Earth Day

To mark Earth Day 2021, we are copying a post from the personal blog of Bill Scott, our Chair of Trustees. This looks back to the early 1970s when Philip Larkin was commissioned to write a prologue to a UK government report, How Do You Want To Live?  (HMSO, 1972).  As ever with our blogs, the views expressed…

April 19th 2021

There is a Tide ~ The latest edition of Elephant Times from Tide~ global learning focuses on climate change. Contributors include: Katie Riley – describing her climate strike experience; Hannah Boyden – exploring a learning journey responding to the SDGs; and Margaret Barnfield – reflecting on a primary science project ‘Why on Earth?’        . Wildlife Crime…

50 Years of NAAEE

Like NAEE, the North American Association of Environmental Education [NAAEE] is 50 years old this year. This is how Judy Braus, NAAEE Executive Director and NAEE Fellow sets out the background to its beginnings: This year is a special one for NAAEE: It’s our 50th Anniversary.  We’re excited to celebrate this milestone with you and to…

Natural England research update

This is part of a recent round up by Natural England of recent and relevant evidence and reports, policy agenda developments, large scale delivery sector initiatives, resources and news items from the UK and abroad, with a focus on education and learning. This supports the Strategic Research Network for People and Nature to develop better…

April 12th 2021

Good grief.  What a title! – The Duke of Edinburgh was not known as a champion of environmental education, mores the pity, but he was very interested in young people’s development, and in conservation (and the environment more generally). Examples were his presidency of WWF International, his support of the National Playing Fields Association (now…

Beasts at Bedtime

Beasts at Bedtime is a very interesting, imaginative and almost magical book, that illustrates the themed wealth of children’s stories. It recognises that many of the great stories for children feature animals and it is written for all those who imagine that children also see themselves as magnificent creatures. There is a great deal of…

Inspiring the Next Generation of Natural Historians

Stephanie West, Angela Marmont Centre, Natural History Museum Back in 2011 the House of Lords discussed the ‘Taxonomic Skills Shortage’. This followed years of discussion within natural history: our natural historians are ageing, where is the next generation, who will continue this work? Historically the UK has had a wealth of amateur and professional naturalists, able…

Waiting for Superman? Time to wake up

Today’s blog is the latest in a series from Richard Jurin who, before his retirement, ran the Environmental Studies programme at the University of Northern Colorado, launching a degree in Sustainability Studies.  His academic interests are environmental worldviews and understanding barriers to sustainability.  As ever, with our blogs, Richard’s views are not necessarily shared by…

April 5th 2021

Digital Storytelling – Students in the London Schools Eco Network [LSEN] have traveled to the year 2050 to report back on their hopes and fears for the future. You can see their multimedia letters from the future on YouTube. These were produced through a digital storytelling workshop organised by Bill Finnegan, a doctoral researcher at the University…