Lighting up the night at the RHS Christmas light walk

“I visited a Christmas light walk at RHS gardens with my friend and her mum. I really enjoyed myself as the lights were absolutely mesmerising to see all lit up as you briskly walk through the paths, embracing your surroundings around a colourful winter wonderland. Within the 12 days of 12 Days Wild, I have learnt that there is beauty in the small things. 

Throughout the year I went on lovely walks, so finishing off the year adventuring through magical light displays was breath taking. I have also been recycling more to help with my environment and keep the world a safer, happier place to live in.” 

By Tahirah Majid

Celebrating the Winter Solstice 

“For one of my 12 Days Wild activities, me and my friends took a trip down to our local park to celebrate the Winter Solstice by building a campfire together. By spending the evening in nature, surrounded by friends. Although chilly, it was an amazing experience and made me appreciate my local green space that much more. The experience really inspired me to devote more time to surrounding myself with the wild. Not only did I personally feel enlightened by this event, it also made me feel the need to share it with others. Fresh air is truly magical; not only is being outside a great opportunity to be with your friends but it completely clears your mind and makes you feel at one with yourself.”   

By Rowan Boyd, 18  

Run, run Rudolph! Christmas Day park run

"ParkRun was a great way to start 12 Days Wild. We met at 9am on Christmas morning, surrounded by nature and the local community.  

ParkRun is not complicated, it is about turning up and being outdoors. Walk, run or support with a glass of Bucks Fizz. It really was a great way to spend Christmas morning. 

I was definitely not alone! Across five countries, there were 741 events and 236,286 finishers. At my local ParkRun, there were 766 runners and walkers. The Grinch even showed up too, it’s good job he did not manage to steal Christmas!” 

By Poppy Roberts 

Volunteering in the woods

“As a nature lover, living in a city can be tough at times. As stunning as York is, I felt a strong itch to be back out in nature. Whilst there were a fair few nice walks, they were beginning to blend into one and become uninspiring. As the January air became colder, I found it harder to drag myself out of the comfort of my room. When I heard about the 12 Days Wild challenge, I realised that volunteering in nature could be a great way to hold myself accountable and also make meaningful change. Little did I know, there was absolute magic right on my doorstep. The Foss Island Fairy Trail in York is a woodland nature walk filled with charming fairy houses and decorations. But what makes this walk so special is that these decorations are all hand crafted with love by the public. Over time, more and more people have left their hard work for others to enjoy, creating an enchanting woodland area. I decided to sign myself up to be a volunteer at the trail, and was met by the lovely volunteer coordinator who showed me around. This experience showed me just how important it is to protect nature, so that we can preserve beautiful places like this and spread the magic of nature. However, it also opened my eyes to how many people out there still care about the natural world and that if people come together beautiful things can happen.” 

By Sarah Curless, 18

A New Year campfire

“My mum, dad, little sister Zara and brother Dylan, along with our dog, Daisy, and I came together on the eve of New Year’s and celebrated over a makeshift fire, with marshmallow s’mores, sausages on sticks, and other tasty treats. We enjoyed the nighttime animals around us, as well as the beautiful scenery of bushes, flowers and trees. However, the views don’t stop on land- the stars came out, twinkling and waving to us below, and fireworks boomed in response.  

Having this campfire with my family made me believe that humanity can still work hand in hand with our environment, we can still enjoy it, when doing ‘human things’, too. So, even if it means grabbing a donut, reading a book, or listening to music, get out there! Enjoy what’s around you! Whether it’s the chirping of birds, the setting of the sun, or the smell of trees, it’s always worth it when it comes to our wild side.” 

By Olivia Bukowiec, 15