Wildling app launched to connect everyone to nature and combat twin crises of mental and planetary health
A new, free mobile app has launched to help people discover, explore, and enjoy nature right on their doorstep - making the great outdoors more accessible than ever.
Wildling provides an easy, one-step solution to two urgent challenges: the growing mental health crisis and the critical need to protect the natural world. By encouraging people to spend more time in nature - and offering tools to deepen their connection with it — the app supports individual wellbeing while inspiring action for the environment.
Backed by respected partners such as the RSPB, Marine Conservation Society, and Forestry England, Wildling is also supported by high-profile advisors including financier and environmentalist Ben Goldsmith, Eden Project founder Sir Tim Smit, and Deborah Meaden of Dragon’s Den. Together, they’ve helped bring the UK’s green spaces and hidden wild spots together in one accessible platform.
The app features over 1,500 natural locations across the UK — from coastal paths and ancient woodlands to urban green escapes and nature reserves. It also includes a content-rich hub offering practical tips and inspiration to make time in nature more enjoyable, meaningful, and easy.
Homepage (C) Steve Bramall-min
Backed by two years of research from the University of Derby, based on feedback from over 68,000 adults across England, the app builds on findings that daily nature engagement significantly boosts wellbeing. Those who spent time in nature every day reported 22% greater life satisfaction, 17% higher happiness, and an overall 19% uplift in wellbeing compared to those with rare contact.
The research also found that regular nature visits increased pro-environmental behaviours — even among those who previously had little connection to nature.
Daily visits were linked to a 36.6% rise in civic actions like litter picking and environmentally focused voting, and a 36.1% increase in home-based efforts like gardening for pollinators and maintaining green spaces.
Lead researcher Professor David Sheffield explained:
“What benefits the individual also benefits the planet. People who actively engaged with nature — noticing beauty, appreciating wildlife — reported deeper emotional connections and were more likely to take steps to protect the environment. Just walking through nature is valuable, but deliberately engaging with it leads to greater meaning and compassion.”
Wilding App Image Credit Andreas Schnabl
Wilding App Image Credit Sol Stock
Wildling was created by Ant Rawlins, an impact-driven entrepreneur committed to making nature more accessible. His goal: to remove the barriers that prevent people from connecting with the outdoors.
“We wanted to give people simple, powerful tools to connect with nature - by making it easy to find nearby places and giving them everything they need to visit,” says Rawlins. “But we also recognised that not everyone can get outside every day. That’s why Wildling includes soundscapes, stories, and calming nature moments that can be experienced anytime, anywhere - even during a commute or quick break. Small, regular moments in nature can have a profound effect.”
Deborah Meaden praised Wildling’s simplicity and its potential impact:
“Nature has always played a vital role in our wellbeing and happiness. Wildling is a brilliant, timely idea - a way to help everyone, whether they live in the city or by the coast, connect with nature for free. This connection builds understanding, and with understanding comes care and protection. Wildling supports the vital work of conservation organisations while deepening people’s appreciation of our natural world.”
The app also offers ways to contribute: users can donate to Wildling’s charity partners or learn how to volunteer and take direct action to support nature.
To learn more, visit www.wildling.app.
The Wildling app is free to download now from the App Store and Google Play.
Wilding App Image Credit Milos Stankovic