#35: National Education Nature Park - in development

I've been following the development of the National Education Nature Park, and discovered a few weeks ago that I know someone who is one of the key people involved in delivering on the project, so hoping to get a little more involved as the project develops and moves into the later stages. 

The National Education Nature Park is part of a suite of activities which are aimed at delivering on the promises of the Government's plans to help fight climate change. This is the DfE's Sustainability Strategy.

There is also a Climate Action Award Scheme for schools.

Read more about the project here on the DfE site.

And this video is helpful as an introduction to the key ideas.

Some key information:

The Natural History Museum are leading the delivery of these initiatives, in partnership with the Royal Horticultural Society and supported by Royal Society (RS), Royal Geographical Society (RGS), Manchester Metropolitan University (MMU), Learning Through Landscapes (LtL), UK Centre for Ecology and Hydrology (UKCEH) and the National Biodiversity Network Trust (NBNT). You can find out more information here: National Education Nature Park and Climate Action Awards Scheme | Natural History Museum (nhm.ac.uk).

The National Education Nature Park and Climate Action Award will launch in the Autumn and education settings will be able to register to participate in May.

Another video:

Children tested innovative activities for the National Education Nature Park last week, at an event at @RHSBridgewater.@esriuk created mobile apps that enabled children to map their emotions along with what they saw, heard and smelt across the gardens👇https://t.co/KBUjEDl0G9 pic.twitter.com/I7Y81bai2R

— Educate Magazine (@EducateMag) May 23, 2023

Details:

• From creating pollinator-friendly habitats, digging ponds and rain gardens, identifying wildlife or planning planting schemes, young people will choose, plan, and implement a range of site improvements and habitat enhancements based on the latest scientific evidence.
• With England’s primary and secondary schools covering an area roughly twice the size of Birmingham, this is an opportunity to empower young people to make a real difference by creating environments across the country where biodiversity thrives.
• School grounds are the most under-recorded urban habitat type in England. The partnership will be working with Esri UK to provide free geospatial mapping tools so children and young people can monitor biodiversity gains on their learning sites and in their local community.
• The partnership will deliver a comprehensive, curriculum-based set of free climate education resources, lesson plans, and schemes of work from Early Years Foundation Stage, through Key Stages 1-5 and Further Education.