It’s never too late to start appreciating nature!
The world around us is precious. It is good for our mental and physical wellbeing, it’s beautiful and surprising and life-affirming, and it’s rapidly disappearing.
As I approach a big milestone in my life, I want to make sure I’m taking the time to appreciate and help nature. So here are my 30 nature things to do before 30.
- See a bittern
The secretive, skulking bird of the reedbeds has been on my list for a while, and I’ve had absolutely no luck spotting it. I’ve heard their famous booming, but with only around 80 booming males in the UK I’m going to need a lot of patience.
- See a nightjar
I’d love to see this mysterious, churring bird of moors and woodlands. And my childhood home, the New Forest, is a great place to see it.
- See a starling murmuration
The winter spectacle of thousands of starlings flocking together is decreasing across the UK, which is a shame because nothing can compare to the incredible sight of the murmuration, and the soft rush of wings that accompanies it.
- See a wild adder
I’ve seen an adder at the New Forest Reptile centre, but all attempts to see one in the wild have proved fruitless. This summer I will make another search to see the UK’s only venomous snake.
A common garden bird by many standards, but not one I’ve been lucky enough to see. The tiny goldcrest is the UK’s smallest bird.
- Hear a cuckoo
An iconic early summer sound, cuckoos used to be heard across the UK but their call is becoming increasingly rare.
Either golden or white tailed, I’m leaving myself some scope on this one as I think it will be tricky. You have to head to Scotland to be in with a chance of seeing these impressive birds.
- See a puffin
Probably one of the UK’s favourite birds, puffins have been on my list for a long time. I’m hoping this will be the year I finally see one.
- See a seabird colony
Numbers 8 and 9 will probably go hand in hand, as I’d be hard pushed to see a puffin without visiting a vast seabird colony. I’m going to have to head slightly further afield for this one. I’ve got my sights set on South Stack in Wales.
- See a wild boar
I’d love to see a wild boar. The Forest of Dean lies just a short distance from my doorstep, so I’m planning to head out in the car and do some searching. There are also a range of night walks offered by RSPB Nagshead, so if I don’t have any luck on my own I’ll get some help from the experts.
- See whales
An exciting range of whale species can be seen in the waters around the UK, more than you might think. I’m hoping that a boat trip in Scotland will reveal at least one species!
My city garden is sadly barren of wildlife. When I moved in it was just a rectangle of concrete and decking, so I’m keen to try and make it a haven for wildlife. So far, not a single bird has landed in it. Fingers crossed!
- See a hummingbird hawkmoth
I think this is the UK’s most exciting moth. It looks like a hummingbird as it buzzes around sipping nectar.
- Swim with seals
Another one planned in for Scotland. I’m going to spend some time getting up close and person with some of the UK’s amazing seals.
Adorable round dippers are one of my favourite birds. They’re found in shallow rivers, bobbing around looking for bugs.
Another Scottish one. Wild camping is a must when you’re in Scotland, as it’s legal! I want to sleep out under the stars.
- Go wild swimming
This one has been a bit of a craze of late, and yet it’s still not something I’ve done. I’m going to go searching for a wild swimming spot.
- Find an orchid in the wild
We’ve been running a lot of articles about seeing orchids recently, and I’ve realised it’s probably easier to see them that I think. I’m going to head out and try to see an orchid for myself.
I would love to see an otter! They are really hard to see these days, and you have to stake out known sites early in the morning to get a fleeting glimpse.
- Cut down my use of plastic
This is a really important one at the moment. I’m going to try and eradicate the use of plastic bags and cling film in my kitchen, and try to de-plastic the bathroom.
- Go vegan one day a week
Diet changes are also a hot topic right now. I’m going to try and switch to plant-based milk and yoghurt, and try to be totally vegan at least one day a week.
- Go veggie one day a week
I’m also going to cut down on meat. I’m going to start with a few easy switches and then work towards being weekday vegetarian.
- See a blackcap
Blackcaps are a well-known spring and summer visitor to the UK, but they’ve been cropping up more and more in the winter months, too.
- Build a bug house
I want to make a home for bugs in my barren garden. If the bugs come, maybe a bird will too!
- See a red squirrel
Another iconic species on the list. I’ll look for these in Scotland or, failing that, Brownsea Island.
- Go on a badger watch
My mum and I have been talking about doing this for years, so this summer I’m determined to join a badger watch. Fingers crossed we see some!
- Make my garden bee friendly
I’m going to make my garden work hard this year and fill it with bee-friendly plants to help our struggling bees.
I’m sure I must have been to a bluebell wood at some point in my life, but nothing sticks in the memory. So, come April, I’m going to hunt one out.
The big four summer visitors – Bristol is great for swifts so I’m going to tick all four off my list this summer.
- See a gannet
From spending a lot at time at work writing about birds and looking at pictures of birds, gannets have become on of my favourites. They are one of the most photogenic birds, entering the sea like a missile to catch fish.
Emma Pocklington 