This morning, thousands of parkrunners across the country took to the UK’s forests in leopard print, panda ears and animal fits for a landmark ‘Wear it Wild’ 5k, as WWF, parkrun and Forestry England unite to mark 20 years of Earth Hour.

From Dalby Forest in North Yorkshire to Alice Holt in Hampshire, participants at 26 locations set off at 9am at the twelve-hour countdown to Earth Hour’s 20th switch-off: from this morning’s mass community run to the global lights-off moment at 8:30pm, when landmarks including the Piccadilly Lights and London Eye go dark in solidarity with our natural world.

This year, WWF is inviting everyone to switch off in whatever way feels meaningful – whether that’s gathering by candlelight to read and listen to music, cooking a planet-friendly meal, or simply stargazing from your garden or balcony.

Open to runners, walkers, volunteers and the keen cheer squad alike, today’s event reflects parkrun’s commitment to accessibility and WWF’s belief that connection with nature – shown to boost mood, reduce stress and support mental wellbeing – should be available to everyone. Because when we feel closer to nature, we’re inspired to protect it.

Participants told WWF about what parkrun, and being in nature has meant for them:

Steve said: “A couple of years ago I got lymphoma, which is cancer of the blood… I had chemotherapy on the Friday, and made-up my mind that I would go and do parkrun here the next day… Being out in nature is one of the big things that got me through that quite difficult six months of chemotherapy… This place [Alice Holt] and nature in general is a huge part of what makes me feel good and gives me the power and the positivity to carry on and keep fighting.”

Carolyn said: “I am passionate about parkrun and passionate about being outdoors. It is the drug of life for me. I just love being outside in nature and being with people I love, and we come out and chitchat and the world’s a better place, just being outside and amongst it all. Saturday morning is the best two hours of my week.”

Sam said: “As a neurodivergent person, life can feel hectic – being out in nature is that grounding element… I think there’s a lot of people who are experiencing poor mental health at the moment. Even 10 minutes of a parkrun out in this [forest] makes all the difference… it just makes the week that much better.”

Linda said: “I absolutely love running outdoors. It makes me feel good. I find it very uplifting… I run outside every day, honestly.”

Lisa Lee, Executive Director of Communications at WWF, said: “For the past 20 years, WWF’s Earth Hour has brought people and places together to show they care about our planet. Saturday’s incredible turnout at parkruns across the country showed that when we make environmental action fun and accessible, people respond with joy and enthusiasm.

Watching hundreds run through the forest in animal print and costume today, to show they care about our planet, has been completely uplifting. It’s in these green spaces that we find connection, hope, a genuine boost to our health. Thank you to everyone who wore it wild to kickstart twelve hours to Earth Hour.”

Elizabeth Duggan, Chief Executive Officer of parkrun, said: “Earth Hour’s 20th year was the perfect moment to celebrate nature together, and it was fantastic to see parkrunners embracing ‘Wear it Wild’ at events across the country. It was especially wonderful to see parkrunners gathering at Forestry England sites – showcasing the powerful role forests and green spaces play in helping people feel healthier, happier, and more connected.”

Josephine Lavelle, Forestry England National Marketing and Membership Manager said: “Today’s turnout is a fantastic celebration of people coming together for nature. Seeing thousands of parkrunners fill Forestry England’s trails in their wildest outfits has been truly inspiring. The nation’s forests sit at the heart of so many communities, and watching them come alive with such energy shows just how powerfully nature brings people together. We’re proud to work with WWF and parkrun to mark Earth Hour’s 20th year, and delighted that so many people chose to connect with the outdoors this morning.”