Valentine’s Day is the perfect opportunity to swap the hustle and bustle of everyday life for a date in nature. Whether you are planning on spending time with a loved one, celebrating friendship, or going solo, we’ve got some romantic ideas for dates in our natural world that will sweep you off your feet. Read on and swoon!

A quiet woodland walk

Woodlands offer undeniable romance. Think of all the fairy tales that are set in ancient forests – Snow White, Beauty and the Beast, Hansel and Gretel, Little Red Riding Hood…Why is that? It’s because woodlands set a scene of spectacular beauty, adventure and discovering the unknown. So, why not use Valentine’s Day as the perfect stage to create your very own fairy tale romance? With a backing track of birdsong and woodland floors just beginning to bloom with wildflowers, such as Wood Anemone, Snowdrop, Lesser Celandine and Primrose, what could be more romantic?! Enter ‘woodland’ on our Nature Reserves page to search for your perfect spot.

A picnic under a starlit sky

In the cover of darkness, head out to your garden, balcony, or local park for an intimate date under the stars. Whilst it’s likely to be cold in mid-February, it affords a good opportunity for a clear sky to gaze upon a star or search out a constellation. Pack your favourite foods, blankets to keep you warm and perhaps a flask of hot chocolate too – add marshmallows if you want to make your date extra special!

Get up to see the sunrise and to listen to the dawn chorus

Set your alarm for an earlyish start to watch the sunrise - on Valentine’s Day, you can expect this to be about 7.15am. You might want to set it extra early though and walk to your favourite local spot to enjoy the quiet tranquillity of your surroundings and watch the new day dawn. How about taking a flask with you and maybe some croissants or pastries too? Listen out for the dawn chorus – whilst it might not have the volume and richness of its height in May, the compensation is that you won’t have to rise quite so early! The Merlin Bird ID App can help you to identify the various bird calls and you can seek out more information about the species you hear on our Wildlife Explorer pages.

Find a viewpoint to watch the sunset

At this time of year, we can experience some wonderful skies throwing our world into rich colour. Late afternoon is especially timely to watch those changing skies and to see soft pastels, interspersed with fiery reads and vibrant oranges as the sun gets lower, preparing to set around 5.15pm. Whether you head outside for 10 minutes to appreciate this alone or take more time to go to a local beauty spot to ooh and ahh over it with a loved one, being mindful of what a wonderful phenomenon this is will be sure to make your heart glow.

If these ideas have inspired you to fall in love with nature, please do consider getting into a deeper relationship with us - check out our membership options for individuals, couples and families here.