I never thought Emma seemingly dismissing 30 Days Wild, just three days in, would please me so much, but her sentiment was both unexpected and absolutely true.

Yesterday, as we tramped the dank mosquito-infested swampland that is Raveley Wood in rural Cambridgeshire, flapping our hats around vulnerable legs like a cow might swish it’s tail at the pestering flies, my wife was hassling me in the nicest possible way about the theme of what we were doing:

“What’s the subject of today’s 30 days wild activity? She asked. It felt like we were trying to recreate some early exploration in the tropics as clouds of biting insects tried to ruin a sunny Sunday afternoon.

“I don't think I want to do a specific subject everyday it’s just nice to...”

I started to reply but our daughter Emma interrupted me with these words: “it’s not really about doing a thing. It’s not about 30 days wild. It’s about staying wild”.

I never thought Emma seemingly dismissing 30 Days Wild, just three days in, would please me so much but her sentiment, was both unexpected and absolutely true.

It’s about staying wild

We are not focusing on one animal, plant or even activity each day, this year. It is much more about discovering and much more about putting ourselves in a situation to simply experience nature and whatever may happen, happens. Whatever we see, we see.

These first few days of June we have been out wandering in Portholme Meadow, dipping in the river, walking barefoot in the grass, getting bitten by mosquitos and enjoying the nature that directly surrounds our home. We found the huge seed head of a yellow salsify, a starling's egg and enjoyed the sun on our backs.

I was so encouraged by what Emma said because I feel, without getting too philosophical, that she is really beginning to understand the importance of the natural world not simply as a form of entertainment but as an integral and fulfilling part of life.