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The countdown to COP challenge is a creativity and design project that looks for innovative ideas and solutions for issues that we face relating to climate change.

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Adaption Scotland: supporting climate change resilience 

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Adaption Scotland: supporting climate change resilience 

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Welcome to the Climate Ready Places web resource.

Over the last 50 years Scotland has seen a significant change in climate - to warmer and wetter weather with more extreme weather events. This trend is set to continue. The aim of this website is to get people thinking about Scotland becoming climate ready. What would we do? What would it look like? The ideas are generated from people working on adaptation across Scotland and in many different sectors. We asked them to imagine 'Scottish' places adapting to climate change and what they would look like. We created six typical Scottish places - Uplands, Lowlands, Coast, Infrastructure, Suburbs and City, and show possible adaptation.

Please remember that this is a collection of ideas - it is not prescriptive, it is not a plan. There will be many more ways to get your place climate ready. Hopefully you will have ideas of your own!

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Where to Start? toolkit launched to support youth workers build COP26 legacy

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Support young people to take climate social action using our COP26 legacy building toolkit.

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See the UK as it really is - 100 seconds, with each second representing a percentage of the different land uses of the UK. Can we make more space for nature?

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Our free resources are available to schools across Scotland and experiences gained through RHET can be harnessed by teachers in their programmes to help deliver Curriculum for Excellence for Scotland's young people.

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How to compost

The site and container

It is important that the site is not subjected to extremes of temperature and moisture, as the micro-organisms (bacteria and fungi) that convert the waste to compost work best in constant conditions. Position the bin in light shade or shade; it is often more convenient to use a shady area of the garden.

An earth base allows drainage and access to soil organisms, but if you have to compost on a hard surface, then add a spadeful of soil to the compost bin.

Bins retain some warmth and moisture and make better compost more quickly, but even an open heap (not enclosed in a bin) will compost eventually. Any of the compost bins on the market should produce compost as long as they exclude rain, retain some warmth, allow drainage and let in air.

Bins less than 1 cubic m (1.3 cubic yd) in size are much less effective than larger ones.

Getting the right balance of composting materials

Aim for between 25 and 50 percent soft green materials (e.g. grass clippings, annual weeds, vegetable kitchen waste, or manure) to feed the micro-organisms

The remainder should be woody brown material (e.g. prunings, wood chippings, paper, cardboard, straw or dead leaves)

The bacteria and micro-organisms that produce the compost function best when the balance of green and brown materials is correct.

Avoid letting any one material dominate the heap - especially grass clippings, as these can become a slimy, smelly mess on their own.

Kitchen waste and grass clippings are best mixed with brown woody material, as they tend to be wet and easily compacted, excluding air.

Some common composting materials

Green: Grass clippings; soft, leafy plants including annual weeds; fruit and vegetables, uncooked kitchen waste; selected pet waste/bedding

Brown: prunings and hedge trimmings (ideally shredded), woodchip, leaves, paper and card (torn up or shredded), straw, plant stems

Accelerators and activators: Products such as 'Garotta' are sometimes added where green waste is in short supply. They contain high levels of nitrogen (a nutrient found in green waste), but should not be necessary if green waste is plentiful. It is also possible to purchase activators containing carbon (a nutrient found in brown woody waste); these are aimed at composting grass clippings or other green waste where there is insufficient brown waste

Lime: People sometimes think you need to add lime to the compost heap, but there is no need to do so

Turning the heap

Turning the heap adds air; air is necessary for composting to occur. If the heap is too wet or becomes compacted, then the composting process is slower as less air is available.

Ideally, place a lot of composting materials on the heap in one go, and turn it periodically (perhaps every month) to introduce air. Failure to turn the heap is probably the main cause of poor results.

Many gardeners are unable to fill the heap in one go, as they accumulate waste gradually. Because of this, home-made compost is seldom as perfect as municipal compost, but it is still effective.

Remember to keep the heap moist in dry weather - turning will give you an opportunity to assess the moisture level.

When is the compost ready?

Garden compost can take between six months and two years to reach maturity. Mature compost will be dark brown, with a crumbly soil-like texture and a smell resembling damp woodland.

It is unlikely that all the material in the heap will be like this, but any remaining un-rotted material can be added to the next batch of composting materials.

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It is important that the site is not subjected to extremes of temperature and moisture, as the micro-organisms (bacteria and fungi) that convert the waste to compost work best in constant conditions. Position the bin in light shade or shade; it is often more convenient to use a shady area of the garden.

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The Sustainable Development Goals: A guide for teachers

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The Sustainable Development Goals: A guide for teachers

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You are here:

Engage your learners with the Sustainable Development Goals

If you made a list of goals to make our world a better place, what would be on it? Ending poverty? Tackling climate change and environmental degradation? Achieving gender equality? What would be your priorities and why?

The Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) are a set of ambitious and urgent goals and targets aimed at changing our world for the better. Packed with practical advice, useful information, cross-curricular activity ideas and inspiring case studies; this guide aims to deepen teachers' understanding of education about and for the SDGs.

Discover the rich breadth of ways in which learners can engage with the SDGs.

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education; active global citizenship; global citizenship education; sdgs; sustainable development goals; global goals

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The Sustainable Development Goals: A guide for teachers | Oxfam Education

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If you made a list of goals to make our world a better place, what would be on it? Ending poverty? Tackling climate change and environmental degradation? Achieving gender equality? What would be your priorities and why? The Sustainable Development

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Join the movement and plan to teach the SDGs, sign the pledge. Encourage your collegues to sign up too.

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To help reach our goal of actively supporting and enhancing the work of the United Nations' efforts within K-12 classrooms, our TeachSDGs organization contributes to the 2030 Agenda in the following...

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John Muir Award Sustainability Resource Guide 

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John Muir Award Sustainability Resource Guide 

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Primary and Secondary school packs to explore the UN Global Goals

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Transforming how our next generation thinks and acts about the environment and the world requires profound changes in teaching and learning. The OECD, UNESCO and Education International are inviting teachers to share initiatives and projects on student empowerment around climate action.

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How the John Muir Award delivers for Climate and Nature in Loch Lomond & Trossachs National Park

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How the John Muir Award delivers for Climate and Nature in Loch Lomond & Trossachs National Park

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Examples of how the John Muir Award helps groups and individuals contribute to climate and nature action work, including resources and links to help you and your groups get further involved.

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This wakelet features links to projects and resources looking at COP 26 and Climate Change as a context for learning and teaching

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STEM By Nature: An Introduction

STEM By Nature & Citizen Science: #14 Life Below Water

STEM By Nature & Citizen Science: #15 Life On Land

STEM By Nature: UN Sustainable Development Goals

STEM By Nature: #13 Climate Action

STEM By Nature: Trees, Woods and Forests (created by Rob Bushby consulting for Scottish Forestry).

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Inspire learners by making connections between STEM skills, wild places and outdoor learning approaches

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Connecting you to the natural world around you, for free, wherever you are. Produced by NatureScot.

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Share your discoveries with others and watch your nature zones grow!

About Zepto

Developed together with Scottish Natural Heritage, Zepto encourages you to take your first steps in connecting with nature across Scotland, against a library of the most common species found here (this library continues to grow) and offering activities to allow you to explore, share your local places and record your observations. Stay tuned for updates with more citizen science, play and conservation activities that open up your local natural world for you, your friends and other Zepto users.

How It Works

Zepto helps you connect with nature in a number of ways.

01

Create

Pins offer you the ability to mark and name places in the outdoors that you find interesting or would like to learn more about.

02

Record

Once you've created a pin you can play discovery games that help Zepto understand more about the kind of place you're in.

03

Unlock

When Zepto knows enough about the place you've discovered, it unlocks fun adventures for you to play that are relevant to your pin.

Contact Zepto

Got a question? Get in touch.

We're here to answer any questions you may have, just drop us an email or call for a chat.

Oxido, Tontine Building, 20 Trongate, Glasgow, G1 5ES.

0141 465 7678

info@oxido.co.uk

© 2019 Oxido Ltd. All right reserved.

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Share your discoveries with others and watch your nature zones grow! Developed together with Scottish Natural Heritage, Zepto encourages you to take your first steps in connecting with nature across Scotland, against a library of the most common species found here (this library continues to grow) and offering activities to allow you to explore, share your local places and record your observations.

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Sunnyside Primary School Ocean Defenders

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Sunnyside Primary School Ocean Defenders

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Nae STraw At Aw campaign

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Our ethos is to engage our pupils and the Sunnyside Family in nature including joining in with activities aimed at protecting our natural environment or where needs be, initiating our own campaigns designed and led by our young people. We are also fortunate to have support and guidance from many wonderful conservation organisations here in Scotland.

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Nae Straw At Aw | Sunnyside Ocean Defenders

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Our ethos is to engage our pupils and the Sunnyside Family in nature including joining in with activities aimed at protecting our natural environment or where needs be, initiating our own campaigns designed and led by our young people. We are also fortunate to have support and guidance from many wonderful conservation organisations here in Scotland.

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Public Collections from STEM ES. Welcome to the Sciences & STEM Wakelets.
These Wakelets are a collection of links to materials stored online that can be used for the following areas:
ELC Science
Primary Science
BGE Secondary Sciences
Senior Phase Sciences
STEM
LfS/Outdoor Learning
Outdoor activitie…

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Two Kenyan Lakes Expand, Threatening Both

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Torrential rains in Kenya's Great Rift Valley have swollen two important lakes and increased concern that they will merge. These images, in which north is to the left, show the southern end of Lake Baringo (left) and the northern end of Lake Bogoria (dark area at upper right).

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TRAVEL LESS BY CAR

CLIMATE-FRIENDLY HOME ENERGY

REDUCE, REUSE, RECYCLE

Sign up to our newsletter

You'll hear the latest news and success stories on net zero action happening across Scotland and receive tips and advice on the action you can take that will have the most impact.

Ways you can travel less by car

Transport is the largest contributor to Scotland's greenhouse gas emissions. The Scottish Government already has initiatives in place to help you reduce the number of journeys made by car. Learn what you can do to reduce your car journeys, about initiatives in your area and help for you.

Get help to keep warm

The cost of living crisis and rising energy prices is worrying for us all. Home Energy Scotland is here to give free and impartial advice on keeping warm, saving energy, and reducing bills, all while making your home more environmentally friendly. You could also be eligible for funding and support.

Let's do net zero

'Net Zero' means the amount of greenhouse gas emissions we put into the atmosphere and the amount we're able to take out will add up to zero. Our first step is to reduce emissions by changing our actions and processes.

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Together we can create a cleaner, healthier, happier and more successful nation. Doing nothing isn't an option. Scotland, let's do Net Zero.

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An ap for recording any time/ any place

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iRecord Butterflies

iRecord Butterflies is a free app that will guide you through the identification of any butterfly that you see in the UK and allow you to add your sighting to millions of other valuable records that inform the work of Butterfly Conservation.
1) Identify your sighting
You can compare your own photo with those from the app's extensive image library, filter species by colour, pattern and size, and see distribution maps and identification tips for each butterfly.
2) Tell us what you've seen
Add your butterfly sightings to Butterfly Conservation's long-running national recording scheme. Such sightings (termed 'records') provide the essential foundation for much-needed conservation work to help the UK's declining butterflies.

Records show how butterflies are faring so conservation effort can be targeted at those most at risk of extinction. They can help reveal the impact of climate change and other environmental issues on our butterfly populations. The data you send via iRecord Butterflies will be used to underpin the management of important butterfly sites, help protect habitats through the planning system and enable Butterfly Conservation to produce regular State of the UK's Butterflies reports, local and national atlases and Red Lists of priority species.

Simply by sending in some basic information about the butterflies that you enjoy watching, even if just from your garden, you can make a real contribution to their conservation.

The iRecord Butterflies app makes submitting your sightings really easy. Once you've identified the butterfly, enter a few simple pieces of information, such as the number that you saw and a place name (important so that the sightings can be checked on maps) and submit. The app will automatically calculate where you are (using the GPS in the Smartphone) and provide a grid reference for your sighting.

Every sighting counts in the struggle to save our butterflies.

The iRecord Butterflies app was developed by Natural Apptitude thanks to funding and support from the Biological Records Centre at the NERC Centre for Ecology and Hydrology.

