by people taking part in 30 Days Wild – the UK’s biggest nature challenge which inspires daily acts of nature engagement every day during June.

Building on three peer-reviewed papers, the University of Derby has evaluated survey responses from more than 1,000 people over five years and discovered the enduring effects on wellbeing from participation in 30 Days Wild – the positive effects are still felt two months after the challenge is over. 

30 Days Wild participants are provided with ideas, free wallcharts and activity sheets that give everyone easy ways of enjoying nature whatever their location. These ‘random acts of wildness’ range from walking barefoot on grass, to sitting beneath a tree or watching birds on a feeder.

Key findings:

30 Days Wild – a five-year review is a summary of 1,105 people’s responses. The results show that taking part in 30 Days Wild not only significantly increases people’s wellbeing and heightened sense of nature – but that these positive increases are sustained beyond the life of the challenge – for a minimum of two months after it is over. The people who benefit most are those who have a relatively weak connection with nature at the start.

• 30 Days Wild resulted in very significant increases in nature connectedness for those who began with a weak connection to nature – their nature connectedness rose by 56%
• 30 Days Wild boosted the health of participants by an average of 30%
• 30 Days Wild made people, particularly those who started with a relatively weak connection to nature, significantly happier
• 30 Days Wild inspired significant increases in pro-nature behaviour

Other important findings include:

• People were asked to rate their health, nature connectedness, happiness and pro-nature behaviour before beginning the challenge, again at the beginning of July when the challenge had finished, and then for a third time in September, two months after the challenge had finished. All positive increases were maintained both immediately after the challenge and also two months later.
• Overall, those participants with the lowest connection to nature before doing the 30 Days Wild challenge gained the greatest benefits by taking part in the challenge.

Professor Miles Richardson, Professor of Human Factors and Nature Connectedness at the University of Derby, says: 

“This five-year evaluation of 30 Days Wild has produced remarkable results – it shows the positive power of simple engagement with nature. We were thrilled to see that the significant increases in people’s health and happiness were still felt even two months after the 30 Days Wild challenge was over.

“The Wildlife Trusts have shown the importance of doing simple things to enjoy everyday nature and that it can bring considerable benefits. What really stood out was how the people who didn’t feel a connection with nature at the outset were the ones who benefitted most from taking part in 30 Days Wild.”

Over a million people have taken part in 30 Days Wild during the last five years. Last year, 2019, was the most successful so far, attracting 400,000 participants. Over 1500 households, schools, businesses and care-homes in Derbyshire took part.   This June, Derbyshire Wildlife Trust believe the challenge will prove more popular than ever as the UK battles with social restrictions and people are looking for ways to keep spirits up and entertain young families. Whilst time spent outside may be limited, daily nature activities – even at home – can open a door to a world of sensory delights, from listening to birdsong or growing a pot of wildflowers on a windowsill.

Jo Smith, Chief Executive for Derbyshire Wildlife Trust says:

 “30 Days Wild is so much fun, it’s such a fantastic, colourful and tuneful time of year to enjoy nature which has already proven to bring us much needed solace and moments of joy this spring. If you love nature and enjoy a challenge or need some inspiration and ideas about how to incorporate it more into your life, please do sign up to take part.”

Jo adds; “Wildlife continues to really need our help. So we’re not only providing ideas to help people feel closer to the wildlife on their doorstep, but also sharing simple actions that everyone can take to help care for it and benefit from too.”

People of all ages can sign-up and download fun ideas, wallcharts, activity sheets and inspiration for going wild in nature during June.  This year the campaign is 100% digital and everyone can download materials for FREE. Follow all the fantastic action on social media too #30DaysWild and Derbyshire Wildlife Trust on Facebook and Twitter for more ideas, activities and inspiration to help you stay wild throughout June and beyond.

Big Wild Weekend events will focus on nature at home – on Saturday 20^th June everyone’s invited to camp in their back garden or create a wild and beautiful nature den indoors!

30 Days Wild – a five-year review can be downloaded here.

Sign-up, download the inspiration and get ready to share your daily #30DaysWild now! www.wildlifetrusts.org/30DaysWild

ENDS