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“We learned how to work together to look after the plants and the wildlife.” “We hope the garden will increase the wildlife population now we have improved their habitats.” So said a 6-year-old, and 10-year-old, respectively, about their experiences in the new Peace Garden at Bretforton First School.  The school’s Eco Team, comprising students from…

What does the future hold for GM after the UK leaves the EU? Farming Minister George Eustace is discussing new rules for GM crops after Brexit, and while some believe this will free the UK to move towards a more open approach to GM. Peter Melchett, Soil Association policy director, argued on BBC Farming Today (October…

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…