Take action into your own hands

Simple lifestyle changes and swaps make a huge difference, no matter how small they may seem. Not only that, but taking action into your own hands is also hugely empowering.

A great place to start is on your own doorstep. Download our free wildlife gardening guide for lots of tips on how you can encourage more wildlife into your space, no matter how big or small. You could also try to cut down on single-use plastic, go peat free or change your diet. 

Volunteer to support nature’s recovery

From outdoor practical conservation to office-based support, we simply could not function without our dedicated volunteers and the knowledge, skills and time they share with us.

Whether you join us on one of our reserves, a site that we help to manage or at one of our offices, you’ll be standing alongside over 32,500 other Wildlife Trust volunteers across the UK, helping to tackle the climate and ecological emergency. From Manchester’s parks to the Irish Sea, join us as a volunteer today.

Become an armchair activist

The term ‘armchair activism’ is often used as an insult to describe someone who is active on social media about causes and campaigns but who never leaves the comfort of their home - the metaphorical ‘armchair’ - to actually do anything about it.

More recently, likely exacerbated by the pandemic which forced us all to spend much more time inside, the term is being reclaimed, opening up discussions around armchair activism and the positive impact it can have, as well as it’s accessibility.

For some people, perhaps due to disability, mental health struggles or other constraints such as carer responsibilities, armchair activism may be the only form of activism a person can take (if at all) and we all know that lobbying government, signing petitions and sharing knowledge can all have a huge impact on the state of the world. Take a look at our current campaigns to see how you can get involved in some armchair activism.

Know that there is hope

Countless organisations (like The Wildlife Trusts), individuals and community groups are working tirelessly to reverse the worst effects of climate change and put nature back into recovery, claiming some huge wins for the natural world over recent years.

Some examples of good news stories we’ve been celebrating this year include: 

Take a break when you need to

As great as it is to turn your anxiety into positive action, it’s also really important to take time to relax, process your emotions and do something that brings you joy. Feeling anxious can also take a huge toll on your physical health – disrupting sleep, changing your appetite or triggering headaches, to name a few.

Taking a moment to be outside, in the fresh air, can have so many fantastic benefits for your wellbeing. Here at The Wildlife Trust for Lancashire, Manchester and North Merseyside, our dedicated wellbeing projects, Myplace and The Bay, offer free wellbeing sessions, both online and in-person, helping people to re-connect with the natural world in a relaxed and therapeutic way. Fill out our online self-referral form to take part,