A Southampton nature festival that hopes to get people to imagine "a greener future" has been named as one of the best to go to in the UK.
Urban Wild Festival was included among nine others in an article from The Guardian.
Discussing the list, the publication wrote: "The natural world is the headliner at these joyous gatherings, while the support acts include live music, immersive art and fire ceremonies."
The full list of the UK's best nature festivals can be found on The Guardian.
Why is Urban Wild among the UK's best nature festivals?
The Urban Wild Festival is run by the Southampton National Park City initiative and is part of its Youth for Climate and Nature scheme.
After only starting last year, its 2026 event will use communal events to explore the theme Reimagining Southampton.
The Guardian adds: "Designed to bring people closer to the city’s green and blue spaces while imagining a greener future, the festival will open with Urban Wild on the Common (24 May), featuring stalls, music and family activities on Southampton Common.
"Other activities are organised by community groups and include group bike rides, creative workshops, and wildlife identification sessions."
While the festival's key event will be Urban Wild on the Common, a couple of activities will take place the day before, on Saturday, May 23.
These will be See, Sketch, Sew: Crafting a Slower City at Southampton Central Library and St Denys Art Festival at St Denys Parish Church.
Other things people can try out include creative nature activities for children, guided wildlife walks, and a supper club featuring low-carbon, locally sourced food.
A full list of events for Urban Wild 2026 can be found on National Park City, which will run from Saturday, May 23, to Sunday, May 31.
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Christelle Blunden, chair of Southampton National Park City, said: "We are thrilled to be able to host Urban Wild again this year around the theme of 'Reimagining Southampton'.
"There is a really diverse programme for all ages."
Last year’s festival attracted more than 1,000 visitors, with around 800 people taking part in the finale on Southampton Common.
Will you be going to the Urban Wild Festival this year? Let us know in the comments.
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