There are lots of things that can pull us and our attention in different directions. Work, study, home life, parenting, friendship, being active, pets, technology, bills. The list could go on... 

So, we asked one of our Instagram followers, Heather Alice-Grace Orchard (they/she/fae) how they managed to incorporate one small action for nature into each day.

Heather went out everyday and took time to stop and look around at what they could see in their local area. They logged observations on the popular iNaturalist app and posted one Instagram story every day on their personal account to share what they had learnt with others.

It may feel like technology and nature are polar-opposites. But, Heather's experience is a beautiful mixture of spending time outdoors, engaging positively with social media, and utilising helpful apps/digital resources. You don't have to be an expert or have all the expensive gear. 

Go and find a comfy, quiet spot for 5 minutes and enjoy reading this mindful blog. Nature can help you to take a moment away from the busyness.

Heather's experience

Why did you sign up to 30 Days Wild?

Heather: Oh, the wild, how I love it. Signing up to 30 days wild was an easy choice, I already try my best to get out into the wild on a regular basis, why not add to that? I also have my own personal goal set this year; to submit at least one verifiable observation every day to iNaturalist. 

If you don't know, iNaturalist is a citizen science platform in which users can submit 'observations' of wildlife they find, backed up with either photos or audio recordings as evidence. It is great for learning about the world around you whilst contributing to real science.

For that reason I have combined both my personal goal with 30 days wild and every day I am picking a highlight from the species I have seen for all 30 days until I have a diverse list of species at the end of the month. 

Did you notice any wildlife that was interesting or unusual?

Heather: Throughout the month, I have observed some interesting species like wolf's milk (a slime mould), the common stinkhorn (a very smelly fungi). sand martins (impressive acrobats that love nesting by water, and atlantic puffins (which are silly yet charming summertime visitors.) 

[Photos of these observations below]

I am a fungi fanatic, and I submit a lot of fungi to iNat, but to keep my streak interesting I had to adapt. This has lead me into the world of birding. I have quickly learned how to identify so many birds, to the point that birdsong is no longer just (pleasant) background noise but a symphony of different species all around me. It is beautiful. My favourite birds are either the peregrine falcon or the long tailed tit. I cannot decide. 

Getting out and observing the wild has taught me that it is always possible to learn something new. I never could have imagined being able to ID as many species as I can now, yet here I am, doing just that. All it takes is to try and learn one new thing every day. It quickly adds up. 

How did you manage to juggle this in your busy life?

Heather: Fitting challenges like this in can be really difficult as an adult. I am very lucky that there is a lovely ancient woodland just near the office I work in, I often wander down there for my lunch break. I also am lucky that here in Leamington Spa we have some beautiful green spaces. I love welches meadow and leam valley. 

So far, I have managed to get out every day for 30 Days Wild but, if for some reason I was homebound, I know I can keep my iNat streak up by birding from my bedroom window. It would not be my first time haha!

30 Days Wild serves as a great opportunity for us to not only get outdoors and into nature, but to share that joy with others. I believe education is such an important tool for protecting our planet and that starts with our own habits. 

 No matter how much the sharp lines and hard concrete of the city may try to separate us, we still are part of the wild and honouring that with a simple walk in the woods can be so good for the soul.

Heather Alice-Grace Orchard