Residents from across Bath and North East Somerset are being urged to get involved in this month’s Festival of Nature, the UK’s largest free celebration of the natural world.

Launching on Saturday, 5th June, World Environment Day, this year’s event centres on ‘Nature’s Voices’, celebrating and honouring how nature has supported us through the pandemic and the ways we can work together with nature to support our collective recoveries.

Councillor David Wood, cabinet member for Neighbourhood Services said: “Many of us relied on nature to tide us through lockdowns over the past year, using our daily exercise to spend time outdoors. Although we are returning to a more normal way of life, it’s important we continue to connect with nature for both our mental and physical wellbeing. The Festival of Nature is the perfect opportunity to find new ways to engage with and spend time in nature and the family and adult friendly activities and events are all completely free.”

Savita Willmott, Director of The Natural History Consortium which has produced the event since 2003, added: “We’ve designed this year’s programme to be Covid-19 safe, and accessible to help everyone in Bath, Bristol and beyond connect with nature, visit more places and discover their own power for change as we take action for nature together.”

The Festival is well known for organising large events in central Bath and Bristol, but rather than cancel in 2020 and 2021, the charity behind the event has embraced new ways of connecting with communities remotely through an interactive programme of audio, video and digital content.

Through the Bathscape, Sydney Gardens, and Somer Valley Rediscovered Projects, Parks and others, Bath & North East Somerset Council will be leading activity as one of the core Festival of Nature partners including:

• 10.30 am & 2 pm Saturday 5th June - Bathscape walks – Urban Tree Walk

• 3 pm Saturday, 5th June – Exploring Sydney Gardens and the Somer Valley Film with Miriam Woolnough

• 10 am Monday, 7th June – Let’s get buzzing podcast with Paul Pearce, team leader Parks & Trees

• 7 pm Friday, 11th June – Interview with Councillor Jess David, member advocate for biodiversity as part of the ‘Demand More’ podcast, which explores how to work with elected members to improve your local environment.

From Saturday, 5th June – Saturday, 12th June festival participants can also look forward to Interactive live activities including make-alongs, quizzes and workshops. From foraged food recipes and tips for wellbeing on a budget, to zoom calling a giraffe and family wildlife quizzes, there is a huge range of free activities on offer.

A range of audio content, including interviews with well-known nature experts and presenters, podcast trails in favourite places, and live streamed audio can be found at: www.festivalofnature.org.uk