The Festival of Nature, the biggest free event of its kind in the country, comes back to Bristol and Bath this weekend after a reduced programme last year.
The week-long festival, which runs from this Saturday, June 5, to the following Saturday, will include a multitude of virtual and in-person events along with the launch of Festival of Nature TV and podcasts. 
It will also showcase 100 ‘voices for nature’ and aims to inspire 25,000 ‘actions for nature’ to help the natural world flourish in our communities.
The 19th annual Festival of Nature, which is organised by the Bristol-based Natural History Consortium will take place as new research suggests that nature became a more important part of our routines when life slowed down under coronavirus restrictions.
Natural England’s People and Nature Survey shows that, since coronavirus began, 42% adults report spending more time outside while 30% claimed they had spent more time noticing nature and wildlife.
This year’s Festival of Nature aims to help people stick to the ‘nature habit’ they developed during lockdown.
Participants can try tree yoga and attend outdoor talks in secret nature spots. There are plenty of chances to get creative too – with guided virtual draw-alongs, make-alongs and cook-alongs all themed around nature – as well as a session on writing a nature poem led by Bristol’s city poet.
Video and audio content will transport listeners to sites including Slimbridge Wetland Centre, Bristol and Bath’s parks, Bristol Zoo, stately home Tyntesfield, and the Botanic Gardens to showcase 100 ‘voices for nature’, hearing from site managers about how nature in these places fared during lockdown, and providing a sneak peak of what’s coming up this summer. 
Alongside the programme of events, organisers are encouraging the public to take ‘action for nature’ – 25,000 over the week, they hope – to inspire people to help nature flourish in their communities.
To get ideas flowing, organisers have teamed up with Bristol creative Keziah Wenham-Kenyon to produce a four-part podcast series themed around ways to take Action for Nature – take less, choose better, demand more and give back.
Natural History Consortium chief executive Savita Wilmott said: “The research from Natural England shows just how much we as a nation have relied on the natural world to tide us through consecutive lockdowns.
“The question now is how do we maintain our new-found connection to nature as our lives get busier?
“The Festival of Nature is the perfect opportunity to find new ways to engage with, and spend time in, nature – and it’s all completely free. With a focus this year on Voices for Nature, we’re going to be giving a voice to people who are helping nature and wildlife to flourish across Bristol and Bath.
“The Festival of Nature has become a key event in the West’s calendar over the years, and we’re tremendously excited that we’ve been able to offer new and exciting ways to engage with wildlife this year.
“With online and in-person events taking place across Bristol and Bath, as well as over 100 pieces of video and audio content set to be released over the week, there really is something for everyone.”
For more information, and to see the full programme of content and events, visit www.festivalofnature.org.uk