Join the Big Butterfly Count and help us save butterflies with our free app and printable ID chart.

Download your FREE gardening guide and make your greenspace a haven for pollinators
Find out more

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iRecord Butterflies is a free app that will guide you through the identification of any butterfly that you see in the UK and allow you to add your sighting to millions of other valuable records that inform the work of Butterfly Conservation.

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Association for Protection of Rural Scotland 

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Association for Protection of Rural Scotland 

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Association for the Protection of Rural Scotland

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Play our game and be a Countryside Protector!

Help clear up the bottles and cans littered around this street, town, park and surrounding countryside. Have you seen litter like this where you live? See how a real deposit return system works and what a difference it can make.
More info and play!

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Help clear up the bottles and cans littered around this street, town, park and surrounding countryside. Have you seen litter like this where you live? See how a real deposit return system works and what a difference it can make. More info and play!

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Campaign for more National Parks in Scotland and to protect urban Green Belts 

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Campaign for more National Parks in Scotland and to protect urban Green Belts 

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Association for the Protection of Rural Scotland

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Play our game and be a Countryside Protector!

Help clear up the bottles and cans littered around this street, town, park and surrounding countryside. Have you seen litter like this where you live? See how a real deposit return system works and what a difference it can make.
More info and play!

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Help clear up the bottles and cans littered around this street, town, park and surrounding countryside. Have you seen litter like this where you live? See how a real deposit return system works and what a difference it can make. More info and play!

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Find out how your school can register to be a return place for single use drinks bottles/ cans and raise funds. Add value to a litter pick!

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Association for the Protection of Rural Scotland

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Play our game and be a Countryside Protector!

Help clear up the bottles and cans littered around this street, town, park and surrounding countryside. Have you seen litter like this where you live? See how a real deposit return system works and what a difference it can make.
More info and play!

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Help clear up the bottles and cans littered around this street, town, park and surrounding countryside. Have you seen litter like this where you live? See how a real deposit return system works and what a difference it can make. More info and play!

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campaign to protect Scotland's 11 Greenbelts.

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Association for the Protection of Rural Scotland

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Play our game and be a Countryside Protector!

Help clear up the bottles and cans littered around this street, town, park and surrounding countryside. Have you seen litter like this where you live? See how a real deposit return system works and what a difference it can make.
More info and play!

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Help clear up the bottles and cans littered around this street, town, park and surrounding countryside. Have you seen litter like this where you live? See how a real deposit return system works and what a difference it can make. More info and play!

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Action to keep our rivers clean of litter

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About the campaign

Treasure Your River is preventing river litter across the UK. The rivers at the heart of our cities flow to the sea, and take with them all the littARRR that is swept, dropped and drained into it. Did you know 80% of the litter in the sea flows out from river systems?

We're a huge UK-wide collaboration of litter-busting organisations looking for shipmates, volunteers, and people from across the UK who treasure their river to get involved. We're aiming to remove 95 tonnes of litter from our rivers and prevent a further 90 tonnes from entering them in the first place.

ARRR you ready to climb aboard and treasure a river near you?

The issue

Each year

more than 8 million tonnes of plastic is dumped in the sea (the equivalent of 2.2 million orcas and 11.7 million pirate ships). 80% of this plastic makes its way there from land through rivers and waterways.

UK rivers

contribute to the problem by ferrying litter towards the seven seas.

In the River Thames alone, an estimated 300 tonnes of litter make it's way out to sea each year.

Micro-plastic, macro-problem.

All rivers tested contain high amounts of microplastics (this includes the rivers Clyde, Trent, Severn, Wye, Conwy, and Exe).

During some tests, the River Mersey had a comparatively higher microplastic count than the Great Pacific Garbage patch.

It may not sail away...

The plastic that doesn't make its way out to sea can get stuck in tidal river systems; meaning it can accumulate, harm wildlife in our rivers and be costly to clean up.

What can I do?

Want to keep your local river in ship-shape condition? You've come to the right place, we've pulled together pirate-approved tips to help you Treasure Your River and help protect the seven seas.

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Treasure Your River is preventing river litter across the UK. The rivers at the heart of our cities flow to the sea, and take with them all the littARRR that is swept, dropped and drained into it.

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We have opened up our annual amphibian survey for the new breeding season.

The days are getting noticeably longer, and the frogs and toads are taking their cue. Soon, ponds across the country will be a bubbling bath of croaking frogs. The spawn they lay is a cheery sight for anyone looking for signs of life returning, but it is also a measure of the local frog population, and can tell us something about ponds.

Each spring we run the Big Spawn Count, with partners ARG UK and Amphibian and Reptile Conservation, and ask you to report the total amount of spawn you see in garden ponds and other water bodies. Along with some additional details about the pond, we can use the information to learn more about what makes a pond good for amphibians, and offer you improved, evidence-based information about making wildlife ponds through our Advice Centre.

The results of Big Spawn Count 2014 have been analysed. Around 600 people sent information on the frogs spawning in their gardens. Spawning peaked earlier than in the very cold 2013. Encouragingly, the spawn timings shown by Big Spawn Count are very similar to those collected in the Woodland Trust's Nature's Calendar project.

As in previous years, most people recorded up to 20 spawn clumps but a lucky few hit the jackpot with a lot more than this - in a handful of ponds more than 100 clumps. This pattern looks pretty consistent between years.

It's not very surprising to find that if you have a small pond (1 m x 1 m) you don't get very large amounts of spawn. But you don't need a huge pond to substantially increase the number of frogs coming to spawn; there's a suggestion that once your pond is what we called 'medium sized' (up to 5 m x 5 m) increasing the pond's size doesn't make much difference to the amount of spawn deposited even if you make the pond substantially bigger.

The survey also gives us some insights into the vexed question of fish. On small and medium sized ponds, frogs do not seem to be deterred from spawning by the presence of fish. Of course the tadpoles may not fare very well, but quite a few people do have frogs coming back to ponds that also have fish. So unless these fish ponds are entirely populated by young frogs colonising from different ponds, it looks as though tadpoles are surviving with fish at least some of the time. But it's clear that if you want a lot of frog spawn, you're more likely to succeed without fish: of the 20 ponds that were recorded which had 50 or more clumps of spawn, three quarters had no fish.

Now you can take part in the Big Spawn Count 2015 and help us learn more about how ponds work. When the frogs have laid spawn in you pond, count the clumps and fill in the simple Big Spawn Count form.

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Big Spawn Count - Freshwater Habitats Trust

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We have opened up our annual amphibian survey for the new breeding season. The days are getting noticeably longer, and the frogs and toads are taking their cue. Soon, ponds across the country will be a bubbling bath of croaking frogs. The spawn they lay is a cheery sight for anyone looking for signs of life ...

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Including a pond creation tool kit

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The Freshwater Habitats Trust is a UK based charity working to conserve freshwater wildlife for everyone to enjoy.

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Part of Tom.bio's remit is to think about ways of overcoming barriers to biological sampling and recording. One of the things which may prevent people becoming recorders is a lack of familiarity with biological sampling techniques. It can feel rather intimidating to hear frequent references to things like 'sweep netting', 'beating', 'kick sampling' and 'pooters' but not know exactly what is involved, what equipment is needed and what species groups each technique is suitable for.

Tom.bio is producing a series of short films, each focused on a particular sampling technique or aspect of biological identification or recording. The subject of the first of these films is kick sampling in rivers and streams. To see a list of planned future films, click here!

If you'd prefer, you can watch the film directly from our youTube channel.

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Kick sampling - a beginners' video guide

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Part of Tom.bio's remit is to think about ways of overcoming barriers to biological sampling and recording. One of the things which may prevent people becoming recorders is a lack of familiarity with biological sampling techniques. Tom.bio is producing a series of short films, each focused on a particular sampling technique or aspect of biological identification or recording.

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Surfers Against Sewage is a grassroots environmental charity that campaigns to protect the ocean and all it makes possible.

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In an exciting week of programmes, Blue Planet Live explores the health of our oceans.

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Make a donation. All donations support our education programme, keeping it free for participating schools.

and raise awareness about the importance of healthy oceans for sustaining life and positively engage the public and encourage stewardship of our blue planet.

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Make a donation. All donations support our education programme, keeping it free for participating schools. and raise awareness about the importance of healthy oceans for sustaining life and positively engage the public and encourage stewardship of our blue planet.

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Every purchase matters. Our seafood ratings help you make the most sustainable choices.

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Celebrate World Ocean Day on 8 June and throughout the year! One Ocean, One Climate, One Future - Together prepare for June 12 Months of Action Become a 2024 Sponsor [...]

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Energy at home

We want to help you save money on your bills at the same time as reducing your carbon footprint. Explore our advice...

Find out more

Low carbon travel

From planning your journey with all modes of transport to owning an electric car, our tips should be your first stop to...

Find out more

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Energy Saving Trust is working to address the climate emergency. We are a trusted expert on energy efficiency and low carbon solutions.

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The Pod is an educational platform for teachers, community group leaders and children. It offers free lesson plans, activities, assemblies, films and games.

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Nature's Calendar observations help us predict how wildlife will be affected as the climate changes.
The Nature's Calendar database currently contains 2.9 million records. It is believed to be the longest written biological record of its kind in the UK. Its data is used by researchers from across the world to explore the effects of weather and climate on timings in wildlife.

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Nature's Calendar observations help us predict how wildlife will be affected as the climate changes. The Nature's Calendar database currently contains 2.9 million records. It is believed to be the longest written biological record of its kind in the UK.

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Our world is warming faster than ever before. The last decade was the warmest since records began, and this year we've seen the impacts of the climate crisis right on our doorstep - and further afield.

But we've also seen concern about climate change reach an all-time high as people across the country used their voices to call for urgent action. It's clear that beautiful things are possible when we work together

A CLEANER, GREENER FUTURE IS WITHIN REACH

We can clean up the air we breathe. We can have warmer homes powered by cleaner, cheaper energy. We can restore our green spaces and make it easier for Brits to live in a cleaner, greener world that future generations can enjoy.

To create a future where the things we love are protected from climate change, we need to see action today. The solutions to the climate crisis are at our fingertips, we just need to get on with it.

Let's show the love by creating a voice for change that is impossible to ignore.

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Our world is warming faster than ever before. The last decade was the warmest since records began, and this year we've seen the impacts of the climate crisis right on our doorstep - and further afield. But we've also seen concern about climate change reach an all-time high as people across the country used their voices to call for urgent action.

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Copyright © 2024 Campaign against Climate Change

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ACTING AGAINST POLLUTION

This year, we are focusing on reducing litter, waste, and invisible pollutants by encouraging responsible consumption (and production) and taking a more circular economy approach to the way our homes, schools, businesses and communities work. And we are doing this with Litter Less Plus! Everyone is welcome and can get involved in the different activities we have planned throughout 2023!

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Giving our environment a voice. Youth-led environmental journalism

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The future of humanity depends on the natural world. But we are facing a planetary emergency. We're losing green spaces, animals and plants to deforestation, exploitation, urbanisation and global warming.

But hope isn't lost. If we act together, we can make a positive difference. Here's how to do your bit to protect nature.

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What you can do to help the planet: an illustrated guide

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The future of humanity depends on the natural world. But we are facing a planetary emergency. We're losing green spaces, animals and plants to deforestation, exploitation, urbanisation and global warming. But hope isn't lost. If we act together, we can make a positive difference. Here's how to do your bit to protect nature.

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Guidance to support all our volunteers to litter-pick in the safest way possible. Bespoke solutions from our Waste Insights team to help you reduce waste & increase recycling. Read more To help you tackle the littering epidemic in parks Read more

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In nature, different materials biodegrade at different rates. If you throw your apple core into the bushes along with a steel toy car, your apple core will have disappeared in a few months and your toy car will be rusty but still recognisable. It may take many years before the toy car disappears ent…

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Based on the original book 'How We Make Stuff' by Christiane Dorion, Templar Publishing, 2012.
Website text by Christiane Dorion - Design by Harriet Pellereau.

