On Thursday January 9th some key members of NAEE attended a memorial service at St Peter’s Church, Sutton Coldfield for Sue Fenoughty.
Sue (19th December 1935 – 14th December 2024) had been a very active member of NAEE for many years. She was the editor of the NAEE’s flagship Environmental Education Journal for a number of years at a time when we were able to produce 3 ‘paper’ copies a year.
Her professional role as an environmental education advisory teacher carried on far beyond normal teacher retirement age. When government funding was withdrawn at very short notice she stepped in, with a few others, to keep the Association going. As a very active member of the then Executive Committee, she had an eye for details that many others would ignore.
Until her eyesight deteriorated she was still correcting the grammar and punctuation in our documents! A full tribute will be published in the next edition of Environmental Education Journal.
Nina Hatch Executive Director
Here is NAEE’s latest round-up of news…
A Year of Environmental Lunacy
NAEE launch a Year Of Environmental Lunacy to correspond with the first full Moon of 2025. You can find out more here
Each lunar month a guest Blogger will be noticing nature on their doorstep and naming that Moon accordingly.
The first Blog suggests why the January Moon is more aptly called a Fox Moon and you can see why here…
Wild in the City.
Annual Report 2023-24
Here’s another chance to read the Wild in the City Annual Report .
See our journey throughout the year, how we’ve grown, effected change and built community.
We’re proud that our report showcases beautiful imagery of people of colour in community with nature – we also share our perspectives on the opportunities and challenges of being a Black-led nature organisation.
*Our section on the year’s highlights depicts the depth and intimacy of our time together, in the woods, on the trail, learning and sharing. We detail our innovative programmes, bringing back the oral tradition for learning about nature within family and community, and nurturing outstanding leaders in the field.
*In a piece on The Cost of Decolonising, we call for greater collective responsibility within the environmental sector for decolonising its systems and practices and tackling disparities in access to funding for POC-led organisations;
“We need funders and partner organisations to share the investment cost and burden of repairing the damage and shortfalls created by the disenfranchisement of groups marginalised from nature.”
And set out how, like most under-resourced POC organisations, “we do a huge amount with a small amount.”
We hope its an enjoyable read, sharing our memories of time together around the fire, or being inspired by our stories of exploration, connection and learning with nature.
News, in the papers and new resources
Seven big climate and nature moments coming in 2025 – Two of the BBC’s environment journalists analyse some of the key events coming up in 2025 and what they mean for the climate.
Climate and Nature Bill – A groundbreaking set of laws on reversing Nature destruction and accelerating climate action will be voted on in the UK parliament on 24th January 2025. You can help by calling on your MP to back the Climate and Nature Bill. Visit Zero Hour here for lots more information and for a tool to write to your MP!
UN Convention of Biological Diversity will reconvene on 25 – 27th February, following its suspension in Cali, Colombia due to a lack of consensus. Key issues will be: Mobilizing Financial Resources for Biodiversity, Monitoring Framework, Planning, Monitoring, Reporting, and Review (PMRR) Mechanism and Financial Mechanisms.
News about schools, Further Education, Higher Education and Initial/Teacher Education
Kenrick grant applications for Summer Term Environmental Education centre visits
By Nina Hatch
All schools in the Greater Birmingham area have now been emailed application details. Grants are only awarded to educational establishments within that area. Home educated groups may also apply.
The closing date for applications is 5pm on February 14th, the last day of Spring Term 1 in this area.
Each application form will be assessed and schools will then be notified soon after Half Term if they have been successful or rejected.
A maximum grant of £400, and the possibility of a second grant of £200, can be awarded to a school within a 5 year period.
Details of the centres where these bursaries can be used has been updated and is on the school bursaries page of the NAEE website.
Further information and application forms can also be obtained directly from kenrick@naee.org.uk
Please note that grants are only offered to the EE centres listed. They can also only be used for visits led by a member of Education staff at the appropriate centre. This is to ensure that the content of a visit meets a certain level of environmental education standards and a post visit report is submitted to NAEE.
