The Big Farmland Bird Count has been run by the Game and Wildlife Conservation Trust (GWCT) which has encouraged farmers, land managers and gamekeepers to spend around 30 minutes on the lookout for birds. Founder of the Bird Count, Jim Egan, said a huge number of farmers and keepers were doing ‘tremendous work’ to boost farmland birds and other wildlife, but more needed to be done to recognise their efforts. He said:
“As well as planting seed mixes to provide winter feed, they also leave weedy stubbles over winter, manage hedgerows so as to leave berries for food, and supplement this by putting out mixed seeds and grain on tracks and field margin.”
There are more details in the Farmers Guardian.
Exeter University says: “Explore the potential solutions to climate change and how they relate to the UN’s sustainable development goals.”
This is a free 4-week online course (pgrade’ available. On the course “you will explore solutions to this global challenge, including mitigation, adaptation and geo-engineering, which can help avoid the most dangerous climate changes and increase the resilience of societies and ecosystems to climate changes that cannot be avoided.” The topics covered are:
- Climate Action & Life on Land
- Life below WaterSustainable Cities and Communities
Operation Earth is taking place at London’s Natural History Museum this week: February 13 to 15. This is an interactive show for families with children aged 6 -11 and it’s free. The NHM says:
Earthy is feeling a little under the weather and is going to the doctor for a check-up. Join us, along with expert scientists, as we investigate what is bothering Earthy. Become a trainee environmental scientist and help us investigate Earthy’s land, air and oceans, and see if together we can find solutions.
Stafford Borough Eco-Schools Network is emphasising that there is No Planet B [TINPB] in a series of activities next week over half term in St Chad’s Church. Stafford Library is also running workshops as part of TINPB including:
- Urban Explorers’ for ages 12-15 years, Tuesday 20th
- Wildlife Tile Painting, Wednesday 21st
- Children’s Creative Writing Workshop, Thursday 22nd
St George’s House, Windsor, held a consultation in December on the sustainable development goals and young people.
The report has now been completed and you download it here. It contains the background papers for the consultation, the presentations that were made and summary thoughts of participants. There is a lot in this to inform and stimulate, and to encourage engagement with the goals.
Early notice of a Climate Action Network (West Midlands) workshop on 25 July [1700 to 1930]. The focus is how to work together to help schools and the curriculum become greener, and how to support schools to act as community hubs for local climate action. It’s being held at the John Lewis Community Hub.
You can book here.
The British Science Association has announced that CREST Awards is now a partner of Children’s University – a charity that encourages, tracks and celebrates children’s participation in activities beyond the normal classroom curriculum.
The Children’s University runs in over 1,000 schools with more than 100,000 children (aged 5-14) holding a passport. If your school is part of the Children’s University and is also running CREST, you can give children credits in their passport as you would for other school activities. You can find out more here.
The Bath & Bristol Festival of Nature takes place this year in early June. Billed as the UK’s biggest free celebration of the natural world, there are two parts:
- Bath Festival of Nature Bath Pop-Up Wildlife Party 2nd June 2018
- Bristol Festival of Nature 9th – 10th June 2018
There’s also a City Nature Challenge from the 27th to 30th April. More details here.
NAAEE has announced its call for presentations for its 2018 conference in Spokane. The theme is: EE: A Force for the Future.
There are three elements to the event:
- Research Symposium: October 9–10
- Conference: October 10–13
- Pre-Conference Field Trips and Workshops: October 10
The deadline for submissions is April 2, 2018. More details and a proposal submission form here.
Earth Hour – the biggest switch off on the planet starts on Saturday 24 March at 8.30pm. WWF says Get Ready!
The Woodland Trust website has an article on Foraging in February now that winter’s on the way out and the warmer weather is emerging. The Trust says:
“It may feel like we’re still in the grips of winter, but shoots are starting to appear. And they’re growing quickly. Here are some early spring plants and winter fungi to look out for. Always take a good field guide with you – and please follow our sustainable foraging guidelines.”