10 Ways to be Wild During Lockdown

Looking back through previous posts, I discovered this “10 Ways to Stay Wild this Summer” which sprung from the Wildlife Trusts 30 Days Wild campaign. In today’s weird world, some of the things aren’t appropriate but we still want to remain as wild as we can. So read on to find 10 ways to be wild during lockdown which allows you connect with nature in safe and sensible ways. It can involve planting some flowers to attract the bees into your garden, building a bug house or going for a walk in your local area and identifying the trees, plants and wildlife. 

Staying wild is not only good for nature, it’s good for your own well-being by becoming aware and using all your 5 senses; the touch of the rough bark, the warmth of the sun on your face, the smell of the flowers, the taste of the herbs you’ve just picked from the garden, the sounds of the birds and the sites you’ll take in. #staylocalstaywild

Here’s some ideas to get you started whether you’re on your own or with the other members of your household:

2. Explore somewhere new (locally)

Find your home on Google Maps and have a good look around. Hopefully you’ll find some green space not too far away that you may have never been too; down a snicket that leads to a playing field or a disused railway where buddleias are all over grown. It may even be down different streets on your housing estate. It may be as scenic as what we’re used to, but it’s still exploring! You never know what you may find.

3. Create an stop motion animation indoor adventure film

You may not have heard what it’s called but you’ll certainly have seen it – Stop Motion Animation. Here’s a link to get you started “How to Make Motion Videos“. Think of an outside adventure that you’ve always wanted to do (or should have been doing lockdown) then rein-act it with a stop motion movie such as “Freeride Skiing Home“. You’ll learn something new, it’ll keep you busy and all you need is the free app “Stop Motion Studio” on your phone and get your creative juices flowing!

4. Get Active Outside

Go for a walk or a family bike ride. OS Maps have an awesome app and for a very reasonable price, you can find routes for walking and cycling for anywhere in the UK. It’s perfect if you’re unsure where to go and want to find the footpaths and local routes. Just filter by the area you’re planning on exploring and the distance you want to travel. Make sure your phone is fully charged before heading out and don’t go outside your comfort and safety levels. #staylocal

5. Outside yoga

This is a personal favourite of mine. It’s not only good for your fitness, it’s creates some head space and is awesome for your general well-being.  Find a flat grassy spot and yes, it can bit more challenging holding tree pose when it’s windy! Take the opportunity to listen to the birds and insects, feel the wind and sun (and sometimes little bugs) on your skin and the grass between your toes…..ahhhhh. There’s no better way to unwind. Don’t know where to start? There’s plenty of free online tutorials to get you going. Just be mindful not to do anything that you feel uncomfortable with and stop if anything hurts.

6. Wildlife Identification

Go for a walk and try identifying the trees, flowers, birds and animals that you come across. It’s difficult to remember what you saw when you’re back home, but there’s plenty of cool apps out there that help you identify wildlife on the go. If you take a photo, then google lens it, it’s usually pretty accurate. If you prefer to stay away from screen time whilst you’re out, take pictures or draw a picture in a notebook, writing down the key features and where you saw it. This is called the jizz (or giss). So if you were describing the jizz of a bird, you’d describe its overall appearance with such features as shape, posture, how it moves and flies, size and colour, what types of noise it makes, its habitat and where you saw it.