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.
An independent music festival in South Yorkshire has been forced to cancel.
It's official, music festival season is on the horizon and it's getting us very excited to be stood in a field with a pint of cider in our grasp.
But unfortunately, that won't be the case for those looking to attend Reytfest - an independent music festival 'run my music fans by music fans'.
Set to take place at the end of June, the festival announced on Tuesday 12 May that they have had to cancel the event due to 'the cost of living crisis'.
Posting the news to Instagram, Reytfest said: "We have had to make the heartbreaking decision to not go ahead with the REYT FEST event this June. This is due primarily to poor ticket sales which we can only attribute to the cost of living crisis.
"We would like to thank everyone who contributed to the festival, from the bands, vendors, stakeholders, suppliers and all other interested parties. We’d also like to thank you, our followers, liking and sharing our posts really built our fanbase, but especially to those of you who purchased tickets.
"Rest assured your ticket money will be refunded and please don’t get disheartened by this news, keep on booking live events whether its grassroots music in a local bar to big band stadium events or something completely different such as theatres, cinema, sports, etc, if people don’t buy tickets, they will disappear.
"We had a dream that unfortunately we can’t see through to fruition on this occasion, but we’ve learnt so much and we don’t want to throw all that knowledge and experience away, so when the time is right - watch this space!! Thank you - Jon (Brad), Ian, Jess and the rest of the REYT FEST Team."
The Hillsborough restaurant redefining bold South African flavours in Sheffield
Declan Kelly
There's an award-winning little South African restaurant in Hillsborough that may be small in size, but the flavours coming out of the kitchen are anything but.
Tucked away in one of Sheffield’s favourite neighbourhoods, The Orange Bird has become one of the city’s biggest word-of-mouth food spots, with locals flocking there for its bold, modern South African-inspired cooking and seriously impressive braai dishes.
And if you’ve ever tried getting a reservation, you’ll already know just how in-demand this place has become.
Run by Anne Horner and Matthew Duggan-Jones, The Orange Bird has built a loyal following thanks to its vibrant menu packed with smoky, fire-cooked flavours, quality local ingredients, and dishes made for sharing around the table.
It’s warm, intimate, and exactly the sort of independent Sheffield restaurant people love discovering.
The menu is filled with dishes you’ll still be thinking about days later, from rich, tender lamb served over silky smooth hummus to wild garlic roti and caramelised aubergine that somehow steal the show just as much as the mains.
Then comes the big hitter dishes.
The peri-peri chicken, paired with curry butter chips and lime pickle mayo, is packed with bold flavour in every bite, while the braai sea bream perfectly shows off the smoky magic of cooking over fire.
The Orange Bird in Sheffield has previously been named one of the UK's top local restaurantsThey cook dishes over a typical South African braaiBraai sea bream, and peri peri chickenA spread of small plates at The Orange Bird in SheffieldSlow-cooked lamb on hummusThe Orange Bird, Sheffield menu
It’s easy to see why people keep returning to this Hillsborough favourite time and time again.
And naturally, no meal here feels complete without ordering something sweet to round off the evening.
The Orange Bird’s growing reputation has even seen it featured in The Good Food Guide’s prestigious 100 Best Local Restaurants guide in both 2023 and 2024, cementing its place as one of Sheffield’s must-visit food spots.
Honestly, spotting an orange bird might be rare, but finding this place without a waiting list could be even rarer.
If The Orange Bird isn’t already on your Sheffield food bucket list, this is definitely your sign to finally book a table.
Clementine Hall -
4th August 2025 
