A DEVON charity is offering people ideas for a wild Christmas with a difference, inviting them to explore local nature reserves.

Conservation charity Devon Wildlife Trust has developed a series of ideas for 'wild Christmas escapes' and is urging people to spend a small part of the festive season getting away from the excesses and stresses of this time of year. 

The charity has nature reserves at Meeth Quarry and Sourton Quarry and is encouraging families to go on the walks and de-stress.

Devon Wildlife Trust's Steve Hussey said: 'Despite all the merry making, Christmas can bring with it a series of challenges to our health and well-being. And, if this seems a bit Scrooge-like then which of us can really say that we haven't had a Christmas past in which we've felt trapped by the combination of too much food, too many relatives and too many repeats on the telly?

'We wanted to offer people a chance to escape some of the stresses of Christmas by re-connecting with local nature. It's important not to forget your wild side and this needn't mean consuming more food and drink or spending hours looking at a screen.

'Instead it means taking a bit of time to get outdoors with the wonderful wildlife and wild places which are local to you. Exploring your wild side provides a great way of re-charging your Christmas spirit.'

If you cannot get out to the great outdoors this Christmas period, then the trust's message is make sure you get nature to visit you. Garden birds will welcome the opportunity for an energy boost provided by Christmas leftovers — a bit of crumbled Christmas cake, some bacon fat, an end of cheese left on the bird table will be much appreciated.

Steve said: 'In return for feeding them, garden birds will put on a Christmas show the likes of which you won't get from repeats on the telly. Putting just half an hour aside to watch their comings and goings can re-connect you with the wild world outside your kitchen window.

'Seeing who arrives, watching their behaviour, their squabbles, the jostling for food, the different table manners and eating techniques — it can be just like what goes on around many human Christmas dinner tables but without the emotional baggage!'

Devon Wildlife Trust looks after 49 nature reserves around the county, including some of Devon's most beautiful landscapes and most wonderful nature and the charity believes that a visit to anyone of them this Christmas will be time well-spent.

To plan your wild Christmas escape visit http://www.devonwildlifetrust.org">www.devonwildlifetrust.org