© 2012 Ellen MacArthur Foundation - Illustration © Beverley Young - Text © Christiane Dorion

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Based on the original book 'How We Make Stuff' by Christiane Dorion, Templar Publishing, 2012. Website text by Christiane Dorion - Design by Harriet Pellereau. © 2012 Ellen MacArthur Foundation - Illustration © Beverley Young - Text © Christiane Dorion

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Fairtrade is about better prices, safe working conditions, local sustainability, and fair terms of trade for farmers and workers.
Learn more What is Fairtrade?

Buying Fairtrade is easy. There are over 6,000 Fairtrade products from coffee and tea to flowers and gold, so when you shop, look for the FAIRTRADE Mark.
Learn more Buying Fairtrade

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Fairtrade is a system of certification that sets standards in the production of goods. For farmers it means safer working conditions and fairer pay. For shoppers it means high quality, ethically produced products.

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About this film

The Story of Plastic (animated short) pulls back the curtain on the plastic pollution headlines, revealing the true causes and consequences of the global plastics crisis. This animated short is a companion piece to The Story of Plastic (documentary), which premiered in April of 2020.

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Credits

The Story of Plastic (animated short) was written by Brett Chamberlin, Michael O'Heaney, and Ruben DeLuna. Animation by Ruben DeLuna Creative, voiceover by Tiza Mafira. Based on "The Story of Plastic" feature-length documentary.

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The Story of Plastic (animated short) - Story of Stuff

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About this film The Story of Plastic (animated short) pulls back the curtain on the plastic pollution headlines, revealing the true causes and consequences of the global plastics crisis. This animated short is a companion piece to The Story of Plastic (documentary), which premiered in April of 2020.

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Pupils investigate the properties of plastics then find solutions to problems caused by plastic waste globally

An exciting challenge for pupils aged 8-14 years to develop solutions to the problems caused by plastic waste globally.
The challenge can be used to run a STEM club or enrichment day. It offers opportunities for pupils to engage with:

Practical science investigations and enquiry based learning

Designing and making products from waste plastic for a UK or international market

A video competition enabling them to share their experience of the challenge.

This challenge is perfect to reinforce a lesson on plastics or as a STEM club, transition or British Science Week activity. It is accredited for the CREST award scheme and can be used as a project for the Big Bang Competition

Waste picking in Kathmandu, Nepal

A short film with interviews with waste pickers and collectors in Nepal. Then features the Hamro Mahila's Women's group reusing plastic strip to crochet mats and pencil cases.

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Practical Action

The Robbins Building
25 Albert Street
Rugby, CV21 2SD
United Kingdom

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Pupils investigate the properties of plastics then find solutions to problems caused by plastic waste globally An exciting challenge for pupils aged 8-14

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Our vision

Campaign for Better Transport's vision is for all communities to have access to high quality, sustainable transport that meets their needs, improves quality of life and protects the environment.

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Campaign for Better Transport's vision is for all communities to have access to high quality, sustainable transport that meets their needs, improves quality of life and protects the environment.

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THE NATIONAL PARK CITY CHARTER

Our Universal Charter for National Park Cities sets out the purpose, vision, spirit and goals of the National Park City movement. It was co-created by people from 50 countries around the world.

Our vision is to make cities where people, places and nature are better connected. Let's make National Park Cities that are rich with nature and where everyone benefits from exploring, playing and learning outdoors. Cities where we all enjoy high quality public and green spaces, where the air is clean to breathe and it's a pleasure to swim in their waters. Together we can make cities greener, healthier, fairer and more harmonious places to live. Why not?

A National Park City is a shared vision and journey for a better life. Everyone in a National Park City is able to benefit and contribute everyday. It is a large-scale and long-term vision that is achievable through many actions. Much is already happening but by working, learning, sharing and acting together, across communities and governments, we can achieve even more.

Our charter states that we are working together for better:

LIVES, HEALTH AND WELLBEING

RELATIONSHIPS WITH NATURE & WITH EACH OTHER

WILDLIFE, TREES AND FLOWERS

PLACES, HABITATS, AIR, WATER, SEA AND LAND

LOCALLY GROWN FOOD AND RESPONSIBLE CONSUMPTION

DECISIONS, SHARING, LEARNING AND WORKING TOGETHER

TIME OUTDOORS, CULTURE, ART, PLAYING, WALKING, CYCLING & EATING

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Our Universal Charter for National Park Cities sets out the purpose, vision, spirit and goals of the National Park City movement. It was co-created by people from 50 countries around the world. Our vision is to make cities where people, places and nature are better connected.

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In some places, invasive species have changed the natural world beyond recognition.

How do animal and plants move around the planet? And what happens when they come into conflict with other organisms? Our wildlife experts have the answers.

What are native, non-native and introduced species?

Native species are species that have become part of an ecosystem through natural processes.

Non-native species or introduced species are species found outside their normal range because of human activity. Not all of these are invasive. Many of these can thrive in new areas and pose no threat others.

Invasive species are species outside their normal ranges that have a negative impact on other organisms or environments. They tend to have escaped controlling species (which might be predators, herbivores or parasites) in their normal ranges, which would have otherwise limited their survival, and they are often well suited to their new environment.

Why are invasive species a problem?

Invasive species can do all sorts of damage to an existing ecosystem, including changing habitats and starving native animals of food and resources.

They may eat or parasitise native species, which sometimes have no defences against them. They can also outcompete native species for food, light or nesting sites. Sometimes they even bring new diseases with them. Often, an introduced species can breed very quickly - if left unchecked they dominate habitats and smother native wildlife.

Invasive species are a much bigger threat to nature than many people realise. Species invasions are one of the biggest causes of ecosystem change, and there are so many of them that some ecosystems are facing a big struggle to survive.

Invasive species can cause chaos in a finely balanced habitat. They are an even bigger threat to biodiversity than climate change, and they can also have a large economic impact on the areas they take over.

How do invasive species spread?

Human activities are the biggest cause of the spread of invasive species.

Sometimes humans move animals and plants around the world deliberately, for example to change an environment, as a form of pest control, to hunt, as horticultural specimens or to keep as pets. This can go very wrong if those animals and plants move into wild settings and start breeding or begin behaving in ways that humans did not predict.

Humans can also create a problem by accident. Over the last century, we've been flying to holiday destinations and shipping cargo to far-flung countries, and occasionally animals and plants have hitched a ride.

Chris Raper is based at the Museum and manages the UK Species Inventory, a database containing the names of all known organisms in the UK. He is often one of the first people to be made aware of a new species as it arrives on UK shores.

Chris explains, 'Human interaction with animals and plants can be complicated. Humans often don't move animals deliberately, but through industry or transport. Or species were moved to neighbouring regions and then spread of their own accord.

'For instance, the Asian hornet ( Vespa velutina) wasn't brought to the UK, but rather to Europe on wooden pallets from China, then spread to the UK itself. That's still classed as a non-native invasive species.

'Similarly, marine species often wash up on our shores on man-made objects, which float much further than natural substances. They are also non-native species.'

Example: cane toads (Bufo marinus)

Cane toads were deliberately introduced to Australia from Hawaii in 1935 as a form of biological control. It was hoped that the toads would eat the grey-backed cane beetles that were destroying sugar cane plantations.

At first, just a handful of toads were released by scientists into Queensland, but this number soon grew as others followed suit. Within two years, 62,000 toadlets had been released into the wild.

The venomous, warty toads, native to South and Central America, did nothing to protect the plantations, but they did reproduce. Now they can be found all over the northern half of Australia.

Cane toads have had a big impact on Australian ecosystems. They are venomous at every stage of their life cycle, so they can kill predators when they are eaten. Some smaller predator species have learned to avoid eating the toads, but others have been worse affected.

Native Australian frogs are eaten by the toads and must compete with them for food, but these negative impacts have been balanced by positive ones. The native frogs now face fewer large predators thanks to the toads.

This is one example of how invasive species can change an ecosystem in complex ways.

UK invasive species

Britain is home to more than 3,000 invasive species, including some that have become commonplace, including grey squirrels, muntjac deer, American bullfrogs and American mink.

Plants can be invasive, too. Japanese knotweed has caused havoc in some areas of the UK. It is native to east Asia but was brought to the UK by the Victorians as an ornamental plant. Now it can be found all over the country and can be hard to control.

Rhododendrons are a common site in woodlands and gardens, and you'd be forgiven for thinking they are a native plant. They were actually introduced in 1763 and are considered to be harmful because they carry disease and block light for native species growing beneath them.

Likewise, fungi and diseases can be carried around the world, and plenty are thriving in Britain. Ash dieback ( Hymenoscyphus fraxineus) is a devastating invasive fungus that threatens 95% of all European ash trees. Analysis suggests the spore came to Europe from Asia, where it grows on Asian ash trees without causing disease. It probably arrived in Europe on commercially imported ash.

Example: grey squirrels (Sciurus carolinensis)

Grey squirrels are one invasive species almost everyone in the UK will have come across. Their fluffy tails can be spotted just about everywhere, from woodlands to inner city estates.

They were brought here from North America in the 1870s and introduced to private country estates, and it didn't take long for a wild population to successfully take over woodlands all over the country.

Grey squirrels are considered an invasive species because they have outcompeted Britain's smaller, native red squirrels.

For about 10,000 years, red squirrels were found all over Britain, but their population numbers have suffered a catastrophic decline in the last century. It's due to a combination of factors:

grey squirrels carry a virus called squirrelpox, or Parapoxvirus, that they are immune to, but it can be deadly to their red cousins

grey squirrels breed quickly, but red squirrels do not

grey squirrels can be better at collecting nuts and berries, thus taking away food resources from red squirrels

red squirrels' natural habitat is being destroyed

Now red squirrels only cling on in a few strongholds, including the woodlands of Scotland and the Isle of Wight.

Both populations need to be managed if conservationists are to save red squirrels from extinction within the next century.

Grey squirrels can also do damage to the trees they live in, in addition to competing with other arboreal species. Their reputations as a pest species has led to their persecution, and they are often poisoned, trapped and killed. This route is not recommended by conservations or animal welfare advocates. After all, the decline of the red squirrel is not the fault of any individual grey, rather it is the result of human mismanagement.

Ecologists have recommended ways forward which don't involve killing grey squirrels, including actively planting conifer forests, which are preferred by red squirrels. But this has even more implications: new conifer forests should never replace or damage ancient, semi-natural woodland or other native habitats, but may be useful within a well-balanced strategy across a landscape together with planned forestry management.

Invasive species and climate change

Invasive species may become more widespread with climate change.

Chris says, 'Climate change will be a bigger driver because a warming atmosphere is likely to allow more species to move further. In the UK, as our winters get warmer, more species will be able to survive them.

'It also gives species a longer growing season than they might have had before and could weaken native species who could have difficulty handling the warmer climate. It's a very complex issue.'

A changing climate could also affect the seasons by shortening or lengthening them. In the UK, there is evidence that butterflies emerge earlier during warm springs and summers. If those butterflies were invasive, the changing timeframes could mean different plants are being eaten by insects during different times of year.

Stephanie West is a UK Biodiversity Training Manager at the Museum, helping to support people studying and recording the wildlife in the UK.

She says that climate change will inevitably result in animals and plants moving around the world, but that's not always going to be a bad thing.

She says, 'Habitats are going to change because of the planetary emergency, so that may mean we need to manage them differently. We must work to conservation goals, which may not necessarily be the same as the preservation goals normally seen in habitat management targets.

'Species heading into the UK as a result of climate change need to be monitored in case they do become detrimentally invasive - but not all of them will. If we're thinking about global species conservation goals, not all species migration is a bad thing, as species adapt and change.

'Climate change will result in winners and losers, and we have to allow for migration as part of basic conservation principles in the future.'

What can we do about invasive species?

Migrating and non-native species do not necessarily become invasive.

The first step in controlling invasive species is understanding the behaviour of new species coming into the country. Monitoring and good biological recording is an important part of this, and the UK relies on its network of experts, including the Museum, to help identify, record and monitor species.

When a new species is identified, studies are made of its behaviour in its native habitat, the species will not necessarily behave in the same way in a new environment potentially free from predators or disease. Whether or not a new species will thrive or become dominant in a new environment needs to be studied and understood.

Once a species is shown to be invasive and potentially damaging, it is monitored and, where possible, controlled. Control methods will vary depending on the species and might include anything from dissuasive planting to eradication.

