Go wild at Mincinglake Valley Park
A wildlife charity is inviting the local people of Exeter to go wild and celebrate nature at a family fun day in one of Exeter’s best-known Valley Parks: Mincinglake.
The event marks day 16 in Devon Wildlife Trusts’ month long 30 Days Wild challenge; in which members of the public pledge to complete a ‘random act of wildness’ each day, during the month of June.
With guided wildlife walks, wild crafts, bug hunting, and other wild activities on offer, the charity hopes to re-energise participants and inspire more people to take part.
The event is being held on Saturday 16 June, from 11am – 3pm at Mincinglake Valley Park. Visitors are encouraged to meet at the Sylvania Community Hall, located off Stoke Hill.
Devon Wildlife Trust’s Rosie Govier, said:
“Everyone is welcome to join us at Mincinglake Valley Park for day 16 of 30 Days Wild! It’s going to be a fantastic day with lots to see and do. We have a storyteller who will be joining us for the day, reptile walks, bug hunting, crafts and so much more. We would love families to come along with their picnic and spend some time just enjoying this amazing patch of wild.”
Devon Wildlife Trust is suggesting that people use the month of June to reconnect with wildlife and the natural world. Now in its fourth year, 30 Days Wild is a nationwide initiative in which more than 250,000 people across the UK took part last year.
Participants in 30 Days Wild sign up for free and in return commit to undertaking a simple random act of wildness each day for a month. This year these acts include searching for mini-beasts in your own back garden or park, running/walking barefoot across grass or the beach, and learning to recognise a new birdsong.
For those wanting to take it easy there’s also the more restful suggestion of taking a ‘nap in nature’ where participants are being urged to ‘chill out & take a nap in the long grass; while the birds and the bees serenade you to sleep.’
Rosie continued:
“In the past we’ve had great take up from people undertaking 30 Days Wild with their schools, in their offices and as families. People seem to like the fact that it’s easy to do, is free and that it gets them out of doors to enjoy the wonderful Devon’s natural riches.”
“The idea behind 30 Days Wild is to get us all to take a bit of time out of our busy lives to engage with nature. A growing amount of research, along with our own common sense, tells us that being out of doors and in the natural world is good for our physical and mental health.”
30 Days Wild is free to take part in. Participants receive a digital pack with wallchart, stickers and lots of suggestions for ‘going wild’. People can sign up on-line at www.devonwildlifetrust.org/30DaysWild and is open to individuals, couples, families, schools and even businesses.
