Looking after yourself, and nature

Peacock butterfly on buddleia © David Kilbey

Peacock butterfly on buddleia © David Kilbey

Looking after yourself - and nature

In light of the coronavirus outbreak, maintaining a connection with the natural world is more important than ever to ensure we're taking good care of our health and wellbeing.

We know that people who spend time in nature are happier and healthier, but it can be difficult to know how to do this safely in the current climate. 

It's really important to stay active and exercise where you can. This can be as simple as doing morning yoga in your own back garden! Whilst our education centres and car parks are closed, many nature reserves are remaining open. If they are close to you and visiting them is part of your daily exercise, a bit of time every day spent in nature can help relieve stress and improve mental wellbeing. If you do want to visit a reserve, only head to those within walking distance and always make sure you follow Government guidance on social distancing.

Here are some other tips and resources that we hope will help you in the coming weeks!

Activities

Things to do and make

There are still lots of ways that you can help wildlife during this time. We've got some brilliant activity sheets to download. If you do try any of these, please share with us on social media using #everydaywildlife. We'd love to see!

All of these activities are perfect for families to do together. 

Make a mini nature reserve

Make a butterfly painting

How to build a bottle basking shark

How to clean bird feeders

Make a nectar bar

Make a mini pond

Make an edible pond

Make a model butterfly

Make your own compost

Grow vegetables for wildlife

Make a butterfly feeder

Make your own glow worm

Marine colouring in sheets

Octopus
Dolphin
Crab

Make an egg carton crab

Build a birds nest

Make a rain stick

Feeding birds on the ground

Make a treasure chest

Make beeswax wraps

Make a model dragonfly

Make a nature treasure chest

How to make seed bombs

Plant a butterfly box

How to make a nest box

Make your own binoculars

How to make leaf skeletons

Try wildlife themed yoga

Help birds avoid windows

Make a nature mandala

Things to see

You don't have to go far to see wildlife. Even looking at of your window or standing in your garden can give great opportunities for nature spotting! Here are some sheets to help you.

Learn how to identify bees

Learn how to identify butterflies and moths

Spot garden mini-beasts

Primrose at Blashford Lakes nature reserve

 © Bob Chapman

Watch our new YouTube series - Bringing Nature To You

Take a look
Insect home © David Kilbey

Insect home © David Kilbey

Help wildlife at home

From feeding the birds to planting for bees

Get ideas
Blackbird © Neil Aldridge

Blackbird © Neil Aldridge

Tune into our Wildlife Watch YouTube channel

Watch Now!
Barn owl

© Tony Matthews

Support the Wildlife Trust

Can you help the Hampshire and Isle of Wight Wildlife Trust to protect wild spaces?

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