A SCHEME to encourage people to mix with wildlife to improve their health has been launched.

Durham Wildlife Trust is running My Wild Life which aims to show people the benefits which can be derived from spending time with nature.

The group wants people to think about how to make wildlife part of their everyday life.

Trust members are restoring wildlife and wild places across the North-East such as Darlington and Durham and encouraging people to use visit them.

Statistics from the wildlife trust show that people who live green spaces have a 50 per cent chance of being healthier both physically and mentally.

Simone Price, of West Auckland, a Durham Wildlife Trust volunteer, said: “I had brain surgery last year and suffered from headaches afterwards, especially when I was working on a computer.

“When I decided to pursue my passion for wildlife, I was worried that the headaches would get worse, but they disappear completely when I’m volunteering outside.

Some of our volunteers have had mental health problems and working in these wild landscapes has really helped them, too.”

Details on making nature a part of your life can be found online at mywildlife.org.uk