30 Days Wild: Week 1 - Why not get involved?

By David Philips

Guest blogger

After what has frankly been a rather drab, cold and windy spring it has been good to welcome a sunny June with its 30 Days Wild challenge. Simon Barnes the environmentalist has recently referred to the Nature as being "our access to happiness" and having been a staunch advocate from my earliest days of the benefits of getting out in the natural world I am keen to do as much as I now can to help and support it. Nature has never been more in need of our help and we should be saddened if not surprised to hear that the UK is, globally, one of the most biodiversity depleted countries.

Amongst other activities to help nature I volunteer with the Sussex Barn Owl Study Group ( SBOSG ), a dedicated group of individuals who install nesting boxes for one of our favourite and most enigmatic species. Recently we were delighted to see the first successful brood of five young Barn Owls from 2023 and to feel part of giving something back to nature with the very great help of supportive landowners across Sussex who sponsor these boxes.

Another initiative that now seems to be gaining momentum is "No Mow May" with many Local Authorities, Parish Councils, Churches and individuals at last realising that all of this manicuring is not only unnecessary but that by allowing things to grow naturally we are really helping our insect populations to recover. I have already seen benefits in our garden including an early visit from one of my long time favourites the Hummingbird Hawk-moth.

So; if you find that you are able to spare a little time and energy helping Nature I would encourage everyone to do so - the rewards really do speak for themselves.