For summer term 2025 only 3 centres are included as RSPB have notified NAEE that they have withdrawn paid Education staff led visits, so reluctantly we have had to withdraw the RSPB Reserve at Sandwell Valley from our list.
The NAEE Kenrick team are hoping to find and assess an alternative 4th centre for 2025 – 26 applications.
The National Education Nature Park
Nature Park mailing list Sign up to the Nature Park mailing list to receive the monthly newsletter that goes out to teachers and educators taking part in the programme. Stay in the know
What to do with the Nature Park this winter: Short days and grey skies may lead you to think that there’s not much going on outside at this time of year, but this couldn’t be further from the truth! Embrace the winter season by having a go at some of our suggested activities over the next few months. Read more
The National Education Nature Park: answering big questions about nature in England As well as an education programme, the National Education Nature Park is also a huge community science project answering big questions about nature in England. We know a lot about biodiversity in England, but school grounds remain a bit of a mystery. This is where the National Education Nature Park programme comes in! Find out more
Catch up on the Nature Park autumn term round-up Hear from staff at St Mary’s Catholic School talk about how they’ve got started on their Nature Park journey during the autumn term. Get the latest updates including what the science team have been doing with your data collected so far and how to get outdoors with the Nature Park during the winter period. Watch here
SOS-UK News
The BIG Climate and Nature Education Survey for schools opens in January
The survey is open from January to April, and schools from KS2 to KS5 can take part. The survey will include topics such as attitudes, experiences and general views on climate change and nature. Sign up here
Arts in Nature with Children and Young People
Arts in Nature with Children and Young People: A guide towards health equality, wellbeing and sustainability
A new book co-edited by Professor Nicola Walshe, Executive Director of the UCL Centre for Climate Change and Sustainability Education, and Dr Zoe Moula of Kings College London (also an Associate Fellow of the Centre) can be accessed free at: Arts in Nature with Children and Young People: A Guide Towards Health
The text brings together research and practice on the intersection between arts-in-nature experiences and their impact on children and young people’s wellbeing, health equality and sustainability. It will appeal to anyone working with children and young people, including mental health and healthcare professionals, teachers, researchers, artists and arts therapists. There are five research-based and seven practice-based chapters, drawing on arts-in-nature practices that incorporate visual arts, music, movement, drama and poetry, in a range of natural environments, such as forests, beaches, greenhouses, parks, community areas and school playgrounds.
Climate Schools 180
Applications to be a Climate School 180 open on the 13th January. The Project provides support to 180 schools to deliver quality climate education. Find out more here, at Learning through Landscapes.
Big Schools Birdwatch 2025
It’s a great way to connect children with nature while supporting curriculum learning. Register now and start counting from the 7th of January!
Advance notice of new book on Eduction for Environmental Sustainability by Professor Lizzie Rushton
Advanced notice of Professor Lizzie Rushton’s new book to be published on 15 May 2025, available from Bloomsbury:
Education for Environmental Sustainability: An Integrated Approach to Teacher Education. Available here: https://www.bloomsbury.com/uk/education-for-environmental-sustainability-9781350375932/
Ecology and Art Initiative in Schools
Alexis Bamforth is an artist who has been collaborating with ecology to produce public art that discusses key cultural issues over the past 30 plus years.
Alexis is currently working with the National Society of Education in Art and Design (NSEAD) on a groundbreaking pilot that gets high-quality environment-related artwork into schools, work that not only involves the children in its making, but celebrates interdisciplinary flow between art, geography and science.
Do contact Alexis if you would like to find out more and check out the website below:
Employment, education and training opportunities
- Application deadline for ‘Youth, Society and Sustainable Futures’ Programme – 29th January
The closing deadline for applications for our new BA in “Youth, Society and Sustainable Futures” is 29 January 2025.
An innovative course of study that will support employment in the Youth and “Green and Clean” sectors, as well as NGOs and state supported services.
You can find out more about the programme here
Climate Nature and Action in Education – 3rd February, Grafham Water Centre, Cambridgeshire.
