30 Days Wild and Around the Garden

Beach walk included admiring a jellyfish, shells and seaweed.

From the 1st of June I've been taking part in The Wildlife Trust's '30 Days Wild' Campaign which involves getting outdoors every day and enjoying nature /  the natural environment. 

I've been taking walks in the evening, listening to birds sing at lunch time, and I've enjoyed taking time out for beach walks and noticing the beauty of wildflowers/ weeds in bloom this month.

Evening walks have been amazing. I discovered this wonderful forest walk is only a 10-15 minute walk from the house. Funny how it took over a year to discover what was on my doorstep. All it takes is trying a new route rather than taking the same path all the time.

Meanwhile, in the garden....

The flowers are bringing in bees and insects. From chives to wild floxglove, the pinks are looking lovely this month!

And lots of things to come, including strawberries, onions, apples and potatoes!

The foliage around the garden is looking fab too!

If you're interested in going '30 Days Wild for nature' for the rest of June, check out the Random Acts of Wildness ideas.

Copyright: All words and photos are property of Kelli's Northern Ireland Garden.

30 days wild with nature

This month I’m taking part in a 30 day challenge to connect with nature. From bird watching to walks along river paths, I’m looking forward to getting out daily in the good ol’ outdoors to appreciate the little things that can make a big impact on our lives.

The idea of the challenge is to enjoy our natural environment and simply to notice more of it around you. It’s about taking time to see all things wild and wonderful for 30 days — and enjoy some outdoorsy fun with family, friends or simply for a little ‘me’ time.

What will I be doing? This month my ‘random acts of wildness’ will include...

• Bird watching and bug house building
• Insect, butterfly, weed and wildflower searches
• Looking at ways to attract more pollinating insects into the garden
• Volunteering to help build a community garden that attracts wildlife and insects
• Regular nature and beach walks, taking in the sights and sounds
• Exercising in the wild each week
• Photographing my discoveries

Research tells us that spending time in wild places can help us feel happier and healthier. Glasgow University showed that people who walked, biked, or ran in nature had less risk or poor mental health. Other studies show that getting out in nature helps us to improve our concentration, strengthens our immunity, and reduces feelings of stress. Simply spending time in a garden can help lower blood pressure (Federation of City Farms and Community Gardens)!

Feel free to join in and do something wild every day for the month of June. To find about the campaign - click here.

More on Irish wildlife – click here.

More on Ulster wildlife – click here.

More on Wildlife Trusts – click here.

Copyright: All words and photos are property of Kelli's Northern Ireland Garden.