For example, on Uist, off the Scottish coast, hedgehogs had to be removed and translocated back to the mainland. Although they are cute and seemingly harmless, they were introduced there in the 1970s and began eating wild bird eggs. The hedgehogs were then deemed an invasive species.

Steph explains, 'Managing many non-native invasive species is an ongoing problem, and many may remain a long-term problem in many areas. However, there are many successful projects that have been run controlling the impact of some of these.

'From a public perspective, the key is to be observant. There are certain known invasive species to be on the lookout for, especially plants. Some are still sold in garden centres, such asparrot's feather ( Myriophyllum aquaticum), an invasive water plant sold as an aerator in garden ponds. If it escapes into the wild it can cause havoc in native waterbodies. Technically it has been banned for sale since 2014, but does still crop up misidentified in horticultural stock.'

What you can do to help

You might spot some invasive species, such as the Asian hornet, in your garden or out on a walk. If you do, these basic principles of good biological recording can help experts:

write down where you were, what you saw, when you saw it and who you are

take a photograph to help with verification

tell the landowner about a potential problem

add your records to iRecord and they will enter national databases to help researchers and conservationists monitor change

if you're not sure what you've found, ask the Museum's Identification and Advisory Service for help

Don't try to pull up potentially invasive plants, or try to tackle the problem yourself, especially on land which is not your own. Species such as Japanese knotweed can be spread through tiny fragments which are easy to pick up on clothing or on boots and inadvertently spread to new sites.

Japanese knotweed, a species introduced as a horticultural import, may also have legal implications for landowners as it can rapidly spread across an area, swamping the native plants and the species they support. It can also regrow from a small fragment of root or stem and rapidly spread to and colonise a new area. As a result, by law, its presence and removal must be managed carefully.

In addition, some invasives can be easily confused for other species. Some plants might also be inadvisable to touch, or might harm wildlife or livestock if left dried where they can access it.

Join your local Wildlife Trust or conservation society on an organised activity where you can participate in a coordinated effort with appropriate advice and guidance, which is likely to have a far more significant impact.

If you are concerned you may have invasive species on your land and you live in the UK, you can contact your statutory nature conservation organisation for advice:

Environment Agency

Natural England

Natural Resources Wales

Scottish Natural Heritage

Department for Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs (Northern Ireland)

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Invasive species are a much bigger threat to nature than many people realise.

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10,000 Raingardens for Scotland is a project working towards increasing the number of raingardens across Scotland. A new dedicated website has just been launched!

Raingardens are areas of plants and vegetation designed to absorb water and reduce the likelihood or severity of flooding and help to protect our rivers and waterways. They capture rainwater which runs off hard surfaces and then slowly release it back into our drains. Raingardens can be can be all different shapes and sizes ranging from a small area of flowers, trees and bushes in a car park to a planter box next to a roof down pipe or a green roof or wall.

Installing just one Raingarden makes a difference. Having 10,000 will make a huge contribution to reducing the likelihood of flooding, improving the health of rivers and streams and increasing wildlife friendly green spaces in towns and cities.
What is a Raingarden? Where are Scotlands Raingardens? Use our toolkit to create your own
Images © Green Technologies International, N McLean, B D'Arcy

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10,000 Raingardens for Scotland is a project working towards increasing the number of raingardens across Scotland. A new dedicated website has just been launched! Raingardens are areas of plants and vegetation designed to absorb water and reduce the likelihood or severity of flooding and help to protect our rivers and waterways.

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16 January 2020

Voluntary Observer Newsletter - Dec 2019 Welcome to our ...

By grantk

13 December 2018

Welcome to the 2018 NewsletterDear Rainfall Observer, ...

By grantk

20 December 2017

The follow articles are from the annual rainfall observer ...

By grantk

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16 January 2020 Voluntary Observer Newsletter - Dec 2019 Welcome to our ... By grantk 13 December 2018 Welcome to the 2018 NewsletterDear Rainfall Observer, ... By grantk 20 December 2017 The follow articles are from the annual rainfall observer ... By grantk

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... was a community survey that aimed to find wildlife rich, clean water habitats in England and Wales. Volunteers used quick kits to measure the water quality of their local ponds, stream, ditches, river and much more.
Clean Water for Wildlife was a citizen science survey that aimed to raise awareness of the true extent of nutrient pollution, and identify clean water habitats in England and Wales, where wildlife can thrive and to reveal the extent of nutrient pollution impacting freshwater life today.
Most freshwater plants and animals evolved over millions of years in a world where the natural level of nutrients in ponds, lakes, streams and rivers was very low. When more nutrients are added to the freshwater environment this can cause profound changes and the freshwater wildlife struggle to adapt.

We define 'clean water' as that which has a chemistry and biology which would be normal for a given area in the absence of human disturbance. This is commonly referred to as the reference condition, minimally impaired water quality or natural background levels.

Sadly, it only takes a little pollution to damage habitats like streams and ponds, and to harm the most sensitive plants and animals that call these places home. When 'clean water' is lost, we risk losing this variety and richness of life. Find out more here about how we can put back clean water in the landscape.

Until recently it has been difficult to discover the level of nutrients in any individual waterbody without expensive laboratory analysis. Newly developed rapid water-testing kits are much quicker, simpler and more accurate than in the past, making it possible for most people to 'see' the pollution for the first time.

With funding from the People, Ponds and Water HLF funded project, we were able to provide over 30,000 Packtest kits to volunteer to record the two of the most widespread and damaging nutrient pollutants: nitrate and phosphate.

Clean Water for Wildlife has now come to an end and we are not currently sending out test kits. However we are still accepting results.
To send us your Clean Water for Wildlife results, please enter your results through our WaterNet page, or email your results to: info@freshwaterhabitats.org.uk

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Clean Water for Wildlife - Freshwater Habitats Trust

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was a community survey that aimed to find wildlife rich, clean water habitats in England and Wales. Volunteers used quick kits to measure the water quality of their local ponds, stream, ditches, river and much more.

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Scotland's wetlands are home to a wide range of plants and animals. They also provide important environmental functions, such as storing carbon and sustaining the supply of clean water.

Key messages

Wetlands cover large areas of Scotland where poorly draining soils, high rainfall and low temperatures create permanently or frequently waterlogged areas.

They range from coastal salt marshes and wet dune slacks, to fens, marshes and wet woodlands in river valleys and loch edges, to the springs and flushes, wet heath and blanket bogs on mountain slopes and plateaux. Wetland types are described in the Scottish wetland typology
Typical setting of wetlands in the Scottish landscape Source: 2014 State of environment report (Wetlands topic)
The type of wetland that develops depends on where it sits in the landscape. Often, several wetland types can exist in the same location (known as a habitat 'mosaic ').

Peatlands are wetland areas in which peat has accumulated and can support vegetation that is able to form new peat. Bogs (a type of peatland) are one of the most extensive semi-natural habitats in Scotland.
Peatland at Uist - © Lorne Gill - Scottish Natural Heritage
Peat is associated with many wetlands, and stores huge quantities of carbon. It is estimated that around 1,600 million tonnes of carbon are stored in peat soils in Scotland.

Salt marshes provide a nursery habitat for fish, food for birds and natural protection from coastal erosion and tidal flooding. Between some sand dunes, 'wet dune slacks' form in the hollows; these are flooded in different seasons and create a unique, rare habitat that supports plants such as sedge, moss, cross-leaved heath and creeping willow.
Saltmarsh at Northon, Isle of Harris - © Lorne Gill - Scottish Natural Heritage
Swamps, fens, wet grassland and wet woodland provide feeding and breeding habitats for birds and animals. These wetlands also support a wide range of plants, such as the greater tussock sedge, a variety of mosses and early marsh-orchid. They also provide rich grazing for livestock and can store water during floods.
Whitelaw Moss National Nature Reserve - © Lorne Gill - Scottish Natural Heritage
Blanket bog is found where the climate is cool and wet. It can develop on gentle slopes near the top of hills and across large areas of the far North. These extensive areas of rain-fed bog support plants like cotton grass and many species of Sphagnum moss and heather. Blanket bogs are often interspersed with groundwater-fed fens and flushes. They store and accumulate large quantities of carbon in peat. Land-management practices in these upland catchments, in particular artificial drainage, can reduce the bogs' ability to slow down floods and provide clean drinking water.
Blanket bog at Claish Moss NNR, Ardnamurchan - © Lorne Gill - Scottish Natural Heritage
Functions of wetlands and associated benefits

Carbon storage and accumulation

Wetlands that create peat can store large quantities of carbon for thousands of years. Some management practices (e.g. drainage) can trigger the release of carbon (methane, carbon dioxide, particulate and dissolved carbon).

Water purification

Wetlands often form between land and open water, and can prevent pollutants (suspended solids, nitrogen and phosphorus) getting into rivers and lochs. Some artificially created wetlands (e.g. in Sustainable Drainage Systems (SuDS)) are constructed primarily to remove pollutants from run-off in towns and cities and retain flood water.

Flood management

Wetlands slow the flow of rain water into rivers and lochs, which can slow down flooding. They can store floodwater in the floodplain, reducing the peak of the floodwater that passes through our towns and cities.
On the shorelines of lochs and on the coast, wetlands act as a natural defence against coastal erosion.

Water supply / groundwater infiltration

Wetlands collect and store water, which replenishes groundwater and therefore the water supply.

Most Scottish drinking water has passed through a wetland before it reaches a reservoir. How these wetlands are managed affects the quality of the drinking water and the costs of purification treatments that may be needed. Artificially created wetlands play an important role in local water management where chemical or mechanical means would otherwise be needed to treat the water; for example, in sewage management.

Source: Wetlands in a nutshell - Published by RAMSAR

Data

Protected wetland sites

Find out more about the condition of Scotland's wetlands in the protected nature sites data analysis application.

Wetland's of international importance - RAMSAR - data is available to download from Scottish Natural Heritage's natural spaces.

Location of Scottish wetlands

View the Scottish wetland inventory data on the Scotland's environment map. Click on the zoom icon in to view the data.

Locations and extent of wetlands (areas not yet surveyed have been left blank; they may contain wetlands). Please note: the area of Dumfries and Galloway was surveyed using a different methodology to the rest of the country.

Scottish wetland inventory data is available to download from SEPA's environmental data page.

What are we doing?

Development - The Scottish Environmental Protection Agency (SEPA) and Scottish Natural Heritage (SNH) are statutory consultees in the planning system on developments that could damage wetlands, SEPA issues licenses on activities that might impact on wetlands. In both SEPA and Scottish Natural Heritage, a risk-screening approach is taken when assessing developments and activities close to wetlands, and an assessment of the impact is made as part of the licensing or planning application. In some cases, measures are put in place to protect the wetland habitat and its supporting hydrology.

Flood management - In 2015, the Scottish Environmental Protection Agency published the Natural Flood Management handbook which provides a practical guide to the delivery of natural flood management. The handbook includes role of wetlands in this process. The guidance provided is primarily aimed at local authorities tasked with delivery of actions set out in the Flood Risk Management Strategies.

Land management - The Scottish Government has identified wetlands as a priority within the Scottish rural development programme 2014-2020, providing financial support for land managers to:

Manage existing wetlands or create new wetlands in a way that helps their plants and wildlife and also their potential to reduce flooding, absorb nutrients and trap silt

restore our lowland raised bogs and provide a habitat for a wide range of wildlife, as well as giving some limited agricultural use. The raised bogs will once again become an open wet landscape feature

protect and enhance the condition of uplands and peatlands

Action for peatlands - Scotland's National Peatland Plan was published in 2015 to highlight the major contribution peatlands make to Scotland. The Peatland ACTION project began in 2012, tasked with kick-starting peatland restoration across Scotland. Scottish Natural Heritage also provides advisory support and best practice videos and guidance which includes lessons learnt from initiating and running practical peatland projects across Scotland.
YouTube: Scottish Natural Heritage - Peat Bog Restoration in Scotland
Forest and Land Scotland are active in the restoration of:
Dalchork, North Highland - © Forestry Commission Scotland

The Peatland Code is a voluntary standard for UK peatland projects wishing to market the climate benefit of restoration.

