Our friends at local wildlife conservation charity, Herts and Middlesex Wildlife Trust are encouraging people to celebrate Random Acts of Kindness Day on 17 February, with wild gestures that see individuals being the light they want to see in the world.

Random Acts of Kindness Day encourages us to make small acts that have a big impact. First created in Denver, Colorado in 1995 by a small non-profit organisation, the Random Acts of Kindness Foundation, the day is now internationally celebrated. The Foundation is rooted in the belief that all people can connect through kindness and that kindness can be taught.

The team at Herts and Middlesex Wildlife Trust believe that those principles can be applied not only to people but also to wildlife - and we tend to agree! With a wildlife and climate crisis, and wellbeing so closely related to nature, the Trust has come up with 10 ideas to start people thinking about some simple ways they can quickly and easily spread a little kindness and, in the process, help themselves, other people and wildlife. Their hope is that the love will last beyond the celebration day and that new habits will be formed, connections made and benefits felt. Many of these kind acts can make a big difference and take just a few minutes, some are completely free and others cost very little to carry out.

1. Feed the birds – it’s cold out there and birds are in search of food. Accelerated feeding rates and loss of habitat brings them into our gardens. Have you got any fruit that has passed its best that you could chop up and pop outside, likewise a piece of cheese, or even leftover unsalted rice or pasta? Take a random look around and throw a little kindness!

2. Be kind to yourself – step outside, take a deep breath and listen to the sounds of nature. Give yourself 5 minutes to soak up what’s around you and tune into the natural world. Or, if you have more time, go for a walk in a local park, get out into the countryside or visit one of the Trust’s nature reserves and make a note to yourself to look closely at what’s around you and marvel at the wonders of nature.

3. Buy some wildflower seeds - get prepared to sow these in March or April. There are many wildflower seed mixes on the market – look out for those that specifically attract bees and butterflies – our pollinators need kind people like you!

4. Take a saw to your fence! - yes, you did read that correctly!! By making a small cut-out at the bottom of your fence, you’ll create an opening for a Hedgehog to pass through. These iconic mammals need a kind heart – in 2020, they were put on the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List as vulnerable to extinction in Great Britain.

5. Spread the love - pop round to your neighbours and ask them if they would consider the above too – together you can create a Hedgehog highway!

6. Shower for two minutes less – why? Because you’ll save up to 30 litres of water and that will have a positive impact on our chalk rivers. These globally rare and precious habitats are vital for our wildlife so please be kind with your water use.

7. Create a log pile in your garden - gather together some logs and stack them to create a micro habitat for insects. In no time at all, you’ll create a community and a food source for which birds, frogs and hedgehogs will thank you.

8. Encourage a neighbourhood plant swap or share – it’s easy to take cuttings or to divide a clump of herbaceous plants, plus who doesn’t love something for free! Post the idea on your street’s WhatsApp group or make a poster to stick on your fence post and see who else is up for the idea. Together you’ll be creating a greener neighbourhood for people and wildlife.

9. Walk, cycle, get the bus, or travel by train – treat the planet to an act of kindness by using sustainable transport for today’s journey and lower carbon emissions. Give it a go and see if you could make it a habit!

10. Do a litter pick – creating a better and kinder world starts with you, so grab your gloves and get to it! As well as sprucing up your local neighbourhood, you’ll be helping wildlife that could otherwise get caught up in the waste.

Lea Ellis, Wilder Communities Officer at Herts and Middlesex Wildlife Trust says:

“We hope that these 10 ideas inspire people to realise they can very easily make a positive contribution to their local area, the planet, friends and neighbours, as well as boosting their own wellbeing. You don’t need to do all 10, just doing one thing will make a difference and help the ripple effect of positive change. There’s a lot of people out there already carrying out amazing acts of kindness every day and we’d like to add to the momentum of that, by making a connection with nature, second nature for everyone, no matter where they live or work. The feeling of knowing that you’ve done good creates such positivity and together, with a bit more kindness, we can all make a world of difference.”

Herts and Middlesex Wildlife Trust provide a free monthly newsletter, which is full of local wildlife news, nature-based events to get involved in and things to look out for each month. You can sign up at www.hertswildlifetrust.org.uk where you can also find out how you can experience, enjoy and benefit from nature, find out about local wildlife, and help to create a wilder future. You can also share your ideas, photos and kind acts with Herts and Middlesex Wildlife Trust by tagging them @hertswildlifetrust on Instagram and Facebook and @HMWTBadger on Twitter, using the hashtag #RandomActsofKindnessDay