The National Trust has teamed up with wildlife expert and TV presenter Hamza Yassin to launch a new campaign, 'Wild Senses', encouraging people to engage with nature during autumn and winter. The initiative coincides with Yassin's BBC series 'Hamza's Hidden Wild Isles', which celebrates the UK's seasons and highlights the wildlife to be found everywhere, from cities to the countryside.
Yassin described autumn as a sensory feast, noting the colours of changing leaves, the sight and sound of migrating birds such as redwings and pink-footed geese, and the dramatic rutting of red deer. He encouraged people to forage for fungi and listen to stags roaring in places like Richmond Park. 'Autumn is probably the best month for it,' he said.
The campaign follows a YouGov poll commissioned by the National Trust, which found that while 90% of people believe spending time in nature boosts their wellbeing, only 34% feel connected to nature across all seasons. Just 13% feel most connected in autumn, and a mere 3% in winter, suggesting a seasonal disconnect.
To address this, the trust has launched 'Naturehood' in partnership with the free walking app Go Jauntly, offering three curated walks in London, Manchester, and Birmingham that explore green and blue spaces. National Trust director general Hilary McGrady emphasised that nature is not confined to reserves but exists in gardens, streets, and local parks, and that autumn provides a 'sensory feast' vital for wellbeing as days grow darker.