This event is providing support for your education setting’s climate and nature action journey. The DfE has asked that all education settings are to have a Climate Action Plan and designated sustainability lead in place by 2025. Whilst the event is aimed at educational establishments, outdoor learning is very much an important part of that. To find out more click here, and to sign up, use this link.
The National Climate Change Conference 2025 – 4th February, online.
Hear the latest guidance and policies from the new Labour government, and their proposals to empower local government to reach their ambitious targets. A unique opportunity to hear from across all tiers of local and regional bodies as they discuss comprehensive strategies to deliver on climate change adaptation and resilience. Find out more here, and sign up using this link.
Sustainability in Education Conference – 12th February, University of Bedfordshire.
“By 2025, all education settings will have nominated a sustainability lead and put in place a climate action plan”.The Department for Education’s (DfE)’s sustainability and climate change strategy. Whether you have an existing sustainability action plan in place or are just getting started, this one-day course will provide Primary, Secondary and Further Education Sustainability Leads, Teachers, School Improvement Directors, Operations/Facilities Directors and Governors with the tools to develop and progress their school’s climate action plan and put that plan into action. For more information and to sign up, click here.
Climate Leaders Conference – 6th March, Sheffield Hallam University.
This one-day conference will support education settings, schools and trust leaders to understand the benefits of a sustainability leadership and climate action plans, support to develop a plan and identify opportunities to support their settings in taking action on climate change, sustainability and biodiversity.
For more information, have a look here and to sign up, follow this link.
Climate and Energy Summit 2025, 18th – 19th March, Chatham House, London.
On the road towards COP30, this annual conference will gather senior leaders and decision-makers from the business community, multilateral organizations, government agencies, academia and NGOs. Two days of high-level panel dialogues, networking sessions and an interactive workshop under the Chatham House Rule will focus on multi-stakeholder collaboration for increased ambition, action and impact. For more information and to sign up, have a look on their website.
5th Annual South Yorkshire Schools’ Climate Conference 2025 – 20th March, AESSEAL Rotherham United Football Stadium, Rotherham.
All schools in South Yorkshire are invited to register an expression of interest for groups of up to 6 primary pupils (Y4-Y6) or up to 5 secondary students (Y7-Y11) with 2 adults. It will be a jam-packed day of interactive workshops and speakers exploring the Green Skills and Careers theme. Attending the conference is also a great way to gain more knowledge to boost your school’s Climate Action Plan. For more information, access their website here and to sign up, use this link.
Together in Nature – Trauma-informed Nature-based Training- 24-30th March, Malvern, Worcestershire and 6-10th May, Aberdeenshire. For people working with children, young people and adults, those interested in their personal development and are curious about the power of connection with the more than human world. The key elements of the 5 days include – holding space; storying our story with nature-based metaphors and more; attuning and resonance with each other and the natural world; creating coherence from separation. To book your space and find out more information, follow this link.
Some exciting job opportunities available:
Strategic Lead – International Nature and Climate – The Wildlife Trusts (Home-based, or Newark, Nottinghamshire) (Deadline 19 January)
Events and Education Officer – The Serge Hill Project for Gardening, Creativity and Health (Bedmond, Hertfordshire) (Deadline 20th January)
Community Engagement Officer – Bright Green Nature (Hybrid, Scottish Borders)
STEM A-Level Tutor – if you would like to discuss this opportunity with a member of the team, please reach out to grouptuition@theaccessproject.org.uk.
For a wide range of further opportunities, do look at:
And to wrap it up….
How Moo Deng the pygmy hippo star is bringing conservation into the spotlight, and the role of social media in promoting environmentalism. Find out more here, and take a look at Happy Eco News, a website which provides readers with positive information about the environment and the people working to improve it – a refreshing break from the constant negativity within the media.
Sharing News and Contact Details
Please do share our news round-up with colleagues who might be interested. If someone has shared it with you and you would like to join NAEE to support our work, you can do so here.
National Association for Environmental Education (UK)
Email: info@naee.org.uk Web: http://naee.org.uk