When we are closer to nature, we feel happier and less stressed. It can make our busy lives feel less hectic, and it’s good for our physical health too.

Sadly, people in the UK are less connected to nature than in many other countries. This may be because the UK is one of the most nature-depleted places in the world. The good news is we’re working to change that, and here in Warwickshire there are still lots of fantastic places to experience wildlife.

We’ve chosen 12 activities to help you to notice, hear, feel, enjoy and care about nature over the next year. Our monthly nature challenge could help your mental wellbeing, bring you greater happiness and help wildlife too.

Starting this month, try these activities yourself, or with friends and family:

January

Make time to spend in nature. The new year is an opportunity to make new habits and think about how you could incorporate time in nature into your daily life. This month, go for a walk with a friend or pick up a hot drink and enjoy some quiet time in your local green space.

February

Celebrate the days getting longer and find joy in nature. Starling murmurations are one of the most spectacular wildlife sights in the winter, and can often be seen over towns and fields. Head outside one evening and see if you can spot their incredible display.

March

Give back to nature. Helping wildlife will help you to feel good too. If you have the space, you could help the birds by putting up a nesting box in your garden. If you don’t have a garden, you could hang bird feeders off your balcony or scatter some seeds for hungry birds.

April

Watch for signs of spring! Wildlife is waking up again and noticing it will help you feel connected to nature. Wrap up warm and listen to the dawn chorus just before the sun rises. Look for orange tip butterflies, one of our most widespread species.

May

Appreciate the nature around you. Tell someone about the wildlife you have seen recently and what you enjoyed about it. How did it make you feel? What have you noticed about the wild creatures around you? You could write down your thoughts to reflect on later.

June

Celebrate the longest day of the year by marking the summer solstice. Take a walk at one of our nature reserves, watch the sunset, stargaze, or look out for bats hunting in the twilight.

July

Create more space for wildlife. Get friends and family involved and see if you can make some simple changes around your home that will benefit nature. Could you plant some wildflowers, or make a hedgehog hole in your fence? Think about how you could reduce your carbon footprint.

August

Spend time in nature this month and feel the benefits it can provide for you. Take a picnic to your local park, sit and read your favourite book or play a game. Go barefoot to feel even closer to the earth.

September

Discover woodland treasures and forage for safe-to-eat blackberries. Collect just a few, leaving plenty for wild creatures. You could make blackberry jam or bake a crumble with your foraged goodies.

October

Notice the nature around you this month, especially things that you usually overlook. Listen for birdsong in the morning and the hooting of owls at night. Feel the texture of bark after trees drop their autumn leaves. Look for vibrant fungi and winter berries. You could keep a journal of the things you have noticed each week.

November

Winter days may be shorter, but there is still plenty of wildlife to see. Be inspired by nature this month and try a mini photo challenge: can you take a picture of a sunrise or sunset, a view you love, and some winter wildlife?

December

Share your love of wildlife with other people. The most important thing we can do for nature is to help others appreciate it, so that we can all work together to protect it. Could you influence your friends and family to leave a wild space in their garden, or to support the Wildlife Trust?