Concentrating on using our senses in nature can help us to focus, remove distractions and connect with the natural world.

In the last ten years, 30 Days Wild has attracted more than three million participants and helped people to get outside, to enjoy and connect with nature as part of their everyday lives.

Here are some top tips for creating a sensory experience in nature this June! Try one of them, some of them or all of them - the choice is yours. 

Stand outside in your garden, local green space or wild area and listen. What can you hear? Notice all the sounds around you. You might want to close your eyes to focus more clearly. Can you hear...

• the wind blowing?
• leaves rustling in trees? 
• birds singing?
• bees buzzing from flower to flower? 
• water flowing?

There are so many textures in nature! Focus on one of the suggestions, or try them all if you have more time. Try...

• feeling the bark on a tree
• running your hand over a smooth pebble
• feeling cool water trickle through your fingers
• feeling different leaves and noticing their different textures
• gently touching moss and noticing how spongy it is

There are so many rich, vibrant scents in nature. Why not try smelling...

• freshly cut grass
• a range of different flowers, noticing the differences between them
• herbs, like lavender and rosemary
• the sea air
• ...if you're brave, a seabird colony!

Wherever you are, whether in the middle of a city, or in the countryside, or by the sea, there's always wildlife to be found if you look closely enough. Challenge yourself to find...

• underwater wildlife - take look in a pond, can you see snails or diving beetles just below the surface? 
• bees looking for pollen on a flower
• ants on a march in search of food
• birds flying overhead 
• moss and ferns growing out of walls 

Bring the wild inside by adding different herbs to your cooking! Herbs are great for us, but also great for wildlife because their flowers are beloved by pollinators. You don't need a large area to grow them - pots on a patio will work! 

Liz Bonnin, TV presenter and president of The Wildlife Trusts, says:

“Connecting to the natural world is the first step to caring for it and playing a part in protecting it. It starts with the simple things – listening to morning birdsong, to hedgerows humming with life, or even just pausing to watch the clouds drift across the sky. This June, join us for #30DaysWild with The Wildlife Trusts, and fall back in love with nature.

“I’ll be taking a moment to immerse myself in nature – I'm going to walk barefoot in the grass, listen to the buzz of insects in my garden, and look up at bright green tree canopies against azure, blue skies. These small acts of ‘wildness’ are feel-good moments that not only remind us how connected we are to nature, they also inspire us to protect it. 

“I believe in the magic of nature. It heals, it inspires and reconnects us to what truly matters in life. If you’ve never taken part in 30 Days Wild before, this is your year. Fall back in love with the planet – one wild day at a time.” 

There’s still time to sign up for the 30 Days Wild challenge, with different resources available depending on if you’re taking part with children or not. Find out more and register for your free goodies in the post.