A new free app has launched to help people find, discover, and visit nature on their doorstep.
Wildling is aiming to be a simple one-step solution to the growing mental health crisis and the urgent need to care for the natural world.
By helping people visit nature more easily, and giving them tools to truly connect with it at this same time, Wildling is well on its way to supporting personal wellbeing and the joy of easily discovering nature across the UK, all while nurturing a sense of care and action for the planet.
Supported by partners including the RSPB, Marine Conservation Society ,and Forestry England, and backed by advisors and environmentalists like Ben Goldsmith, Eden Project founder Tim Smit, and Dragon’s Den’s Deborah Meaden, the new app brings the UK’s wild spaces and hidden green spots together in one place.
Wildling connects people from Yorkshire to the outside world and all it has to offer / Credit: Supplied
Featuring more than 1,500 locations across the country, from coastlines and woodlands, to nature reserves, the app also includes a wide range of tips to help you make your time in nature easier, more enjoyable, and more meaningful.
The app has been created with the input of research carried out by the University of Derby, based on responses from more than 68,000 adults across England over two years.
The study found that people who spend time in nature every day report up to 22% greater life satisfaction, 17% higher happiness, and an average uplift of around 19% in overall wellbeing, compared to those who rarely go out.
Regular time in nature was also found to have a ‘striking’ effect on pro-environmental behaviour too, according to the survey.
Wildling was created by impact entrepreneur Ant Rawlins who wanted to make accessing nature ‘easier’ for everyone.
“We wanted to give people the tools to engage with nature by making it genuinely easy to visit, by showing them nearby nature places and giving them everything they need to make it happen,” says Ant Rawlins commented.
Ant said the study shows that spending more time in nature just a nice idea, it makes you happier, increases your satisfaction with life, lifts your overall wellbeing, and encourages you to look after the world around you.
“That’s exactly why Wildling was created,” he concluded.
The Wildling app is available now to download for free through the App Store and Google Play, and you can find out more here.
If there’s one thing Sheffield knows how to do, it’s a pork sandwich.
And while there are plenty of places across the Steel City serving up the classic combo of pork, stuffing, apple sauce and that all-important crackling, there’s one Hillsborough butcher that deserves a bit more attention.
Say ey-up to F Funks, a proper old-school independent butcher where you go in for one thing and somehow end up eyeing up half the counter.
And if you’re hungry, the pork sandwich is the one to know about. We’re talking generous helpings of pork, proper crackling, and a breadcake that does exactly what it needs to do - no fancy brioche, no unnecessary toppings.
But what makes places like F Funks so good is that it feels like a proper part of the neighbourhood.
F Funks has been serving customers since 1890, meaning this isn’t some new food trend that’s suddenly appeared on Middlewood Road.
F Funks butchers in Sheffield. Credit: The Sheff
It’s not trying to be the next big food opening or become Sheffield’s newest Instagram hotspot. It’s simply doing what a good local butcher should do: selling quality meat, making cracking sandwiches, and keeping the regulars coming back.
Whether you’re a Hillsborough local, heading to Sheffield Wednesday, or simply fancy ditching the meal deal for something a little more substantial, F Funks is well worth knowing about.
Sheffield might have plenty of new food spots popping up every other week, but sometimes the best finds are the ones that have been quietly serving the locals for years.
You’re not just buying a sandwich, you're buying a proper bit of Sheffield food history.
Sheffield artists wanted to help put their stamp on huge new neighbourhood
Daisy Jackson
Sheffield artists are being given the chance to leave a permanent mark on one of the city’s biggest new developments.
Capital&Centric is calling on local creatives to help bring its new Fitzwilliam neighbourhood in Mesters’ Village to life – and one lucky artist will ultimately see their work commissioned as part of the finished scheme.
The developer is particularly keen to hear from street artists in Sheffield, asking creatives to send over their portfolios for a chance to take part.
Four artists will be shortlisted and paid to develop their ideas, before one is chosen to create the final piece.
Capital&Centric announced the opportunity on social media, saying: “If you’re an artist in Sheffield who wants to leave their mark on the city, then you’re gonna want to listen to this.
"We’re building Fitzwilliam, a brand-new neighbourhood in Mesters’ Village Sheffield, and we want local artists to put their stamp on it.
"DM us your portfolio, we’ll then shortlist four artists, pay you to sketch out your idea, and then one of you will be commissioned when the building’s done.
"So if you’re a street artist in Sheffield, or know one, share this, tag them, and get involved."
The call-out comes as plans for Fitzwilliam move forward, with the new neighbourhood set to bring 192 rental homes to the site between Sheffield city centre and Kelham Island.
Construction is expected to get underway in early 2027, with the first residents due to move into Fitzwilliam from spring 2029.
The development will feature two six-storey buildings containing the new homes, with the architecture designed to reflect Sheffield’s industrial heritage.
Brick and black steel will feature heavily in the scheme, while residents will have access to a range of shared facilities designed to make the development feel more like a neighbourhood than a collection of apartments.
These will include communal lounges, co-working spaces, a landscaped courtyard and a rooftop terrace offering views across Sheffield.
There will also be space at ground-floor level for an independent café-bar.
Clementine Hall -
4th August 2025 
