"It seems to me that the natural world is the greatest source of excitement; the greatest source of visual beauty; the greatest source of intellectual interest. It is the greatest source of so much in life that makes life worth living."
David Attenborough
World Environment Day
Shropshire and Beyond
To celebrate World Environment Day staff at Shropshire Wildlife Trust are sharing some of the ways they like to get out in nature and connect with the environment.
Cath Edwards, Senior Project Officer - Land and Water
My favourite time spent in nature is very early in the morning. Once awake, I get dressed and take my two dogs, Pippa and Izzy, for a walk around a small wood at the back of my house. The birds are singing, there is no one about, the distant traffic noise hasn’t started yet and the light shining through the leaves is magical. Sometimes I stop and use the Merlin App on my phone to identify the birds by their songs, it’s a great way to teach yourself. On my way round, I also get a lovely view of The Wrekin, if the weather is fine. The walk is just a mile long, which takes me half an hour. Time I would just have spent lazing in bed! It’s a great way to start the day.
Wendy Wyatt, Fundraising Officer
Growing up in the North West of England, I was extremely lucky to live in close proximity to the Lake District. It is difficult not to be blown away by the sheer natural beauty the Lake District so effortlessly exudes. Family walks through the spectacular hills were a regular weekend occurrence and I have those formative experiences to thank for the deep connection I feel with the natural world. For me, this connection always feels strongest when traversing a landscape on foot. I love the feeling of navigating my way through the countryside, with a trusty OS map in hand and everything I need in my backpack. The chaos of the modern world shrinks away, and my only responsibility is to get myself from A to B. In 2022 I made Shropshire my home and I’ve been exploring the abundant footpaths ever since. I feel an affinity with Shropshire, to quote A.E. Housman it is “the country for easy livers, the quietest under the sun”.
Clive Dean, Reserves Officer
I love nothing better than walking through green space. It's both my spiritual replenishment and my form of meditation. It can take many forms from a simple morning dog walk through the Rea Brook Valley with Finley, my golden retriever, to a week-long backpacking trip on the Skye Trail, carrying all I need on my back for survival in that wild landscape. Whatever form it takes for me the important thing is to be living in the moment, to be present. This is a Buddhist and yoga inspired idea of noticing what is around you and within you and is hugely enhanced for me when surrounded by the calm and beauty of the natural environment. Notice the forms of the different trees and how they move in the breeze; hear the sounds of insects and birds as they go about their business; and forget for a while the busy life you will soon return to.
Jen Allerton, Youth Engagement Officer (Activism)
For me, being out in nature is all about discovery, whether it’s discovering somewhere I’ve never been before and taking in the fresh scenery, searching in rockpools for tiny hidden crabs and starfish, or learning more about the wildlife I see around me on a daily basis. There’s nothing that makes me smile like noticing a plant I’ve recently learned to identify, or watching a behaviour I’ve not seen before in an animal and going to look up what it’s all about by reading or asking friends. It genuinely makes me feel like an excited child – as children, discovering and learning new things is a daily activity and I plan to firmly hold onto this part of my childish self!
Nicola Button, Content Communications Officer
I love the water, whether that’s a river, lake, or the sea. The feeling of being cast adrift, not tied down or controlled. Far from the influences of anything but nature. There’s one particular memory I have of kayaking on Loch Nedd, on the west coast of Scotland. After the exhilaration of spotting wild otters and harbour seals, I sat motionless in the middle of the loch, no worries or responsibilities. Completely at the mercy of the tide creeping in from the sea. The wind dancing lightly upon the surface, creating small but orderly rows of ripples that flit across the water. The faint, monotonous lapping against the side of the kayak was soothing. I let my body rock with the ebb and flow of the waves, slowly coalescing with the currents until I felt at one with the loch. My every sense was touched by nature, down to the salty sea water on my lips, a result of my clumsy paddling. My thoughts were not troubled and my heart was full of gratitude for nature’s tranquil embrace that day.