The Monitor of Engagement with the Natural Environment (MENE) survey (from Natural England) provides data that show the ways that people engage with the natural environment such as visiting the countryside, enjoying green spaces in towns and cities, watching wildlife and volunteering to help protect the natural environment. Data are collected about how people use the natural…
Today’s Blog is contributed by Diane Vukotic who is an outdoor enthusiast who encourages parents to take their children camping to reconnect with nature, learn respect for wildlife, and develop self-esteem. She blogs at www.momgoescamping.com and you can also follow her on Facebook and Twitter. Entomology as a Gateway Nature is often viewed as something which is…
Rolf Jucker has a new book: Do We Know What We Are Doing? Reflections on Learning, Knowledge, Economics, Community and Sustainability We were particularly taken by the title of Chapter 4: ESD is Environmental Education (EE), but EE is Not Always ESD and look forward to reading it. Here are a couple of comments about…
There was a meeting the other week at Defra about the UK’s 25-year environment plan. This was not actually about the plan, or about the environment; rather, it was about that most muddled of ideas, outdoor learning. In the following, NAEE Chair of Trustees, Bill Scott (who was there), sets out a few thoughts on what he sees…
Not everyone is likely to think that a Remembrance Day for lost species is a good idea. But if you do, it’s on November 30th, and more details are here. Maybe there’s an event near you. We wonder if anyone will be remembering the Smallpox virus which was hunted to virtual extinction by ruthless human…
NAEE is looking for a new president after Bill Scott, our most recent one, changed roles within the Association to be Chair of the Board of Trustees. We’re looking for an experienced UK environmental education practitioner and / or researcher well known and respected across the field someone whose values fit with those of NAEE professionally active,…
Today’s blog is by Bill Scott, the Chair of the Trustee Board for the new NAEE. In what follows, Bill explains the background to the changes that have taken place and some of the detail of the revised arrangements. He stresses that, amid all the change, there’s also a lot of continuity. Over the 50+…
The Soil Association spent the summer sending teams of undercover ‘secret diner’ families to review children’s food offerings at our favourite theme parks, museums, art galleries and zoos. As we all already knew, it’s mostly bad news. The SA says: “We’ve uncovered a lack of healthy choices for children. 75% of children’s lunchboxes didn’t include any veg or salad…
As we have already noted, WWF produced its Living Planet Index last week. The summary report ends: “The facts and figures in the Living Planet Report tend to paint a challenging picture, yet there is still plenty of room for optimism. If we manage to undergo the critical transitions necessary, the reward will be immense. Fortunately, we…
WWF has launched its Living Planet Report for 2016. This global report is produced every two years, and is a comprehensive study of trends in species populations and the health of the planet. It aims to support governments, communities, businesses and organisations to make informed decisions on using and protecting the Earth’s resources. The report reveals that,…
The IES 2016 Burntwood Lecture is to be given by Baroness Parminter. Her title is: Separation anxiety: The challenges for the environment from Brexit The organisers say that this lecture series provides an opportunity for an eminent speaker to talk on a current, critical and often controversial environmental theme to an invited audience from the professions, universities and government. In this…
The Guardian reports a new YouGov survey commissioned by Groundwork which reveals the stark fact that 30% of 16- to 24-year-olds from lower income families say they never visit a local park – more than double the number from higher income families. The importance of green spaces to young people’s social and physical development is well understood.…