Yorkshire is a treasure trove of wild experiences just waiting to be explored, home to a wealth of wildlife and amazing experiences for anyone looking to get out and about, and discover what makes our great green county so wonderful.

Not everyone is a seasoned wildlife-watcher; for many of us, working out what there is to see – let alone where and how to see it – can be quite daunting. Telling your pink-footed goose from your greylag goose – or your inkcaps from your waxcaps, or trying to identify something floating in a rockpool – is another matter entirely!

It isn’t for want of trying. According to the People and Nature Survey in 2022, 68% of people said they were taking more time to notice and engage with everyday nature in our post-pandemic world. It is clear the pandemic had a noticeable impact on our engagement with the natural world, spurring many of us out into the closest greenery we could find.

However, this transformation was not felt by all. The survey also revealed that 26% of adults had not spent any time in green and natural spaces in the previous 14 days – this figure rose to 37% for people from lower income households. Many people feel unwelcome and unsafe in green spaces or are unable to access wild places close to where they live, the barriers are complicated and numerous – and 1 in 3 people say they have no nature within easy access of their home.

Yorkshire Wildlife Trust believe everyone, everywhere, of every age, should have access to wild spaces and the positive impacts being outdoors can have. The Wildlife Trusts federation is calling on Government to implement a ‘legal right to nature’ and our own #TeamWilder initiative across Yorkshire is inspiring communities to take action for nature on their doorstep.

More than anything, we love to help people get up close to wildlife around them. The Trust has been running an events programme for forty years, and offers a range of activities and experiences from free and low-cost drop-in events right up to bespoke expert guided tours. We are always delighted to welcome new people along - whatever their experience with the natural world and especially if they’ve never stepped foot on a nature reserve before.

This half-term we have a whole calendar of wonderfully wild events at nature reserves across Yorkshire spanning the entire two weeks – and at a range of price points, including some free events. Whether you fancy a fungi frenzy, wand whittling around a campfire, star gazing or a spooky seashore safari at night, we’ve got the perfect adventure for you.

Want to learn more about our events programme or sign up to attend an event? Visit www.ywt.org.uk/our-events to find out more about the incredible wildlife you can spot!