Policy and legislation

Ramsar is the name of a town in Iran where the Convention on Wetlands of International Importance was adopted in 1971. The UK Government signed up to the Convention in 1976. The mission of the Convention is " the conservation and wise use of all wetlands through local and national actions and international cooperation, as a contribution towards achieving sustainable development throughout the world".

All Ramsar sites in Scotland are also either Special Protection Areas (SPAs) or Special Areas of Conservation (SACs), Natura sites, and many are also Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSIs).

You can view all Ramsar sites in Scotland on the Scotland's environment web protected nature sites data analysis tool and Scotland's environment map.

Wetlands in the wider countryside (non-designated sites) are being protected through legislative and regulatory mechanisms established under the European Water Framework Directive, Nature Conservation (Scotland) Act 2004 and Habitats Directives for Natura sites.

The ecosystem services-based evaluation of land use as highlighted by the National Ecosystem Assessment has meant that wetlands are now more widely recognised for the functions they provide.

These images are subject to copyright and are for single use only. Please contact Scottish Natural Heritage Image Library for further information, Tel: 01738 444 177 or imagelibrary@snh.gov.uk

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Scotland's wetlands are home to a wide range of plants and animals. They also provide important environmental functions, such as storing carbon and sustaining the supply of clean water. Wetlands cover large areas of Scotland where poorly draining soils, high rainfall and low temperatures create permanently or frequently waterlogged areas.

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51 water related missions covering rain and using water and waste.

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What is a food co-op?

Food co-ops, food buying groups, food clubs and food groups are terms that are used interchangeably to describe a food outlet that is run on a not-for-profit basis to give people access to good food at affordable prices. We have used the term 'co-op' because it implies co-operation which is all about people working together to achieve something they couldn't do on their own.

Find out more Join the network

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Food co-ops, food buying groups, food clubs and food groups are terms that are used interchangeably to describe a food outlet that is run on a not-for-profit basis to give people access to good food at affordable prices.

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From growing pots of herbs and food for the school canteen to opening a farmers' market in your playground, gardening offers exciting new ways for children of all ages to learn and grow. Garden Organic has been bringing the benefits of gardening to schools, big and small, for over 20 years. Our education programmes help teachers and school professionals to develop gardening projects that teach children where their food comes from, develops their scientific and environmental awareness and encourages them to eat more fruit and vegetables.

Why grow at school?

The most effective food growing schools achieve significant learning, skills, health and well-being outcomes for children and young people. Food growing in schools has a positive impact on the schools, communities, organisations and businesses involved - here is the the evidence and our case studies.

Garden Organic's online resources are packed with expert and engaging gardening information specially created for schools. It includes teaching materials, growing cards, handy guides to gardening, educational games and activities. These have been developed as part of the Soil Association Food for Life Programme and include the food growing manual, packed with practical advice to help you get to bronze and beyond.

Garden Organic is able to run a range of training sessions in regional locations and individual schools or clusters of schools. Many of our courses can be run as whole day events with practical activities, or half day or twilight sessions as more of a general overview.

Move More, Eat Well is a new project running from 2017/19 within the wards of Longbridge, Cofton, Northfield and Rubery (North and South) in the West Midlands. The project is made up of a programme of free events, support, activities and opportunities to help residents, community groups and schools feel healthier.

The Growing Enterprise Project was established by Garden Organic at Ryton Organic Gardens in September 2013. The project provides opportunities for young people with Special Educational Needs (SEN) and/or challenging behaviour to learn about organic gardening and making horticultural related products for sale within a small enterprise.

Food Growing Schools: London aims to support every school in London to become a food growing school and to fully embed food growing into school life. The ultimate aim is to demonstrate how every school (and the community it serves) can benefit from food growing, so that school leaders, staff and volunteers have the skills and confidence to get involved.

Project Learning Garden supports schools to set up and use gardens as an outdoor classroom. By enabling more teachers to deliver the curriculum outdoors, more pupils will have the chance to work in the garden and cook the food they harvest. PLG is a one-stop shop for schools who want to integrate gardening and cooking into the school day.

'Give it a Grow' is an ideal opportunity for staff, pupils and the wider school community to get started with growing their own food. Schools can pledge to give it a grow and then use the resources available on the website to get individuals, classes or parents involved. Registered schools will be contacted by email and will be sent activities to try out and suggestions for involving lots of people, these could include a Growathon, a stall at a summer fete, take home growing kits and lots more.

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From growing pots of herbs and food for the school canteen to opening a farmers' market in your playground, gardening offers exciting new ways for children of all ages to learn and grow. Garden Organic has been bringing the benefits of gardening to schools, big and small, for over 20 years.

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Blackthorn ( Prunus spinosa) is best known for its tart, acidic fruits - sloes - used to make the deep-red, wintry drink, sloe gin (Photo: M Barton/WTML)

The fruit of crab apple ( Malus sylvestris) makes the most amazing crab apple jelly. It's also a good source of pectin for setting jams (Photo: R Siegel/Wikimedia Commons)

Woodlands are great places to find wild food, but make sure you collect responsibly. With our guide you can forage sustainably without harming woods or wildlife.

For many people, collecting and eating wild plants and fungi has been part of life since childhood. For others, gathering wild food is a more recent activity.

Hedgerows and woodlands can be great places to forage for free food. You'll find a host of edible species ready to be transformed into jams, soups, cordials, wrappings, beers, wines and liqueurs. They include old favourites like elderflower, blackberries and sloes to the slightly more unusual common sorrel and fat hen.

Please follow our responsible foraging guidelines when you're out and about foraging for plants and fungi. They will ensure you forage sustainably and responsibly, and make sure you stay safe and within the law.

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Woodlands are great places to find wild food, but make sure you collect responsibly. With our guide you can forage sustainably without harming woods or wildlife. For many people, collecting and eating wild plants and fungi has been part of life since childhood. For others, gathering wild food is a more recent activity.

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A Pollinator Portfolio: creating a buzz through the John Muir Award

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See how John Muir Award participants from across the UK are supporting pollinators to thrive, through exciting conservation activity.

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Not all wildlife is created equal in our eyes. Take the earthworm, which doesn't have the widespread appeal of larger, more charismatic animals such as gorillas, tigers or pandas. Worms are never going to get a strong "cute response", so they won't ever be the face of a conservation campaign.

But what Darwin rightly recognised is that - panda fans, avert your eyes - worm conservation is much more important once we factor in their provision of what we now call "ecosystem services", which are crucial to human survival.

Darwin spent 39 years studying these animals for a good reason. In fact, earthworms have even been ranked the number one most influential species in the history of the planet - above dinosaurs and humans.

Why care about the worm? Ecologists consider earthworms "keystone species" because of how much they influence the physical, chemical and biological properties of the soil. Here are five reasons why.
Earthworms are recyclers
They play a crucial role in breaking down organic matter and fertilising the soil, simply through their constant eating and pooping (about one and a half times their body weight a day). What comes out the other end - known as a worm cast - is full of nutrients and bacteria that are beneficial for plants. Scientists have measured up to five times the amount of key nutrients in worm casts compared to surrounding soil.

A study in Hawaii found that replacing a portion of standard fertiliser with vermicompost (compost from worm casts) increased yields of crops such as tomatoes and strawberries by 30 per cent. It's hard to generate industrial amounts of worm cast, of course, and vermicompost remains more expensive than commercial fertiliser. But it's an intriguing example of how earthworms can help humans.
Earthworms are great "soil engineers"
As they move through the soil, earthworms loosen and mix it up, helping to aerate and drain it. This brings nutrients to the surface, making the soil more fertile, and helps prevent flooding and erosion.
Earthworms are barometers of soil health and toxicity
They're very sensitive to soil pollutants such as pesticide residues or unwanted heavy metals (zinc, lead and so on), and they are badly affected by changes in land use such as deforestation to clear the way for intensive farming. This means the health of local worms is proving to be a useful tool to assess the impact of different land usage and pollutants.
Juicy earthworms are an important food source
They are protein-rich and feed a number of animals, such as the European badger.
Earthworms can help repair damaged soil and may provide solutions to man-made problems.
Research suggests that earthworms could help to clean up land contaminated with toxic heavy metals such as lead.

Other studies show how earthworms can speed up the restoration of degraded land in the tropics, while research in northern Vietnam found that reduced earthworm diversity due to land use change also had a significant knock on effect on soil fertility, water drainage and soil erosion.

So, earthworms are our underground allies - if we treat them right. Earthworms make it possible for us to live on the planet, simply by eating and pooping, and ploughing up, ventilating and fertilising the soil along the way.

Climate change and human intervention are fast-tracking the world's loss of biodiversity. The plight of the tiger in India and the orangutan in Indonesia are well known, but scientists are also becoming concerned about earthworms and other animals that we are less familiar with, but which we can't afford to lose.

If pandas die out, it will be very sad. But, a world without earthworms? Arguably without earthworms in our soils, life could vanish pretty quickly. We would have less food, more pollution, and more flooding.

No matter how cute a panda looks, it is Darwin's "lowly" earthworms that are doing dirty, but crucial, work in the soil below.
Sarah Johnson is a PhD researcher in environmental science at King's College London. This article first appeared on The Conversation (theconversation.com)

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Earthworms are more important than pandas (if you want to save the pla

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Not all wildlife is created equal in our eyes. Take the earthworm, which doesn't have the widespread appeal of larger, more charismatic animals such as gorillas, tigers or pandas. Worms are never going to get a strong "cute response", so they won't ever be the face of a conservation campaign.

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Education resources for Primary and Secondary including online lessons linked to the Global Goals

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Welcome to our fun and learning section. We have a vast library of resources on marine conservation that you can tap into, take a look here...

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Scottish Seabirds  Marine Conservation and Science Careers pack is for late primary and secondary pupils.

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An interactive website from World's Largest lesson that can be directly shared with young people (aged 8 +)

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Using this platform couldn't be easier. It can work alongside what children are already learning, either as an independent activity or homework extension. Tell your networks, so that they can share with the children they work with around the world.

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Using this platform couldn't be easier. It can work alongside what children are already learning, either as an independent activity or homework extension. Tell your networks, so that they can share with the children they work with around the world.

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Created as part of Mental Health Awareness week by mental health foundation.

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Get your school ready for Mental Health Awareness Week 2021!

Connecting with nature in a great way you can help young people improve and maintain their mental health and wellbeing.

Our 'Mental Health in the Pandemic' study found that going for walks outside was one of our top coping strategies and 45% of us said that being in green spaces was vital for looking after our mental health.

Over the past year, I have learned how important it is to connect with the natural world around us... Whenever I start to feel stressed about school, I now decide to go on a walk to reconnect with myself... It has made me appreciate the simpler things such as the flowers and the noise of birds singing, and their power to make me feel calmer.

Peer Educator, Peer Education Project

The Mental Health Foundation's Peer Education Project is a Secondary School-based project that gives older pupils the tools to deliver mental health lessons to younger pupils.

The project has worked with pupils and staff from participating Secondary Schools to create the Connect with Nature School Pack, which is available for all schools across the UK.

This school pack will provide the materials and resources needed to support pupils to connect with nature in a meaningful way. The pack is designed to be used in secondary schools, but it has lots of useful information for primary schools too. It is available in English and Welsh.

The pack includes:

A lesson plan with PowerPoint slides and a script, as well as accompanying worksheets that have the option for greater individual pupil engagement on the topic

An assembly plan with PowerPoint slides and script to support the development of a whole-school approach to nature and mental health

Helpful guides for pupils, school staff, and parents/caregivers on why connecting with nature is good for our mental health and wellbeing, as well as top tips on how to connect with nature in a meaningful way, together with useful resources.

Register for our pack

This pack is available for all schools (free of charge) for Mental Health Awareness Week 2021.

We'd encourage all schools using this pack to support our charitable work by making a suggested £5 donation.

Join our online information sessions

The Peer Education Project team will be hosting free, online information sessions during Mental Health Awareness Week. The sessions will give you an opportunity to find out more about the Peer Education Project and ask questions about how the project would fit within your school.

The sessions will be held on:

Tuesday 11 May 2021 (4pm - 4:45pm)

Thursday 13 May 2021 (5pm - 5:45pm)

Register for an information drop-in session.

