©Stefan Johansson
As part of 30 Days Wild, we’re inviting everyone to connect with nature in simple, everyday ways. Whether it’s noticing the flowers blooming on your street, watching insects at work, or looking up to spot birds overhead, these small moments can spark a deeper connection with the natural world.
We asked our staff to share a species they love to see in June - here’s what they said…
Red-tailed Bumblebee on Common Knapweed © Debbie Bigg
At this time of year, I delight in seeing the Common Knapweed in flower, in my neighbour's front garden. It is absolutely brimming with bees, especially Buff-tailed Bumblebees and Red-tailed Bumblebees. Seeing so many of them collecting nectar makes me feel hopeful that together we can restore nature - this is evidence, on a very local level, of how we, as individuals, can make a difference to encouraging wildlife - plant it and they will come! And, if you just watch them for a minute or so, it's clear to see where the phrase 'busy bee' comes from!!
Common Knapweed is thistle-like in appearance and it is often a component in a wild-flower mix. You can also spot it on roadside verges and in grasslands. As well as attracting bees, butterflies love it!
Buff-tailed Bumblebee © Debbie Bigg
Buff-tailed Bumblebees are our go-to image of a bee - the type you might see a young child draw with yellow and black stripes! Take a good look at them close-up and you can see how fluffy they look, and the almost lace-like appearance of their transparent wings.
Red-tailed Bumblebees are smaller than Buff-tailed Bumblebees with a dense fluffy black front and a gingery-orange rearend. They are very common to see in gardens and in the wider countryside.
White Admiral © Iain Ward
Towards the end of June, woodland paths can reveal something truly special: the White Admiral, one of our true woodland butterflies. It seems something of a miracle that such a delicate creature can emerge at the end of its lifecycle after surviving the harshness of winter followed by persistent, possible predation by numerous bird species, to fly so gracefully along the rides and in the glades of some of our ancient woods.
©Mike Snelle
My species is the Broad-bodied Chaser dragonfly. I love watching dragonflies, the ‘birds of prey’ of the insect world. They’re so colourful and exceedingly agile in flight as they hunt or defend territory. The Broad-bodied Chaser is one of the more identifiable species, as it’s as close as dragonflies get to being ‘fat’. Males are powder blue while females are a drabber brown, but both share a wide, short body that makes them easier to pick out from other species.
© Nick Upton
Swifts are one of my favourite signs that summer has arrived. They spend almost their entire lives in the air - even sleeping, drinking and mating on the wing - only landing to nest. You’ll often spot them in groups, screaming as they wheel over rooftops like little arrows in the sky. I love watching them swoop past the houses nearby, their sharp calls making them impossible to ignore. They travel all the way from Africa each year to be here, and then are gone again by August - which somehow makes those fleeting moments feel even more special. If you haven’t already, take a moment this month to look up!
Why not take part in 30 Days Wild! This June, we’re inviting you to do something wild every day throughout the month. It doesn’t have to be big or complicated. It could be:
By noticing and appreciating these moments, we begin to see just how much nature is all around us, even in the most everyday places.
Spending time in nature isn’t just good for wildlife -it’s good for us, too. Taking part in 30 Days Wild has been shown to boost mental health, wellbeing and happiness, helping people feel more connected, relaxed and positive. Even small daily interactions with nature can reduce stress, lift your mood, and give you a sense of calm in an otherwise busy world.
