How wild is your summer turning out?
My June turned a little wilder than usual, as I stepped up- or rather dug in- for 30 Days Wild. If you haven’t heard about it, it’s a fantastic initiative coordinated by the UK’s 46 Wildlife Trusts, the leading conservation network dedicated to conserving wildlife and wild places. Since 2015, 30 Days Wild has been encouraging individuals, families, schools and organisations to look closer at the nature surrounding us, and take daily actions to enjoy, appreciate and support it.
Nurture Nature
Not, you might think, a natural fit for a busy dentistry clinic, but actually, a great fit for us. At Crossbank Dental Care, we have always been passionate about providing exceptional dental care while giving back to our community and the environment, like our “Implant a Tree” initiative with Cumbria Wildlife Trust, who are spearheading 30 Days Wild in our region.
Activities could include heading out to a nature reserve, local park, or even the back doorstep for bird or butterfly watching, building a bug hotel, or planting pollinator-friendly native flowers. But we felt we could do something more impactful for the nature on the clinic’s doorstep, caught in that vulnerable zone between urban and rural.
A Challenge I Couldn’t Resist
I identified a neglected pocket of land behind the practice’s admin building that could be doing so much good as a wildlife pond and in all my spare moments since, I’ve been swapping smart shoes for wellies, picking up a spade, and digging.
Not glamorous, but so rewarding, and more so as our little oasis will take (natural) shape and settle in. Wildlife ponds certainly punch above their weight in terms of nature benefits, providing a home, shelter, and sustenance for an array of wildlife. Despite our damp climate, small mammals, bees and birds often struggle to reach safe drinking water so small ponds - even an old washing up bowl - can be lifesavers.
Start Small, Do Something
We have already undertaken initiatives to improve the sustainability of the practice, including reducing clinic waste, switching to sustainable bamboo toilet roll, low energy lightbulbs, chlorine-free inks, recycled paper and solar panels. It took us a while to realise we could make an even more immediate positive impact for local wildlife right outside the door: we started with letting native plant (“weeds” to the uninitiated!) take hold in wall nooks and crannies. We love hearing passing families pointing out the flowers and visiting insects to their children, just as Neil and I do with ours - look with fresh eyes at your next appointment.
Go Wild, Be Wonderful
Together, we can make a lasting impact on nature - and ourselves. Analysis repeatedly shows increased connection with nature brings improved health, happiness and relationship benefits. Could you extend “No-Mow May” to letting a corner of your garden grow wild, fitting a window box, or rewilding that old washing up bowl?
See www.cumbriawildlifetrust.org.uk for great ideas, let us know what you’ve been inspired to do, and never forget: nature’s much more important - and rewarding - than the washing up, any day!
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