05-06-2025
Boltonians urged to 'embrace nature like never before' this month
A wildlife charity has urged Boltonians to 'embrace nature like never before' during June.
The Lancashire Wildlife Trust (LWT) has billed its annual 30 Days Wild event as the "UK's biggest nature challenge", as it encourages children and adults to connect with their surroundings.
From planting wildflower seeds to listening out for different types of birdsong, each activity is free and aims to help people discover the fauna and flora that often go unnoticed under their noses.
"It can be something simple like feeding the birds in your garden - at the moment I have 20 or 30 starlings visiting every day and that's pretty wild,' said LWT's head of campaigns and communications, Alan Wright.
'You could go for a walk in the country to identify trees, birdsong and wildlife. [There's] lots of song thrushes and roe deer around at the moment.
'Popular activities include getting up early for a noisy dawn chorus or getting involved in bat walks on nature reserves.'
Now in its 11th edition, 30 Days Wild has grown from a modest 15,000 participants in its first year, with more than a million people having taken part in the events since its inception.
The LWT expects at least 5,000 people across Lancashire, Greater Manchester and North Merseyside to take up the challenge.
It also coincides with the Manchester Festival of Nature in Heaton Park, which takes place this year on Sunday, June 29.
'Activities can be at both ends of the energy scale - lying on your back and looking up at clouds for an hour or climbing a hill, while walking the dog,' Alan added.
'Every activity will be good for your mental and physical health.
'It also means more people are getting out appreciating the brilliant wildlife on your doorstep, especially if you are visiting Longworth Clough near Belmont, Summerseat Nature Reserve in Bury, Bolton's brilliant parks or following the Kingfisher Trail between Bury and Salford.'
This year's 30 Days Wild features two branches – one child-friendly option and another aimed at adults, with everything from activity guides and competition badges to daily idea emails for those who sign up on the charity's website.
'It is important that we persuade more than one in four people take actions for nature to help reverse the biodiversity crisis affecting our planet," Alan said.
'Taking part in 30 Days Wild is helping to save the world.'
