We’re inviting you to take on the 12 Days Wild winter challenge: Get closer to nature this festive season by doing one wild thing daily for 12 days, from 25 December to 5 January.

Whether it’s serving up a festive feast for your garden wildlife, taking a Boxing Day walk to blow away the cobwebs, or making a New Year’s resolution to do something eco-friendly in 2026, there are so many ways that all of us can connect to wildlife during this holiday season.

Simply sign up today and you’ll receive daily emails packed with fun ideas and inspiration to help you notice nature’s magic this winter and learn more about the wildlife around you.

I want to take part in 12 Days Wild

If you want to make a head start and plan some activities, here are some suggestions to help you walk on the wild side this winter:

• Go for a stroll in a green space you’ve been meaning to visit
• Listen to birdsong and learn your robins from your wrens
• Start a 2026 wildlife diary or scrapbook
• See what nighttime wildlife has visited your garden by looking for tracks and signs
• Share a photo of something you’ve seen using #12DaysWild

Winter can be a lonely time, but getting outdoors in nature can lift the spirit like nothing else. Even in the darkness there is wonder to be found: is that a male or a female tawny owl calling? Or might you hear a robin singing in the first light of Christmas morning? 

For me, spending time in nature during that strange liminal space between Christmas and New Year helps me connect back with what’s important. Away from the novelty and overwhelm that can come with this time of year, exploring local woodlands with my young family allows me to appreciate the small wonders we might take for granted in the busy lead up to the festive season: Seeing your breathe in the crisp ‘Decembuary’ air; noticing the frost on the fallen leaves; taking a moment to use the Merlin Bird ID app to figure out who’s singing to me (aside from my toddler – the Moana soundtrack is sadly missing from our local birdsong chorus).

Whatever this festive season looks like for you, connecting with nature once a day for 12 days is a sure way to make this time of year feel a little more magical.

TV doctor and GP, Dr Amir Khan, who is Vice President of The Wildlife Trusts, put it well when he said: “Christmas isn’t always a happy season for everyone, and even the most enthusiastic can find it challenging or overwhelming. We all need time for peace and reflection, and nature offers us the chance to notice the small things, to slow down, to be present.”