National Trust encourages making the most of nature while being active

The National Trust has launched a new campaign called ‘Wild Senses’ in a bid to restore people’s connection with nature.

Despite 90% of UK adults reporting that spending time in nature has a positive impact on their wellbeing, only 13% say they feel most connected to nature in autumn, according to a new YouGov poll commissioned by the Trust. 

The disconnect is striking, given that 79% of respondents say they are likely to seek out nature during the autumn season.

Poor weather and less daylight with the darker mornings and evenings, were cited as the biggest barriers to spending more time outdoors during this period.

“Nature isn’t just in our nature reserves – it’s in our gardens, streets, and local parks,” says Hilary McGrady, Director-General of the National Trust.

“These green spaces are vital homes for nature and for enabling people to connect with the wild world that’s around them in every season. 

“Given 65 million (that’s 85% of the UK population) live in urban areas, we must protect and plan for high-quality green spaces to ensure everyone has access to nature year-round.”

The campaign ties in with the BBC’s new nature series co-produced by the National Trust and The Open University – Hamza’s Hidden Wild Isles.

The series presented and narrated by wildlife expert and cameraman Hamza Yassin, celebrates the UK’s seasonal biodiversity and encourages viewers to notice, appreciate and reconnect to everyday wildlife, even in urban environments.

“Sometimes in our cities it might seem like there isn’t any nature,” says Hamza Yassin. “But if you just take a little minute, you’ll be amazed at what you can find.

“Autumn is one of my favourite times of year. Stepping into nature or simply sitting outside and letting nature come to you can really raise your spirits, which makes it vitally important to make sure we all get out to enjoy nature all the year round.”

Sport England’s Let’s Get Out There campaign is another initiative encouraging more women to get active outdoors.

The campaign, linked to This Girl Can, has partnered with National Trust, Forestry England, Canal and River Trust, The Ramblers, Paddle UK, Ordnance Survey, YHA, ParkRun, and Park Yoga.

As part of this campaign, This Girl Can Sussex held a ‘community of learning event’ in the summer and has since shared examples of best practice in Sussex of groups and organisations helping women and girls to overcome the barriers and get moving outside.

These can be viewed here.

For further information about the National Trust’s Wild Senses campaign, visit www.nationaltrust.org.uk/discover/nature

For more information about Let’s Get Out There, visit www.thisgirlcan.co.uk/our-partnerships-and-projects/lets-get-out-there