Winter may make you want to hibernate, but nature is still dazzling and as the festive season approaches, it’s also an ideal time to perhaps look more closely and seek to discover a little more about species closely associated with Christmas – from robins and partridges (which you’re unlikely to find in pear trees by the way) to mysterious mistletoe.
Here at Nottinghamshire Wildlife Trust, we’re already gearing up for 12 Days Wild, our festive nature challenge, where we encourage everyone to do one wild thing a day from 25th December to 5th January – traditionally referred to as the ‘12 Days of Christmas’.
We’re suggesting you swap screen time for wild time and connect with nature for 12 days straight. 12 Days Wild is a great motivation to get outside and enjoy nature during the Christmas break or even to give some thought to sustainable lifestyle choices. Connecting with nature can also help tackle feelings of isolation over the break, helping people to connect across our digital platforms over a common activity.
Participation in our festive challenge has grown massively since it was launched back in 2018 when just a few hundred folk took part – now, thousands join in each year – so why not join them this year?
With so much winter wildlife waiting to be explored there really is no excuse. Your wild acts could be little things to help nature – such as recycling your Christmas tree or feeding the birds in your garden – a great way to use up excess festive food – or new ways to connect to the natural world, like trying stargazing on a crisp clear frosty night.
To help you make the most of the challenge we’ve created a host of resources and will provide ideas and support along the way. Sign up is free and a great way to freshen up your festive fun. You could take a walk with family or friends to burn off some Christmas calories or you could make environmentally friendly Christmas decorations from festive wrapping and packaging ready for next year to reduce waste and save money. As it’s the season of goodwill you could even consider leaving presents for nature!
Over the 12 days there will be time to visit a nature reserve or local park when the weather is fine – providing an opportunity to crunch through the leaves or listen out for birds and other sounds of nature. When the weather is not so kind you can curl up with a nature book or mull over some eco New Year’s resolutions to set yourself up for a wild and sustainable 2026.
When you sign up to take part in 12 Days Wild, you’ll receive a digital pack containing everything you need for a wild 12 days and we’ll also send you emails during the challenge, full of activity ideas and wildlife facts.
You can find out more and sign up at www.wildlifetrusts.org/12dayswild.
Image: Chris Maguire