Category: Animal Life

The upcoming Big Garden Birdwatch is a great way to introduce children to nature

This year’s Big Garden Birdwatch, organised by the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB), begins a week today, and it really couldn’t be easier to take part, even if you know next to nothing about birds. As it says on the RSPB… Continue Reading “The upcoming Big Garden Birdwatch is a great way to introduce children to nature”

COP26 is another London Olympics moment for the UK

COP26 begins today, a major conference attended by many, though sadly not all, of the world’s political leaders. With the world’s attention focused on Glasgow for the next few days — and on the issue of humankind’s relationship with nature and the environment —… Continue Reading “COP26 is another London Olympics moment for the UK”

‘Bloom or bust?’: Climate change isn’t the only environmental crisis we face

Overpromising and underdelivering is a charge frequently levelled at the current UK government. Now an influential committee of MPs has accused ministers of failing to match their fine words with decisive action when it comes to tackling the biodiversity crisis and protecting UK wildlife.… Continue Reading “‘Bloom or bust?’: Climate change isn’t the only environmental crisis we face”

Sir David is right: young people are the great hope

A new report from WWF detailing the effects of global heating on life around the world pulls no punches: species from emperor penguins and snow leopards to hippopotamuses and bumblebees are all at grave risk from the impact of rising temperatures. “The vast scale… Continue Reading “Sir David is right: young people are the great hope”

Learning about animals is crucial if we want to protect biodiversity

‘Catastrophic decline’ is the quote used in the BBC headline accompanying yet another authoritative report warning of the threat to the Earth’s animal life. This particular report, published by the conservation group WWF in 2020, states that wildlife populations have fallen by more than… Continue Reading “Learning about animals is crucial if we want to protect biodiversity”

Being involved in positive change can boost children’s mental health

A bold and imaginative approach to boosting children’s post-lockdown mental health and wellbeing would include a coordinated effort — involving parents and schools, young people’s organisations like Scouts and Guides, and community-driven initiatives — to offer every young person encouragement and, more importantly, easy-to-access… Continue Reading “Being involved in positive change can boost children’s mental health”

We need to transform our relationship with nature, says the UN

A major United Nations report has characterised humanity’s relationship with the planet as a war and called for a fundamental reset in order to secure a prosperous and sustainable future for us all. The report, called Making Peace with Nature, has been published by… Continue Reading “We need to transform our relationship with nature, says the UN”

Birdwatching is a great way for children to learn more about nature

Birdwatching is an activity for all ages and interest in ‘twitching’ is on the increase. The Forum for Life-Based Learning is in favour of schools teaching about birds and promoting birdwatching as a way of increasing children’s appreciation of nature and promoting mental wellbeing.… Continue Reading “Birdwatching is a great way for children to learn more about nature”

Landmark Treasury review calls for high-profile nature education

An important review has called for nature and the environment to be at the heart of learning in schools. The Economics of Biodiversity: The Dasgupta Review looks at the cost of humanity’s impact on the natural world and suggests eye-catching and often radical reforms… Continue Reading “Landmark Treasury review calls for high-profile nature education”

Coral reef threat to 25 percent of all marine creatures

Our ravished oceans face another threat: irreversible damage to the world’s beautiful coral reefs. As reported by Aljazeera, half the corals on Australia’s Great Barrier Reef have died over the past 25 years. Climate change is irreversibly destroying the World Heritage-listed underwater ecosystem. Coral… Continue Reading “Coral reef threat to 25 percent of all marine creatures”