The Social Farms & Gardens website contains a wide range of resources including the Get Your Hands Dirty pack. An autumn campaign is planned to help raise awareness of the need for land-based qualifications. If you are not yet a member of Social Farms & Gardens (and within that the School Farms Network) you can click here and join – it is free! The link lists some of the many benefits. The Social Farms & Gardens results from the merger of the Federation of City Farms and Community Gardens and Care Farming UK that took place in April.
Farmvention (when farming meets invention) is a national STEM competition run by the NFU aimed at primary school children launching this September. There are three exciting problem based challenges that can be entered by individual children or in teams. It is designed to make children think about the day to day issues faced by farmers and growers in England and Wales, each challenge is supported by curriculum linked resources created in partnership with the Association for Science Education (ASE).
Since its inception in 1982 each Wildscreen Festival has used wildlife photographs or illustrations to provide a unique and memorable visual identity. The 2018 Festival focusses on telling the story of biodiversity – the diversity of life on Earth, from species to ecosystems. As Windscreen values the world’s more underappreciated and endangered species and habitats, it has chosen five to showcase as the 2018 Festival Mascots. This begins with the helmeted hornbill.
bgen, LEEF and BGCI invite you to a Joint Networking Day on 15th August 2018 at the Wildfowl and Wetlands Trust Centre in Barnes. With the theme of Change, the focus will be how changing audiences and educational practices are affecting our work as well as how we can measure any change that we create. Organised by networking organisations bgen, LEEF and BGCI our aim is to bring together like-minded professionals to mingle, find inspiration and share best practice. Participants will have the chance to
- Think about how our audience may change and how we can cater for the needs of modern society with Katy Barton from Royal Botanic Gardens Kew
- Explore how our methods of engaging people change with the advent of new technology, and through enquiry-based learning with Ed Lawless, Samsung Digital Discovery Centre, British Museum and the WWT London team
- See examples of best practice in engagement for attitude change with Ruth Desforges, Zoological Society of London
- Discover how we can measure that attitude change with Asimina Vergou from Heritage Lottery Fund
You can find booking terms and conditions here. Booking closes on the 9th.
Project Dirt says that Off Grid is an ethical, eco-political community festival run by volunteers for social change, and exists to bring people together who want to build community, share information about agriculture and land rights, off grid technology and energy production, environmental issues, governmental structures, and the financial system, and it gives participants practical incentives on how to contribute and facilitate the changes that are needed today. There are activities for children from engaging with nature and learning skills to just having fun. It’s from August 9 to 12.
The UK Youth Climate Coalition UKYCC is a youth-led organisation that mobilises and empowers young people to take positive action for global climate justice. It envisions a just and sustainable world in which current and future generations enjoy and protect a healthy environment, and is looking for people who share this vision. You don’t have to be a climate science expert or a protester (though we like those people too!) UKYCC is a space to learn and grow, to meet people who share your passion and develop new skills and confidence to take on challenges. Most of the time we work remotely, talking regularly online – so whether you live in rural area, urban area, or at your Mum’s house, we want you! The more diverse our members our, the wider range of skills we can encompass, and the more stories we can share as UK Youth.
The National Permaculture Convergence is from 20 – 23 September. Venues include Hulme Community Garden Centre, Z-arts and N.I.A.M.O.S, and the event is working with ethical organisations including housing co-op Homes for Change, Leaf Street Community Gardeners, and Ethical Consumer.
“It’s a great example of how you can turn a deprived area into a shining example of community action,” says convergence coordinator Dan Hurring. Details about tickets here.
CLPE’s books with an environment theme can be seen here. These include The Storm Whale by Benji Davies and The Little Gardener by Emily Hughes.