I quit my corporate job and started saying YES - to nature, adventure and curiosity š
Now Iām on a journey to reconnect with the wild... and I'm bringing you with me!
After years of long office hours, I left the corporate world to build a life closer to nature. This channel follows the highs, lows, and messy middle of starting over - while discovering how the outdoors can fit into a modern, everyday life.
Through weekly videos, I explore London and beyond... from urban wildlife and hidden green spaces, to running, swimming, gardening, climbing and slow, mindful adventures.
Iām not an expert, Iām learning as I go. I'm finding wonder in small moments, asking the questions you might be thinking, and showing that nature isnāt just for specialistsā¦ itās for all of us.
If youāre navigating a reset, craving more time outside, or curious about the wild but donāt quite know where to start - youāre in the right place šæā¤ļø
Dani Rayner
Friends, itās the final few days of my bucket list solo photography trip in South Africa - then Iāll be back home!! ā¤ļø
Iāve started editing the first YouTube videoā¦ all about my experience with the Sigma 150-600mm lens & photo results (š¬). Iāll try and turn the video around as fast as possible. Maybe give me a week? Letās see how much I can get done on the plane ;)
I canāt wait to share the adventures with you. x
1 week ago | [YT] | 43
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Dani Rayner
Friends - sending a big hello and even bigger thank you. I canāt quite believe it, but weāre now a little community of 1000+ people š„¹ā¤ļø
If youāve been here since the beginning, a few months ago - THANK YOU - and if youāre newer here, WELCOME!! Itās so lovely to have you here šāØ
Iām new to YouTube video filming and editingā¦ but giving it a go, and learning in realtime. My promise is to try and make each video a tiny bit better than the last (weāve come a long way if you scroll backā¦ maybe donāt scroll back š¤£) I hope that together we can build a kind and uplifting space for adventure, nature and camera lovers to share their passions, insights and love for the outdoors š
If youāve been following along, youāll know that Iām currently on my bucket list solo trip to South Africa, on safari with the Nikon Z50ii and Sigma lens. All I can say is WOW!! (the experience, the animals, the lensā¦ not my photos š¤£) I canāt wait to share stories with you soon.
Lots of love,
Dani xx
3 weeks ago | [YT] | 51
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Dani Rayner
Next video incomingā¦ and it involves a VERY BIG lens šøš¬
Excited to share it with you in the next couple of days!! Watch this space ā¤ļø xx
4 weeks ago | [YT] | 21
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Dani Rayner
editing today - fuelled by LOTS of tea and sunny skies!! video 20 is on the wayā¦ and if you like crazy outdoor adventures, this one is for YOU š
question: is it helpful for me to schedule the video as a āpremiereā when itās ready? Iām not sure if itās useful to have a scheduled launch date/time. if not, Iāll just pop it live randomly.
canāt wait to hear what you think šæš«¶
1 month ago | [YT] | 11
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Dani Rayner
š¢š NEW VIDEO TOMORROW
Saturday morning editing session completeā¦ video exporting is underway. Woohooo!!
The next nature adventure will be with you tomorrow (Sunday 8th March) at 4pm UK time. Weāre heading together to Walthamstow Wetlands to try some birdwatching and find a bit of peace in the city š
Really excited to hear what you think. Let me know! xx
1 month ago | [YT] | 13
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Dani Rayner
YouTube fam... slightly crazy update. I've been shortlisted for 2026 "Future Presenter" by the Edinburgh TV Festival!! I'm totally thrilled, and wanted to share the news with you first. This weird, wild, wonderful new life chapter is honestly nothing without you being here. Thank you so much for all of your encouragement over the last 5 months. It really means the world š
While I'm here - quick video update: I'm nearly there with the next wildlife photography adventure edit!! Hoping to post at the weekend. I'll schedule a 'premiere' thing again, so you know when it's coming š
2 months ago | [YT] | 18
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Dani Rayner
Quick snap from filming this morning!! Big smiles for wildlife photography on a beautiful sunny day š
Canāt wait to share the episode with you soon. Iāll edit it together as fast as I can šæš«¶šøš¦
2 months ago | [YT] | 32
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Dani Rayner
I've received a few VERY funny messages about the latest video. I know the before / after video isn't groundbreaking, but I tried my best I PROMISE šš
if you haven't watched the video yet... let me know what you think (skip to 13 mins for the "big" garden reveal)
stage one of the 20-stage balcony garden project is underway š hope you enjoy!! x
2 months ago | [YT] | 9
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Dani Rayner
Okay, Iām pretty scared to post this weekās video. Itās a personal one.
In a weird turn of eventsā¦ I accidentally posted a rough cut of the video live yesterday. I uploaded a WIP version for my family to view (Iām nervous about it)ā¦ and got a notification a few minutes later that someone (not my family) had commented. Quite the shock!!
BUT - happy ending. To the person who commented, if you ever see thisā¦ thank you!! I donāt have your username saved, but you know who you are š You were the first to find the video, and your beautiful note on it really touched my heart. Iāve been on the fence this week about whether to post the video at all, and your comment inspired me to get it out there. It was the very unexpected encouragement I needed š
Iām committed to sharing the highs and the lows of this crazy journey, and how it connects with stuff in my equally crazy past - and with thatā¦ (the finished) video 16 is incoming on Friday.
Bracing myself, but really looking forward to hearing what you think xx
PS. In case itās helpful for anyone else on the YouTube journeyā¦ if a YouTube video is unlisted, but tagged in the backend as part of a playlist - it goes live publicly within that playlist. Please learn from my daft mistakes ;)
2 months ago | [YT] | 20
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Dani Rayner
A BIG thank you to new friends (hi!! š) and wonderful old friends tooā¦ weāre now a community of over 500! WOW. š„¹
The 500 milestone means ānothingā in terms of YouTube (in case youāre interested, see picture 2 for āmonetisation eligibilityā - thereās no gatekeeping here)ā¦ BUT the 500 milestone means a *massive* amount to me personally. I started this channel 15 weeks ago as a big, scary leap into the unknownā¦ being new to YouTube, filming, editing, and trying to figure my life out again from scratch. Together, weāve come a really long way!!
Each week, Iām doing my *very* best to learn more about filming, sound recording & video editing, to try and improve video quality for you. I have a long way to go, but if youāve been here since the beginningā¦ youāll know that things have changed a bit š
Thank you SO much for sticking around. I canāt tell you what it means to see likes and comments and subscriber notifications pop up. I wish you could see my face on the other side of the screen š
Excited for all of the adventures to come!! In the worksā¦ nature escapes (UK & beyond), gardening, hiking, dry suit divingā¦ and some reflections on what it feels like to be chasing a dream in realtime. Here we go!
Lots of love,
Dani x
Pictured: me at my ānewā standing desk (aka a little table on top of my desk). I was spending SO many hours sitting down editing the videos that I thought my bum was going to fall off. Iām now MUCH happier (as you can see) with a bit of room to move š
2 months ago | [YT] | 18
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