From the dog saving birds from predators to research that sheds light on where we feel comfortable opening up, discover these quick pick-me-up good news stories

1. Dog detective Reid wins award for saving birds from predators

We all know that our beloved four-legged friends can do incredible things – but one clever dog has really taken the biscuit, and has been recognised as Animal of the Year at the annual Animal Action Awards for 2024.

Reid is a six-year-old springer spaniel who, with his handler Rachel Cripps, has been working tirelessly to safeguard endangered seabirds off the coast of Scotland. In 2021, NatureScot made the devastating discovery that the numbers of 11 species of seabirds had almost halved since the 1980s – with invasive rodents blamed for this drop, as they eat eggs and hunt chicks.

This is where Reid steps in. Trained as a detection dog, Reid is able to locate rodents quickly through their scents, nests, and droppings. He also helps scour cargo being transported to the islands, watching out for rodent stowaways. But, that’s not all. Reid visits schools, educating children on the work he does, and the importance of conservation.

Reflecting on her highlight of working with Reid, Rachel says: “The first ever trip to an island as part of this project was a real ‘pinch me’ moment, as we went on to these remote islands. The first island that we got to travel to was Shetland. It was in December, it was cold, the winter sun was low in the sky, and it was just me and Reid, together, doing our bit for conservation. That’s an experience I’ll never forget – you can’t beat that really.”

To find out more about the Animal Action Awards, head to ifaw.org/uk

2. Survey reveals children’s favourite place to make family memories

If we asked you where your most treasured memories were made as a child, where would they be? A survey conducted by Boots Opticians has shed some light on what children cherish as their favourite activity to make memories with family, and it’s far more cost-effective than you might expect!

The survey gathered responses from 2,000 parents of children aged between five and 16, and it was found that a massive 46% of children voted for ‘going to the park’ as their top choice of places to make memories with their family. Similarly, 51% of parents also said it was their favourite activity for making memories when they were the same age. Spending time in nature followed as the second most popular, with 35% of children choosing it. Meanwhile, the lowest-scoring activity was watching TV or a box set at 27%.

Making positive memories contributes to enriching the lives and development of children, and it’s not surprising that parks would be on top of the list when they provide an open space to explore freely, and connect with friends.

So, if you’re a parent yourself, let this be a reminder that you don’t have to spend a fortune to create unforgettable memories for your child. Sometimes, the most meaningful experiences can be found through the gates of your local green space.

3. Does technology have the ability to turn exercise pain into pleasure?

Finding ways to get fit that are fun and effective can be tricky. But could technology be the answer?

Computer scientists from the University of Bath believe they have found a solution to keeping people engaged by creating ‘exergames’ (exercise games). These games use sensors to continuously measure the user’s emotional state while they exercise. The game can then adapt to become easier or harder to keep the user engaged.

The new study had participants take part in a VR static bike race while sensors were used to measure their physical reactions and facial expressions across low, medium, and high-intensity exercises. Using these readings, researchers could create an accurate picture of the racers’ emotional state, matching the game difficulty to the physiological changes.

Dr Dominic Potts, lead author of the study into harnessing sensor technology to keep exercisers motivated, said: “When it comes to physical exercise, motivation and adherence are huge problems. With ‘exergaming’, we can address this issue and maximise a person’s enjoyment and performance by adapting the challenge level to match a user’s abilities and mood.

“Exercise games that are completely adaptive will sense a person’s emotions, and give them more ‘rewards’ when they’re struggling, and more obstacles when they’re ready for a new challenge.”

Researchers hope their new findings will be adopted by game designers to create more immersive exercise games, which can help people keep going long after they would normally.

4. Research highlights the places where Brits are most likely to open up

Opening up and talking about our mental health isn’t always easy, but being in the right environment to do so can ease some of the strain. With that in mind, new research from Samaritans and Three UK has looked at the places where Brits are most likely to open up about their mental health, with some interesting results.

Topping the list is ‘while on a walk’, followed by ‘in the pub’, ‘outside in nature’, ‘during a meal’, and ‘while on a long drive’. That said, 30% of respondents said that they preferred to share their feelings while on the phone to someone, so that they did not have to see their reaction while they were talking.

Notably, the favoured times to open up involve some kind of activity or distraction – something that can take the pressure off the conversation, and seemingly invites a level of openness that more formal situations don’t always facilitate. However, at the same time, the researchers saw that many people still struggled to express themselves. The survey found that 34% of adults said they did not want to burden others with their problems, and 26% said that they feared being judged if they shared their worries.

All that said, 72% of people said that they felt comfortable being on the receiving end of an emotive conversation, showing that, often, the people around us are willing to step in and listen when needed.