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Connecting with nature in a great way you can help young people improve and maintain their mental health and wellbeing. Our 'Mental Health in the Pandemic' study found that going for walks outside was one of our top coping strategies and 45% of us said that being in green spaces was vital for looking after our mental health.

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Climate change impacts in Scotland | Scottish Natural Heritage

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Climate influences the landform processes that shape Scotland's mountains, rivers and coasts, and maintain our habitats, ecosystems and landscapes. Thus climate change will affect the dynamics of these processes, and in turn the rocks, landforms and soils upon which plants, animals and humans live.

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Glasgow Science Centre resources include innovative food production and looking at food waste.

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The Hub is your one-stop-shop to explore Our World Our Impact and features exclusive clips from live events, activities and workshops, educational resources and more...

Search The Hub for content to watch on-demand.

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The Hub is your one-stop-shop to explore Our World Our Impact and features exclusive clips from live events, activities and workshops, educational resources and more... Search The Hub for content to watch on-demand.

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Some 600 native trees from oaks, birches and elder to dogwood, crab apple and blackthorn will be planted in Witney, Oxfordshire.

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SCOTLAND: The world’s first Rewilding Nation?

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Rewilding Britain aims to tackle the climate emergency and extinction crisis, reconnect people with the natural world and to help communities thrive.

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Navigating the 1.5 Degrees Breach
Image credit: Photo by Pixabay. In 2023, the world witnessed an onslaught of extreme weather events, ranging from severe droughts and scorching heatwaves to devastating wildfires...

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Relevant climate change learning for everyone

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We also offer Climate Ready Classrooms: Train the Trainer accredited sessions for educators. This course will train you to deliver carbon literacy training designed for young people aged 14-17 years. Suitable for teachers, head teachers, CLD practitioners, and youth and children's workers.

The Train the Trainer course is designed to inform you on climate change, in order to teach it, and what we can do as a society, as individuals, and as groups to take climate action.
As with the sessions for pupils, normally Train the Trainer sessions are delivered face to face, however these are currently offered online due to social distancing requirements.
This online version covers 4 units, completed over 4 weeks, covering:

1. Climate Conversations

2. Exploring the Climate Change Science

3. Rebalancing and Taking Climate Action

4. Impacts and Taking Climate Action

On one afternoon every week, there will be a 30-minute, live Q&A session, giving participants the opportunity to put forward questions and observations about the course.

The live Q&A sessions will be done using Microsoft Teams within Glow.

At the end, as with the face-to-face course, you will submit an evidence form which will be sent to The Carbon Literacy Project, the body which accredits this course. If certified, you will then receive a certificate which recognises you as 'carbon literate', and you can then reteach the course.

Become an accredited trainer

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Keep Scotland Beautiful | Climate Ready Classrooms

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We also offer Climate Ready Classrooms: Train the Trainer accredited sessions for educators. This course will train you to deliver carbon literacy training designed for young people aged 14-17 years. Suitable for teachers, head teachers, CLD practitioners, and youth and children's workers.

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A Pollinator Portfolio: creating a buzz through the John Muir Award

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See how John Muir Award participants from across the UK are supporting pollinators to thrive, through exciting conservation activity.

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Deadwood is a tree or part of a tree that has died and is in a state of decomposition. Is the deadwood in your wood dead good?

Deadwood plays a big part in nutrient recycling, slowly releasing nitrogen into the soil for other plants to use. It acts as a carbon storage system, capturing carbon and locking it into the ground. Fallen deadwood also helps the stability of woodland soil and helps prevent soil erosion.

Deadwood is an important micro habitat for birds, mammals, fungi, plants, amphibians, reptiles, insects and even fish!
Find out more about deadwood here

The Deadwood Survey

Is the deadwood in your wood dead good? Find out for yourself with this simple survey. It should take no more than an hour to complete.

Any piece of woodland will do, as long as it is at least 100 square metres in area. Ancient woodland, forestry plantations, trees growing on urban wasteland, wood pasture and scrub are all fine.
Complete the survey online

What you will need

Here's a list of what you'll need to complete a survey (download them or request that we send them to you):

Other useful equipment:

Pencil

Camera (or smartphone)

Collection pots and magnifier

Plastic spoons or trowel

Light coloured collection tray

Coloured ribbon

Calculator (or mobile phone with calculator)

Send me the resources above by post

Carrying out the Deadwood Survey

You can do the Deadwood Survey as a group or by yourself. You can complete it online or on paper and send it to us.

Before you go out to the woodland, answer questions 1-8 (page 4 of the survey booklet). Once you get outside, there are two parts to the survey:

1. How much deadwood can you see? (pages 5-6)
The 100 pace transect

2. How old is the deadwood? (pages 7-14)
Estimating the age of each piece

We would love to hear what you found on the survey including what wildlife and insects you discovered. You can submit your survey online or:

Email us a scanned copy or photograph of your results to deadwood@tcv.org.uk

Or send your paper copy (or photocopy) to us at:

The Conservation Volunteers,
Unit M1,
143 Charles Street,
Glasgow,
G21 2QA.
Thank you for taking part in the dead good Deadwood Survey! Complete the survey online

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The dead good Deadwood Survey from TCV Scotland

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Deadwood plays a big part in nutrient recycling, slowly releasing nitrogen into the soil for other plants to use. It acts as a carbon storage system, capturing carbon and locking it into the ground. Fallen deadwood also helps the stability of woodland soil and helps prevent soil erosion.

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Reclaiming the outdoors: 10 powerful women in nature

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Join us as we speak to 10 powerful women whose voices are vital in inspiring others to connect to nature.

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People of colour fighting for the planet.

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The Black Lives Matter uprisings show how hard marginalised voices fight to be heard. The tragic events that sparked them prove that brutal racism still exists - and that centuries of exploitation and oppression have created an unfair world for people of colour today.

That's as true in the climate movement as anywhere else. Despite deep experience of environmental racism, and expertise fighting for social and environmental justice, people of colour are still left out.

As a huge imperial power and the home of the industrial revolution, the UK holds a unique place in history as one of the greatest historic emitters of greenhouse gas emissions. Today, people of colour worldwide bear some of the worst impacts of the climate crisis , while contributing the least to its causes.

Most people know Greta Thunberg and the global youth climate movement she inspired. But outside the media spotlight, Black, Indigenous and other people of colour around the world are also working tirelessly for environmental justice.

In early 2020, Ugandan youth delegate Vanessa Nakate was cropped out of a photograph at the World Economic Forum in Davos in early 2020. This scandal highlighted how important it is to recognise and celebrate Black, Indigenous and people of colour fighting for our planet.

So take some time to read about these young activists and change makers, share their stories, and support their crucial work where you can. Then keep exploring: check out Climate Reframe , which showcases more brilliant UK climate experts, campaigners and advocates from communities of colour.

The profiles

Rodriguez-Uruchurtu is a climate activist with the UKSCN based in Manchester, and is also involved in the COP26 Coalition.

She says, "My activist journey began in the spring of 2019, when I started striking for climate in front of the Scottish Parliament."

Xakriabá is an Indigenous activist in Brazil fighting Amazon rainforest fires and plans for mining on Xakriabá land.

She says, "I am a daughter of Mother Nature: taking care of her is taking care of ourselves. We will take care of Mother Nature in order to protect us - we only exist because she still exists."

Follow Artemisa Xakriabá on Instagram.
Photo: Antônio Barreto

In 2018, Khan led a youth climate retreat in the Adirondack Mountains with leaders across New York State.

She also traveled to San Francisco to interview high-level attendees at the Global Climate Action Summit, and joined the Youth Fundraising Advisory Board.
Photo: Leah Qusba

Ayisha Siddiqa is co-founder and co-coordinator of Polluters Out is a global coalition of young people from 80 countries united with scientists to challenge the fossil fuel industry's control of land. Siddiqa is also on the core team of Re-Earth Initiative. In September 2019 she helped mobilise and lead over 300,000 people onto the streets of Manhattan.
Follow Ayisha Siddiqa on T witter and Instagram.
Manuel is from the Island of Palau. He was among a group of young people from 12 countries around the world who in 2019 presented a landmark complaint to the UN Committee on the Rights of the Child against government inaction on climate change. At COP25, he said that everyone had the right to enjoy the planet, but Palau families' rights are being violated with people forced from their homes by rising sea levels.
Photo: Children vs Climate Crisis

Palmer is an activist fighting for climate justice which is intersectional with social issues. She is part of the UKSCN, Fridays for Future International and Extinction Rebellion (XR) Youth. She is a public speaker who has spoken at events such as COP25 on environmental justice.

Terena works with Mídia Índia, the main digital channel of the Indigenous cause in Brazil. In 2019 he was part of an Indigenous delegation from Brazil touring Europe. A music producer who takes inspiration from nature and the Indigenous struggle, Terena says, "It's time to make melody a tool for fighting".
Follow Eric Terena on Instagram.
Helena Gualinga is an 18-year-old Indigenous activist from Sarayaku in the Ecuadorian Amazon. At COP25, she called out world leaders for criminal negligence, and expressed her concern over the Ecuadorian government authorising oil extraction in Indigenous land.
Follow Helena Gualinga on Twitter.
Virasami is an artist, writer and political activist who organises across different struggles from housing rights to anti-racism to climate justice. He was a key organiser in both the Occupy and Black Lives Matter movements and is active within Wretched of the Earth and the London Renters Union. He recently published How To Change It, available to pre-order.
Follow Joshua Virasami on Twitter.
"In the past year and a half I have worked with my Minnesota climate strike team on pushing policy regarding issues like divesting from fossil fuels and investing in renewable energy." A daughter to Somali immigrants, 16-year-old Jama spoke alongside congresswoman Ilhan Omar at the Green New Deal Minnesota climate rally in February 2019.
Follow Juwaria Jama on Twitter.
Birla has organised with Climate Strike Leicester, where she acted as a spokesperson. "The 100 companies causing this terrible climate disaster know us consumers, especially ones like myself from a low-income background, cannot afford an alternative, there isn't even one. There will never be ethical consumption underneath capitalism when people and nature are disregarded." she said in a speech in October 2019.

Stephan started organising with the Washington DC student climate strikes network in 2019, when she was 14. She is now National Finance Director of Youth Climate Strike US. She says, "We plan to make climate change an essential debate topic in the 2020 election."
Follow Karla Stephan on Twitter.
Nadia Nazar

Nadia Nazar is a 17-year-old artist and youth climate activist. Nazar is the co-founder, co-executive director, and art director of the This Is Zero Hour movement. In 2019 she told Vox, "Together, the youth are shaking the systems that have supported the climate crisis, including racism, patriarchy, colonialism, and capitalism."
Follow Nadia Nazar on Twitter.
Rauf is part of the Green New Deal Manchester Group and is working on and attending the UKSCN conference representing Manchester this year.

"My work is not only about saving the environment; it is about saving communities, lives and jobs. Climate justice is not only justice for the climate, it is justice for the people and something we should all fight for," she says.

Quannah ChasingHorse Potts

"I see my 'activism' work as just protecting Indigenous lands, our way of life, and my culture. Being a land and water protector is part of my identity as an Indigenous woman. I grew up really grounded in my Han Gwich'in and Ogalala Lakota values and connected to the land, animals, waters and my culture. Protecting our way of life and land for future generations keeps me going and motivated."
Follow Quannah ChasingHorse Potts on Instagram.
Sayma is a digital communications volunteer for the UKSCN. "I help out with blog posts and social media. Activism is more than hope, it is the active denial of corruption in a nonsensical and lonesome world by a collective of passionate people. We should demand change until changes are made," she says.

Westbrook works with the UKSCN focusing on policy, outreach and the Green New Deal. She is also the coordinator of political engagement at the Teach the Future campaign. She is also an opinion writer, who has written in the Independent, Huffington Post, gal-dem magazine amongst others.

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Meet the young people of colour fighting for our planet | Greenpeace UK

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The Black Lives Matter uprisings show how hard marginalised voices fight to be heard. The tragic events that sparked them prove that brutal racism still exists - and that centuries of exploitation and oppression have created an unfair world for people of colour today. That's as true in the climate movement as anywhere else.

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Outdoor Classroom Day is a global movement to make time outdoors part of every child’s day. On two days of action each year, teachers take children outdoors to play and learn.

