NAEE’s blogs feature insightful contributions from trustees and members, sharing perspectives, ideas, and experiences that inspire environmental education, promote sustainability and encourage deeper engagement with the natural world.
All NAEE members are invited to contribute a blog. If you would like to share your insights with fellow members and a wider audience, then please visit our house rules for NAEE blog writers.
The UK’s 25-year environment plan
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 [...]
Remembrance Day for lost species
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 [...]
A new constitution for NAEE
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 [...]
Unhealthy days out
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 [...]
A Living Planet needs Environmental Educators
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 [...]
Living Planet report
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 [...]
The Burntwood Lecture
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 [...]
Everyone needs green spaces
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 [...]
The Guardian asks …
Has hope become the most endangered species in conservation? Adding: As wildlife continues to decline around the world, conservation has become a bleak calling. Can a new Optimism Summit help reframe the mission to save life on Earth? Jeremy Hance begins his article with this: "Want to hear a sad story? [...]
Yes! we can
Yes! Magazine has a feature by Jill Suttie on How to raise an environmentalist. It says that: "Encouraging children to form an emotional attachment to nature may be key to protecting our planet’s future", and we know that this is a popular sentiment. But this is a more thoughtful piece [...]
