Julia Bradbury says the great outdoors helped her get through cancer diagnosis
I can't remember a time I didn’t enjoy getting outdoors and experiencing all that the natural world has to offer.
Growing up, my dad Michael would take me out exploring the rugged landscape of the Peak District: Mam Tor, Stanage Edge, Jacob’s Ladder and Dovedale were my childhood playground.
Now I’m a parent myself, I love nothing more than taking my three children on our own adventures. Getting outside has so many proven benefits – boosting immunity, elevating mood, increasing creativity and productivity, and even dampening anxiety.
Whilst I’ve always known this, I experienced it for myself in recent years.
Following my breast cancer diagnosis in 2021 there were two things that really helped get me through: one was the love and support of my family, and the other was time out in nature.
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While recovering from a mastectomy, the Peak District was the first place I went, with my family for a proper walk.
I’m passionate about encouraging everyone to get outside – it’s why my sister, Gina, and I set up The Outdoor Guide, a free online resource to help make the outdoors accessible for everyone.
I want to spread awareness about the importance of nature in our lives.
It’s a sad fact that Britain is in the bottom 10 per cent of countries globally for protecting wildlife. We can do more. We need to do more. Behind the scenes the National Trust is doing an amazing job of protecting so many different habitats across the country.
Together with the RSPB and WWF, it’s encouraging everyone to “go wild once a week” for nature. This could be planting pollinator-friendly plants in your garden or a window box, planting native trees in your local community or picking up at least three pieces of litter when you’re out.
We can all do something to help look after the natural world. People might think of nature as “something over there”, but it doesn’t have to be. Get out there and experience our incredible natural world.
It’s vital to everyone: for our physical health, the food we eat and our mental health.
It’s vital for our future.
HOW YOU CAN HELP
THE Save Our Wild Isles campaign is calling on the public to show their love of nature by committing to “Go Wild Once A Week”. That could mean making space for nature in your neighbourhoods by planting wildflower seeds in a window box or green space, eating less meat or getting involved in local community projects, or joining the three charities in urging our leaders to act now for nature’s recovery. It could also mean adding your voice to the People’s Plan For Nature.
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● Find out more about it, and add your views at peoplesplanfornature.org
AT HOME Whatever your outdoor space, you can help nature thrive. If you have grass, set aside no-mow areas to allow a wider variety of plants and wildflowers to thrive, attracting insects like grasshoppers, crickets and butterflies.
If you don’t have grass, could you convert any gravel or paving?
Even potted plants or window boxes will make a difference.
Cut out chemical herbicides and pesticides. It might be less convenient but for more wildlife, it’s a must.
Make holes in fences or walls for wildlife to move from your outdoor space to neighbours’ spaces.
Share what you’re doing with the people next door so they can get involved, too. If you’re limited on space, how using fences or brick walls for planters and nesting boxes to give nature a home? And don’t forget to go peat-free with your compost when planting. Peatlands store carbon, which slows climate change, and are wildlife hotspots.
AT WORK Get your workplace involved in helping nature.
Could you organise a screening of one of the four brand new films by the makers of the BBC’s Wild Isles TV series, in which business leaders like Deborah Meaden explain how important the natural world is for a thriving economy?
Or share the downloadable resources to help organisations and businesses have less impact on the natural world?
Join your organisation’s green team (or start one) and find out where your business’s biggest impacts on nature are, and how you can start tackling them.
IN YOUR COMMUNITY When people come together they can make things happen and every community can help, from planting wildlife-friendly flowers along your road and managing your local green space to encouraging landowners and local authorities to do their bit.
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