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Outdoor Classroom Day is a day to celebrate and inspire learning and play outside the classroom, and we want YOU to get involved!

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For the month of June

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30 Days Wild 2021 - Sign up for your pack

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Sign up for UK's biggest nature challenge with The Wildlife Trusts - returning 1st June 2021!

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Power of Youth Festival - iWill Campaign

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This site uses cookies to enhance your experience, for analytics and to show you tailored interests on our site. Find out more about cookies by reading our privacy statement which contains further information abour the cookies and other technologies we use. By clicking "Accept", you agree to our use of cookies and similar technologies.

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Our world is warming and the UK is no exception. Increasing temperatures and extreme weather events are impacting some of our most iconic species.

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Museum researchers Steve Brooks and Dr Angela Self used digitised collections to track the changes native butterfly species have experienced over the last 140 years of unprecedented temperature fluctuations in Britain.

British summers are getting warmer and our springs are blooming earlier, often bringing mild temperatures and blue skies as early as February.

The complex lifecycles of butterflies rely on delicate balances within the ecosystem, including heat and availability of food.

Tracking their habits can reveal important lessons about the state of the environment.

According to Met Office data, average UK temperatures increased by 0.6°C between 1870 and 1970, and since then have increased even more rapidly, going up by 1.5°C in the last 40 years. This change is in part down to rising levels of carbon dioxide and other gases in the atmosphere, which has created a greenhouse effect.

The Museum's collections contain data on British butterflies stretching back beyond the nineteenth century - a valuable tool for researchers hoping to uncover long-term trends in our changing ecosystems.

Data at the click of a button

This data is now online for the first time thanks to the Museum's iCollections project, meaning Steve Brooks had access to 180,000 butterfly specimens on his desktop.

With Dr Phil Fenberg, a colleague at Southampton University, Brooks and Dr Self have been examining the lifecycle, size and distribution of the silver-spotted skipper, a butterfly that is most at home in short chalk grassland in the south of England.

It is well-suited to the study of climate change due to its annual reproductive cycle and habitat.

The researchers found that in warm summers the butterfly is larger and flies earlier in the year.

Brooks said: 'Looking at how species respond to temperature is essential for understanding the ecological and evolutionary consequences of climate change.

'Our study would not be possible without data from digitized collections paired with monthly temperature records.'

Why does temperature matter?

It was found that in the years when Britain experienced warm June temperatures, the adult male skippers had larger wings, and in warm Julys both sexes emerged from their chrysalises earlier.

Brooks said: 'Caterpillars are in their final growing stage in June, so warmer environments could mean they can grow faster and may be getting better quality food.

'In July the adult butterflies develop in the chrysalis and emerge earlier when it is warmer.

'And the butterflies are on the wing in August, so warm Augusts mean they could venture further north than before.

'Our study has shown these three responses to climate change together for the first time in a single species.'

More studies are still being done on the other British butterfly species, to find out which are emerging earlier, getting larger and expanding their homes in the north of the country.

Butterflies that were previously restricted to the south of England are expected to expand their range as the climate changes.

Breaking the rules

Bergmann's rule, named after nineteenth-century German biologist Carl Bergmann, states that as temperatures increase, organisms get smaller.

This is because warm temperatures allow the metabolic rate of living things to speed up, meaning they need more food to achieve and maintain large body sizes.

The work has demonstrated the silver-spotted skipper goes against this rule, probably because the species produces one generation each year. This means it has longer to grow than species that produce several generations each summer.

Understanding climate change

Brooks' investigations into the changing lives of butterflies are helping scientists to understand how warmer global temperatures are affecting species in Britain.

He said: 'This work would have been impossible without access to the digital collections of British species, allowing us to examine large amounts of data.

'Changes in butterfly size and habit will help us to understand the wider effects of global climate change on British organisms and ecosystems.'

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Butterflies unlocking our climate's secrets

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Museum researchers Steve Brooks and Dr Angela Self used digitised collections to track the changes native butterfly species have experienced over the last 140 years of unprecedented temperature fluctuations in Britain. British summers are getting warmer and our springs are blooming earlier, often bringing mild temperatures and blue skies as early as February.

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Studies of the global impact of climate change on wildlife have rightly made headlines:

A million species on the path, by 2050, towards extinction.

The collapse of our seabird populations.

Our report Nature of Climate Change summarises the impacts and gives examples of how we are responding.

There are some climate change winners, but the scientists predict the overwhelming effect of climate change upon biodiversity will be damaging.

The ways in which climate change will impact on wildlife are quite complex and all of them interact. They fall into the following broad categories:

Impacts on 'climate space'
Favourable climate conditions are moving location, causing species distribution to shift typically north and uphill.

Changes in timings of seasonal events
For example, the hatching of insects in spring. These timing changes can affect the availability of food for young birds, leading to their starvation.

The impacts of extreme weather events
Extreme events such as storms and droughts can kill individuals through cold, wet or starvation. Where these become more frequent, they can have effects at the population and species level.

Changes in community ecology
Changes to competitive advantages between species, changes in location of species, and the spread and impacts of invasive species and diseases are likely to lead to markedly different communities of species than those we know now.

Changes in land use and management
As the climate changes, farming, forestry, water management and many other land uses are already changing with it, and will change further. These activities are all-important for wildlife, and the way they adapt may offer both opportunities and threats to biodiversity.

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Why Action Is Needed to Help Wildlife Adapt to Climate Change - RSPB

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Studies of the global impact of climate change on wildlife have rightly made headlines: A million species on the path, by 2050, towards extinction. The collapse of our seabird populations. Our report Nature of Climate Change summarises the impacts and gives examples of how we are responding.

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Scotdec resources

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Our practical classroom resources for every level which support active Global Citizenship.

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What effect has recent weather had on wildlife? Does climate change affect timings in nature? Join Nature's Calendar and help scientists discover answers to these questions.

From leaf buds bursting to blackberries ripening, let us know what's happening near you. You'll be contributing to a long biological record that dates back as far as 1736.

Start recording

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Join Nature's Calendar and you'll help scientists discover the effect of weather and climate on timings in wildlife.

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The Great Nurdle Hunt, Reducing plastic pellet pollution at sea.

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Project aimed at reducing and monitoring plastic nurdle pollution in our seas and oceans.

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The Amphibian and Reptile Conservation Trust

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Garden Dragon Watch is ARC's garden herpetofauna (reptile and amphibian) survey. Gardens can provide important habitats for reptiles and amphibians. We want to find out more about the reptiles and amphibians that people find in their gardens and how many gardens have habitat that benefit them. Are gardens in some parts of the UK especially rich in amphibians and reptiles?

By taking part, you can help us gather information that will inform our conservation work and the advice that we give that helps amphibians and reptiles. Exploring your garden to learn more about the wildlife that lives there is fun and you don't need a lot of time to do our survey.

What's in your garden? How to do the survey

Simply spend a few minutes carefully looking in your garden and tell us about your garden and what you find by filling in the form below. If you are using a mobile device, or the form below does not load correctly, please click here to open a standalone form.

We suggest around 10 minutes of searching, but you can adjust the amount of time to suit your own garden and the time you have available. You can do the survey once or many times. Ideally repeat the survey from time to time, perhaps once a week and try to spend roughly the same time each time you do the survey.

Tips on where and how to look

Look in places where these animals are likely to be found such as in or around a pond, compost heaps, at the bottom of a hedge or garden borders, near log or rock piles etc. Move quietly, trying not to disturb the wildlife and do not pick up or handle any animals you find.

How the data will be used

Your contribution will help us to map garden reptiles and amphibians and we will report back on what people are finding. Check out the results at the bottom of this web page regularly to see how the picture is changing and discover how what you have seen in your garden compares with what others are seeing.

We will share the data for conservation purposes with our partners. You can find out more about how we use and share survey data, and how we store and manage your personal data on our policies page.

Help and resources

If you're new to amphibians and reptiles, why not do our Garden Bitesize course? This will show you how to recognise the species you are most likely to see in the garden and how to find them. This is one of many free courses you can do on-line and at your own pace about amphibian and reptile species that are native to the UK. If you would like to find out more about reptiles and amphibians in gardens and how to help them by taking a look at our Dragons in your Garden leaflet.

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Garden Dragon Watch is ARC's garden herpetofauna (reptile and amphibian) survey. Gardens can provide important habitats for reptiles and amphibians. We want to find out more about the reptiles and amphibians that people find in their gardens and how many gardens have habitat that benefit them.

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Do you want your walk to contribute to citizen science and wildlife conservation?

If the answer is YES then why not download our Mammal Mapper app and get involved with recording mammals along waterways in your local area?

COMPETITION DETAILS AT THE BOTTOM OF THIS PAGE

The Task

With the launch of our updated Mammal Mapper app, recording mammal sightings has never been easier! All we're asking you to do is walk 600m+ along a waterway whilst using the app to record any sightings or field signs of mammals you see along the way. We're particularly interested in 5 key species - European otter, American mink, Water vole, Eurasian beaver and Brown rat - but records of any mammal species you encounter are valuable!

Why Mammal Mapper?

The great aspect of Mammal Mapper is that users can record a survey, during which the app tracks the route you are walking. This means that we can see where people have been looking for mammals, even if they haven't seen anything. In turn this helps us to work out if areas where we have no records from are true absences of a species, or an artefact of nobody recording in those areas.

Why is this important?

The water vole is the UK's most rapidly declining mammal, the American mink is invasive in the UK and the European otter has only recently embarked on its comeback and spread across the UK. Using Mammal Mapper, you can help us establish an inexpensive, low-effort monitoring system for these species that can be carried out by anyone!

What to do

First, ensure you have access rights to where you are walking and are wearing sensible clothing

Download the Mammal Mapper App and 'Start Survey'

Enter your mode of transport as 'On Foot' and enter 'WTWW' as the Survey ID

Walk 600m+ along a stretch of water whilst looking out for mammals (such as otters, mink and water vole) and signs of mammals (such as footprints, droppings, feeding remains)

Record any sightings and/or signs in the Mammal Mapper app along the way

Submit your survey!

More Info

If you have any questions please contact app@themammalsociety.org

For more information about how to identify our target mammals, please see our Walk This Water Way leaflet. For printable life sized images of signs please see our identification guide. If you'd like to help us advertise the Walk This Water Way project, please feel free to save, print and distribute our leaflet and poster - Thank You!

Please remember to ensure you have access rights to whichever waterway you are walking along.

NATIONAL MAMMAL WEEK COMPETITION

This fantastic water way themed prize bundle could be yours if you take part in our Walk This Water Way survey! Simply complete at least one Walk This Water Way survey before midnight on the 24 October and you'll be entered into the prize draw. For every survey you do, your name will be entered into the draw. So the more you survey, the more chance you have of winning! The winner will be announced during National Mammal Week on Friday 25 October. Please note, you are under no obligation to accept the prize should you only be interested in conducting surveys and not being entered into the draw. In the event of this happening, the draw will be conducted again.

Prize bundle contents:
A Mammal Society tote bag, eco-friendly bamboo coffee cup, cuddly otter toy and Mammal Society water shrew handbook!

Simply take part in a Walk This Water Way survey using the Mammal Mapper app.

When starting the survey you will need to use the code WTWW as the survey ID for us to register your surveys.

Every survey you submit will gain you one entry into the prize draw. The random draw will take place on Friday 25 October.
So what are you waiting for? Download the Mammal Mapper app and take part 🙂
Please note, by entering this competition you agree to the terms and conditions set out below.

Please read these terms and conditions carefully:

1. The competition is to take part in a Walk This Water Way survey until midnight 24 October 2019. Each survey completed equals one entry to the draw. The prize draw will take place on Friday 25 October 2019.

2. For a chance to win, at least one completed survey of at least 600m along a water way must be submitted.

3. Your information will not be shared with any other third parties outside of the Mammal Society.

4. You are under no obligation to accept the prize should you only be interested in conducting surveys and not being entered into the draw. In the event of this happening, the draw will be conducted again.

5. These Terms and Conditions govern the Competition. All other information provided prior to entering the Competition including, without limitation, the route to entry for the Competition and the rules of the Competition, form part of these Terms and Conditions.

