Animal Crossing: New Horizons, the latest title in Nintendo's long-running community-management sim, has recently received its first major update. The Earth Day Update, also known as New Horizons 1.2, has brought a couple of new characters to the islands, as well as a variety of smaller additions.

The update has been launched alongside a returning Animal Crossing festival, Nature Day, which has now been extended into more of a Nature Fortnight. As well as more frequent visits from Leif, the green-thumbed sloth gardener, Nature Day offers players the chance to earn Nook Miles by completing daily challenges. The first challenge completed will also unlock the new Hedge Fence from Tom Nook.

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Unique Challenges

The first set of Nature Day challenges are as flora-themed as expected, encouraging players to get to grips with nature, and make use of the event's new features. Each of the challenges gives a five times Nook Miles bonus reward during the event, so a challenge that would normally be worth 200 Miles will be worth 1000. The Miles numbers given below are without the five times bonus.

  • Tree Transplantation: First eat some turnips, fruit, or eggs to gain Energy, then dig up a whole tree by pressing A beside it with a Shovel and re-plant it somewhere else. 100 Miles.
  • Plant Coconuts on the Beach: Find a coconut and plant it on the beach. 150 Miles.
  • Craft Fencing for Beautiful Gardens: Craft one of the new fence items at a DIY Workbench. 100 Miles.
  • Pluck Blossoms and Craft a Flower Crown: Pick some flowers and use them to craft a Flower Crown at a DIY Workbench. 300 Miles.
  • Weave Flowers to Craft a Wreath: Pick some flowers and use them to craft a Flower Wreath at a DIY Workbench. 300 Miles.
  • Send Gratitude with Flowers: Pick some flowers and use the mailing service at Dodo Airlines to send them to another villager. 150 Miles.
  • Decorate with Flowers: Pick some flowers and use them as furniture inside a house. 150 Miles.
  • Get Stylin’ by Wearing Flowers: Pick some flowers and wear them as a hair accessory. 150 Miles.

Planting Challenges

In addition to the unique Nature Day challenges, there are also a few that involve planting three of a specific kind of plant. These shrub and flower seeds can be bought either from Nook's Cranny, or from Leif the sloth, who will be visiting islands more frequently during the event. They are all worth 200 Miles before the five times event bonus.

  • Plant Shrub Starts.
  • Plant Cosmos Seeds.
  • Plant Hyacinth Bulbs.
  • Plant Tulip Bulbs.
  • Plant Mum Seeds.
  • Plant Lily Bulbs.
  • Plant Pansy Seeds.
  • Plant Windflower Bulbs.
  • Plant Rose Seeds.

Animal Crossing: New Horizons is out now, exclusively for the Nintendo Switch.

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