You may already have some resolutions for the New Year. But if one of them is to get more connected to nature, and you're looking for tried and tested ways to do this and for ways to make sure you actually achieve your goals, then read on . . .
1) Find a sit spot
A sit spot is a place where you can regularly sit still and take in the natural world around you with all your senses. There can be huge value in doing this, especially if we visit regularly over a long period of time. We get to know our wild neighbours in more depth, and gain a deeper insight into nature through the seasons. It is also a great way of cultivating mindfulness in nature.
One of my mentors visited her sit spot daily for 13 years (missing just three days)! She is one of the most nature connected people I have met. Visiting every day has huge benefits but even if you can’t make it that often, it’s still a habit well worth forming. You can create a goal to find and then visit your sit spot, say, 50 times in the coming year. That's less than once a week and you can always do more if you find you have the time.
An ideal sit spot should be easily accessible from where you live and have a bit of nature that you can observe. Some people even use a park bench. Don’t overthink it and just get started!
2) Start a nature journal
Making a note of your observations can be really rewarding and valuable. Recording things like weather, phase of the moon, behaviour of insects, birds and other animals, what the trees and other plants are doing helps us to become more observant. It also allows us to spot patterns over time. When I look back on my nature journals over the decades I have sometimes been struck with insights that didn't occur to me at the time.
You can do your journal in your own way. For some people it's a few notes scrawled on a notepad while others may go all out with watercolours and sketches. You might feel like doing it as poetry, rigorous scientific notes or both. You might even prefer to keep an audio journal. Stay curious and keep asking questions in your journal.
3) Listen to the dawn chorus
The dawn chorus is magical experience. It's really worth the early start to hear the buildup from the silence of the night to the full-blown chorus. Check out the RSPB or your local Wildlife Trust for organised events in early May. Or you can just get out and do it yourself or with friends.
4) Watch a meteor shower
There are a number of different meteor showers that happen at predictable times through the year. Make an evening of it and enjoy one of these celestial spectacles! This meteor shower calendar is handy.
5) Brush up your ID skills
You could aim to learn one (or number of your choice) new bird song, wildflower, tree, mammal track, constellation, lichen or whatever. Set an achievable goal and enjoy the adventure of discovery.
6) Plant wildflowers
You can even do this in pots on the balcony or by the back door. Every bit counts when it comes to providing food sources for beleaguered insects such as bumblebees and butterflies. And you get the enjoyment of watching these fascinating animals going about their business. Or you could convert part of you lawn to a wildflower meadow.
7) Put up a bird or bat box
Support birds and/or bats by providing boxes. This is important because natural cavities in trees are now in short supply. You can make the boxes yourself or buy them online. Check our RSPB and the Bat Conservation Trust for more details.
8) Create a wildlife pond
Wildlife ponds are extremely important for biodiversity, and many have been lost from the countryside. A friend of mine once dug a washing up bowl into her lawn and proudly showed us the frog who visited. Just make sure they have a way of getting out. If you feel inclined you can also create a bigger pond. you'll be amazed by how much wildlife turns up.
9) Support rewilding
Rewilding offers a bright ray of hope for our damaged planet. Supporting rewilding with a donation or by getting directly involved can make a genuine difference. There are many ways you can help. Check out my rewilding blog for ideas of how to get involved.
10) Get involved in citizen science
There are many different ways that we can all contribute to monitoring our biodiversity. Perhaps the most famous example is the RSPB's Big Garden Birdwatch. It's a great way to learn while helping wildlife. Also check out the many others including Butterfly Conservation’s Big Butterfly Count.
Following through
You'll notice that these ideas are fairly modest in scale. This makes us much more likely to do them. This then helps us to form new habits which can then be built upon if you're feeling more ambitious. This tends to be much more effective then going for something grandiose but then not getting started because it seems daunting. The ideas are all scalable as well so you can adjust them to what you will realistically achieve. You might pick one, do all 10 or a lot more.
Many New Years resolutions fail for a range of reasons, including that they are vague, unrealistic or that there isn't a strong enough incentive to break through our old habits. So pick something specific and manageable and with a clear end result. Asking a friend to be an accountability buddy can also help. Get them to check in with you part way through the year, and you can do the same for them. And most of all, enjoy connecting!
Wishing you a nature-rich year,
Dan