6. The Competition will run from 11 October 2019 to midnight 24 October 2019. Therefore the closing date for entries is 23:59 GMT 24 October 2019.

7. An entrant must enter their details fully on the app. If under 18, permission must be obtained from a parent or guardian before entering the competition.

8. The young person or, if under 18, the young person's parent or guardian, accepts all these terms and conditions by entering the competition. By entering the competition, entrants confirm that they have read and agree to be bound by these terms and conditions, and by the decisions of the Mammal Society, which are final in all matters relating to the competition. Any breach of these terms and conditions will result in the forfeiture of the prize. No correspondence will be entered into.

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Walk This Water Way - The Mammal Society

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WALK THIS WATER WAY Do you want your walk to contribute to citizen science and wildlife conservation? If the answer is YES then why not download our Mammal Mapper app and get involved with recording mammals along waterways in your local area?

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Get a storage raingauge:

For getting started there are various low cost options for purchasing on the web. Or you can make your own by following the instructions on the Met Office website. They also have a helpful video on Youtube. SEPA will review data submissions and can potentially install a Met Office standard gauge in due course.

Install your gauge

Make sure the rim of the gauge is level and ideally 30cm from the ground surface. Locate it away from the trees, fences and buildings that can shelter the gauge from rainfall.

Make a rainfall observation

Observe once a day, ideally at 9am during the winter and 10am during British Summer Time, although other times are okay.

Read the lowest point on the meniscus (curve in water level due to water sticking to side of measuring cylinder). In the example below, the reading would be 7.2mm.

Measurements should be made in millimetres (mm) and tenths if possible. For some gauge designs you may only be able to estimate to the nearest half millimetre.

Tip the water out after the measurement

Record a '0' (zero) if there is no rainfall. This helps distinguish between a day with no measurement and a day with zero rainfall.

Record your observation on the web portal. It is also a good idea to keep your own paper record for resilience.

Add any extra information in the comments section. This could be things like noting the type of precipitation (snow, sleet) or anything affecting the accuracy of the observation. For example, 'hail storm at 1400' or 'children poured water in gauge!'.

Background

SEPA work in partnership with the Met Office to oversee a network of volunteer rainfall observers spread across Scotland. In March 2016 the observers numbered 136. These volunteer rainfall observers contribute to the national rainfall network, the aim of which is to provide a sufficient coverage of 'spot' measurements to accurately capture the distribution of rainfall across Scotland.

The existing model for rainfall observers is very long established and for example, a few current observers have been observing since the 1960's and another observer in Ayrshire is continuing a family tradition of rainfall observing that started in 1898. The rainfall archive is used by government bodies, industry and researchers for a number of functions such as managing Scotland's water resource, planning sustainable economic development, climate research and developing measures for flood management. The Met Office produces products such as rainfall distributions maps (opposite) that aid the evaluation of data. Rainfall distribution maps can be found on the Met Office website.

Rainfall observing is open to all

Certain criteria must be met before observations are accepted into the national rainfall archive that is maintained be the Met office. For example, observations have to be taken at 9am GMT each day and a gauge of standard design must be situated in a location with acceptable exposure conditions. These criteria have restricted the uptake of interested members of the public in the past. To overcome this restriction, the B-standard archive was introduced to accommodate observers who can't meet the criteria of A-standard . Although B-standard data will not be entered in the national archive, it can be entered, archived and viewed in this website and it will be accessible for downloading and viewing by anybody who is interested in the data.

The data entry portal on this website is recommended for all observers. A-standard observers are requested to continue filling in the traditional Met Office paper rainfall card in tandem with this web facility for time being.

Becoming a Met office registered A-standard observer

If you are able to observe rainfall on a daily basis at 9am GMT (10am in British summer time) and have a secure garden or plot of land that is not overshadowed by trees or structures, you may meet the criteria of a A-standard observer and your data can contribute to the national rainfall archive.

Enquiries can be emailed to SEPA at advice@sepa.org.uk using the subject title 'Public Rainfall Observing' . If your site meets the necessary criteria, SEPA will supply you with a UK standard Mark 2 raingauge , a glass measure, a supply of rainfall cards and instructions. Standard mark 2 gauges are either made from copper or stainless steel to the dimensions s hown opposite..

Details on where and how to install a rain gauge

Ideally, the rain gauge should be positioned in an open area such as a lawn away from trees or other tall structures that could otherwise overshadow the gauge. As a guide, the gauge should be no closer than twice the height of surrounding high objects. For example, a gauge would ideally be located at least 10m away from a 5m high structure such as a tree or house. Lawns or areas with gravel provide ideal surroundings for a raingauge. Ground conditions to avoid are long undergrowth that could choke the gauge or concrete where the raindrops falling around the gauge could splash into the gauge and provide an overestimation. Children or dogs can both compromise a rainfall accumulation and may influence where best to locate the gauge.

A UK standard Mark 2 gauge used by A-Standard observers must be positioned in the ground so that the top of the gauge is 30cm from the ground surface and other gauge types should be installed in a fashion that emulates this where possible. It is also important to make sure the gauge is level. This can be checked by placing a spirit level across the rim of the gauge.

It is accepted that the ideal conditions described above may not be possible for many observers and positioning the gauge in the most pragmatic position out of harm's way will be fine and will provide interesting data for use in the B-standards archive. For example, if your garden has limited open space and is heavily used by the family, then mounting the gauge at the top of a garden post might be the best option.

When and how to observe rainfall

The Met Office SPOT-ON Observers Guide (Precipitation v5 03/13) provides detailed guidance on making rainfall observations for A-standard observers. The majority of the guidance will also be of interest to B-standards observers. The only information that won't be transferable are instructions that specifically relate to the operation of a UK standard Mark 2 gauge and the requirement to assign observations to the hydrometric day at GMT time.

B-standard observers simply record the date and time on their watch when the observation was taken. A rainfall observation should be made as near to 9am GMT as possible each day. Please note that 9am GMT is 10am during British summer time. If you cannot observer at or near to 9am GMT each day, then other times are acceptable for the B-Standard archive, although it is preferable for the observations to be taken roughly at the same time each day.

The key steps for all observers are:

1. Remove the upper rim and funnel from the body of the gauge and either lift out the measuring tube if this is built into the gauge design, or empty the contents of the collection bottle into a separate measuring tube.

2. Hold the measuring tube vertically up to eye level and read the water level in mm from the graduations on the measuring tube. The observation should be recorded to the nearest 10th of mm if the scale of the measuring cylinder permits. Although some gauge designs may not have 0.1mm graduations, it might still be possible to estimate to the nearest 10th of a mm. For example, the reading below would be recorded as 22.3mm.

3. Note down the observed rainfall reading along with the date and time of observation. It is also useful to note down other relevant comments such as 'snow' or 'some water spilled by mistake'.

4. A-standard observers should fill in the rainfall card as instructed. They can also enter their data in the web data entry portal. A point to note for A-standard observers is that the web system automatically backdates the rainfall to the hydrometric day and to GMT time.

5. All B-standard observers should enter their data in the web data entry portal. This should ideally be done on a daily basis as close to the observation as possible.

If you are unable to make an observation each day, such as at weekends, holidays or periods of sickness, then the ideal solution is to try and have a 'deputy' who can stand in. If a willing deputy is not available, then an accumulated total over the period can be submitted if the gauge capacity hasn't been exceeded.

Daily rainfall accumulations and the concept of the hydrological day

Ideally the observation will be taken as near to 9am GMT as your personal circumstance allows. The observation will represent accumulated rainfall since the last observation, which will usually have been around 9am GMT on the previous day. This 24 hour period from 9am to 9am is called the Hydrological Day and this is the standard timeframe to record daily rainfall. The concept of the Hydrological Day was established to accommodate the fact that it's not practical for observers to make observations at midnight! This website assigns the rainfall accumulation against the date of the observation, which is at the end of the 24 hour period. This is contrary to the convention where the accumulation is assigned to the date at the start of the 24 hour period. If you want to assign the accumulation to the conventional date that corresponds with the Hydrological Day, the figures can simply be exported from this website and backdated by one day in a spreadsheet such as excel. This conversion will be done automatically by SEPA and the Met Office behind the scene before the data is stored in their databases.

An explanation of the time periods used in the map

Today's Observation - Representing recorded rainfall in the 24 hour period preceding 9am today

Two most recent observations - Representing recorded rainfall in the 48 hour preceding 9am today

Three most recent observations - Representing recorded rainfall in the 72 hour period preceding 9am today

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Get a storage raingauge: For getting started there are various low cost options for purchasing on the web. Or you can make your own by following the instructions on the Met Office website. They also have a helpful video on Youtube. SEPA will review data submissions and can potentially install a Met Office standard gauge in due course.

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Great British Beach Clean

Our iconic annual Great British Beach Clean has been leading the way in tackling ocean pollution for 25 years, helping make some of the most significant impacts on beach litter ever - the plastic bag charge, banning microplastics in personal care products, better wet wipe labelling, and supporting a tax on single-use plastic items.

So far we've picked up 319 tonnes of litter at our Great British Beach Cleans.

Help us make 2019 the biggest clean-up ever!

View events on map Latest results! Download resources

The data collected at Great British Beach Clean events is shared with the International Coastal Clean-up (ICC), contributing to a worldwide report on litter levels. MCS also analyses the data and uses the results to raise awareness of pollution and tackle it at source in the UK

The Great British Beach Clean includes the Great Channel Islands Beach Clean and Great Northern Irish Beach Clean.

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Great British Beach Clean Our iconic annual Great British Beach Clean has been leading the way in tackling ocean pollution for 25 years, helping make some of the most significant impacts on beach litter ever - the plastic bag charge, banning microplastics in personal care products, better wet wipe labelling, and supporting a tax on single-use plast

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Map filters

Explore the live Whale Track sightings map. Whether you want to know what has been seen today or look for sightings of your favourite species, this interactive map allows you to change which sightings are displayed. The map displays all sightings that have been submitted through Whale Track but you can change this using the map filter tool panel.

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Hebridean Whale & Dolphin Trust " Sightings Map

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Map filters Explore the live Whale Track sightings map. Whether you want to know what has been seen today or look for sightings of your favourite species, this interactive map allows you to change which sightings are displayed. The map displays all sightings that have been submitted through Whale Track but you can change this using the map filter tool panel.

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If you live or work on the coast or at sea, then you can help the Sea Watch Foundation with its valuable work.

If you sight whales, dolphins and porpoises and want to submit your sightings and recording forms, please return them to Sea Watch - every bit helps!

Report your sightings
To submit a sighting, use our online sighting form Email them to us at sightings@seawatchfoundation.org.uk
Recording forms
INSTRUCTIONS ON HOW TO FILL IN FORMS: CLICK HERE
The forms have been designed to record all the important information in a simple and easy way. If you have any queries about species identification or want to know more about the best viewpoints in your region check our website. However, if want to get in touch please contact our Sightings Officer Chiara on formsswf@gmail.com.
Please send forms to formsswf@gmail.com (as jpg or pdf) If you want to us send your forms via post:

Sightings Officer

Sea Watch Foundation

Ewyn y Don
Bull Bay
Amlwch

Anglesey LL68 9SD

LAND-WATCH FORMS

Land-based Effort Form - for land-based timed watches

BOAT-BASED FORMS

Vessel-Based Effort Form - for recording effort on boat surveys

Vessel-Based Sightings Form - for recording sightings on boat surveys

Strandings

To find out the correct organisation to sending information to about live or deceased strandings click here.
We would like to take this opportunity to thank you and all cetacean observers for your valuable time and effort in helping us compile whale & dolphin observations.

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Recording and Submitting Sightings and Forms

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If you live or work on the coast or at sea, then you can help the Sea Watch Foundation with its valuable work. If you sight whales, dolphins and porpoises and want to submit your sightings and recording forms, please return them to Sea Watch - every bit helps!

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Microplastic Survey - Citizen science providing valuable research data

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The Big Microplastic Survey, our global citizen science research project gathering data about microplastics and mesoplastics on coastlines and riverbanks around the world, featured in the New Scientist magazine last week. You...

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Scottish Re-wilding Association animation - calling for Scotland to become the world’s first Rewilding Nation.

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SCOTLAND: The world’s first Rewilding Nation?

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Click VIew