Winter is a season of quiet wonder, offering the perfect opportunity to wander and witness how our local wildlife adapts to the colder temperatures.
WWF is challenging people of all ages to step out and stroll either 5 or 10 kilometres between 10th – 23rd of February to help raise vital funds to protect and restore nature in the UK and around the world.
A WWF t-shirt will be given to anyone who raises £30, and an exclusive Big Winter Wander eco-medal is awarded to fundraisers who hit the £100 target.
Walking the walk
Whether it’s leisurely laps around your local park or a mosey in the woods, participants can choose their own path this winter. Some might prefer a solitary stroll, or to invite friends and family to create a fundraising super-team.
WWF will supply wanderers with all the resources needed to plan the event, and wildlife spotter sheets to help spot the winter nature on their doorstep, which might include starlings, robins, blue tits, red foxes, snowdrops, hawthorn or ash trees.
Nature and mental wellbeing: a double crisis
Nature is calling out for our help, the climate crisis and decline of biodiversity threatening the places we cherish most.
Whilst home to incredible species such as white-tailed eagles, turtle doves, beavers and basking sharks, the UK is also one of the most nature depleted countries in the world, sitting in the bottom 10% of countries for biodiversity.
Almost 1,500 species are now at risk from being lost from England, Wales, and Scotland, whilst close to three hundred species are under threat from being lost in Northern Ireland.
Just as nature is suffering, so too is mental health across the UK, with one in six people reporting a common mental health problem in any given week in England [1]. However, recent WWF polling [2] found 9 in 10 (89%) of UK public say that spending time in nature has a positive effect on their mental health.
Reconnecting with nature this winter can offer a salve for the seasonal blues, and spending time in green spaces is proven to reduce feelings of depression, stress and anxiety, whilst promoting calm, clarity and joy.
Nature spotting
In the raw quiet of winter months, our local landscape might feel bare, but life still stirs below and above sparkling blankets of frost. Look closely and you’ll be amazed by what you can spot in even the most built-up urban environments – greenery poking through the pavement, critters crawling between concrete, or a red fox sneaking through the street?
Depending on where you live, a number of plant and animal species can be spotted about the UK. WWF is encouraging people to keep their eyes and ears open for winter wildlife as they step out during the frost-kissed season:
Snowdrops: Considered the messengers of spring, snowdrops provide a welcome burst of brightness during the dark winter months. These white blooms are a sign that warmer weather is on the way however, seen to flower across the UK from January to March.
What to look for: Tear-shaped bright, white blooms.
The Waxwing: Waxwings are winter-only visitors, often migrating from areas of Scandinavia and Russia to northern and coastal areas across the UK where food is more plentiful. They begin their journey back north around March, after they’ve filled up on berry-rich bushes.
What to look for: Often found in gardens or orchards, look out for a black bib under its beak, a black eye mask, grey-pink plumage and a voluminous crest.
What to listen for: Thin, high-pitched trilling notes.
The Grey Seal: The grey seal, larger than the common seal with a much bigger head and pronounced sloping nose, can be spotted as they move from their feeding to breeding grounds around the UK coast, including places like Orkney, Cardigan Bay, Norfolk and all the way down to Cornwall.
What to look for: Grey fur with darker spots, often seen basking on rocks.
What to listen for: Grunts, growls, and sometimes a bark!
Goldcrest: The UK’s smallest species of bird, weighing around 5 grams, can be seen across the UK in mixed and coniferous woodlands, parks and gardens. Though some live in the UK year-round, the population is boosted in winter by birds migrating from Scandinavia for food.
What to look for: A distinctive orange / yellow stripe on its head, and a pale underbelly.
What to listen for: A high-pitched and squeaky song.
Barn Owl: Winter is a prime time to spot barn owls, as they become more active during the colder months in search of food to sustain them through the season. Though typically nocturnal hunters, don’t discount daytime spotting as the scarcity of prey can prompt them to venture out in the light too.
What to look for: Heart-shaped, pale face and white/light brown feathers
What to listen for: Though silent in flight, barn owls produce a haunting, eerie screeching
Louise Oakley, Director of Events and Community Fundraising at WWF-UK, said:
“Whilst these cold winter months can make it harder to find the energy to get outside, WWF’s Big Winter Wander reminds us of how rewarding it can be.
Just 20 minutes of being in nature is all it takes to lift the spirit and clear the mind, as we see our local landscapes transformed. The air is crisper, the fields frost-kissed, and the light softer in winter – a peaceful setting for spotting wildlife.
Anyone, anywhere, can take part in the Big Winter Wander. When you choose to walk with nature for this challenge, you are choosing to protect and preserve the very places you wander through, along with the wildlife that calls it home.”
Nicholas Thoresen, who has completed the challenge previously, enjoyed exploring nature with his family and doing his bit for the planet. His mum, Berit, said:
“The idea of doing The Big Winter Wander came after we watched ‘David Attenborough: A Life On Our Planet’, where the whole family made a pledge to do our bit in changing our lifestyles and make the world a better place. The Big Winter Wander gave Nicholas the opportunity to try and make a difference. If the youngest member of our family, who is a brave, disabled young man, can take some literal steps to try and battle the decline of the UK’s wildlife, anyone can.
“We went on regular walks to foster our mental wellbeing, finding the fresh air, green scenes and occasional wild animals stretched smiles across our faces. We were fortunate in the different types of animals we spotted including deer and heron.
Jack and Toby Foster live in Kent, and both took part in the 2024 Big Winter Wander. Their father, Matthew, said:
A group of kids standing in front of a treeDescription automatically generated“We took part primarily because it’s such a good cause. Jack, my eldest, often feels very concerned about climate change and human impact on the natural world and I really wanted to show him that when we are worried about things the best thing we can do is take action. I wanted to show him that he can make an impact. I have a strong belief that we can either get sad or do something.”
