Trust takes 21 minutes for John Muir Day

The Trust team marked John Muir's 188th birthday on 21 April by spending 21 minutes in a wild place. Here are some our our highlights.

To celebrate John Muir Day 2026, we invited our supporters to spend 21 minutes in a wild place. The time was to be used as you wished: walking; sitting; or simply observing.

Of course, the Trust’s staff were delighted to join in and enjoyed spending an extra 21 minutes exploring wild places on our lunch breaks. Here's a sample of what we got up to around the UK.

^ Director of Finance Rob spent his 21 minutes taking in the views from his local peak: "I absolutely loved taking an extra 21 minutes today. The weather was fabulous, and I had time to walk up the highest hill in the Malverns.

"The views were incredible, but the walk up and down was just as rewarding - filled with beautiful spring growth, fresh, crisp air, and the occasional happy walker to say hi to."

^ Head of HR Peter also used his 21 minutes to explore his local area, strolling along the Thames and taking in the surrounding sights.

^ Finance Officer Sharon was joined by Blue the dog for a walk down to her local river, sharing that she: "thoroughly enjoyed sitting in the sunshine and listening to the bird song and sound of the water."

^ Head of Communications and resident yoga expert Rachel spent her 21 minutes slowing down to notice what was around her: "The 21 extra minutes in a wild place is a simple idea, but it really does shift something, reminding you what these places offer, and why they matter."

^ Molly the dog was joined by Head of Membership and Marketing, James, spending their extra 21 minutes exploring the woods near home.

^ A quiet and windy Schiehallion welcomed Director of Land and Policy David for his 21 minutes. "In 21 minutes, you cannot know a place. But you can choose how to meet it.

"When I rose to leave, nothing had changed on the hill. And yet something had shifted in me: a reminder that wild places is not only out there, but in the way we choose to be present within a landscape."

^ Engagement and Training Officer Alison celebrated John Muir Day with a walk around Coventry's Charterhouse Heritage Park and: "Loved taking time to pause and appreciate the beauty around me.

"At home in the evening I enjoyed listening to the dusk bird song."

^ "It’s pretty tricky finding what feels like a ‘wild space’ in the most densely populated borough in Edinburgh." shared our Head of Corporate Partnerships.

"Undeterred by the challenge, I took myself to my local park, sat in the sun to record the beautiful bird songs on the Merlin app and looked up at the sky.

"Despite being surrounded by tenements, cars, and narrow city streets – I managed to find a moment of stillness and a sense of wildness."

^ Elsewhere in Edinburgh, Major Donors Fundraiser Liv took 21 minutes in St Andrew's Square: "The spring daffodils created a really nice juxtaposition between the natural elements and the looming skyscrapers behind.

"It was lovely just to have a bit of extra time to take in my surroundings, and I really tried to notice all the different textures, smells, sounds and noises."

• Thank you to everyone who marked John Muir Day with us. If you’d like to take your own 21 minutes in a wild place, you’ll find some ideas on how to spend it here: John Muir Day 2026.