I think many of us hoped that as the clock struck midnight on the 1st January that things might start to change for the better. Whilst I know that will be the case (eventually!), I think right now our reality is still a little distant from what we had hoped for.
Environmental awareness seems a little lower on the agenda than it was before, but my hope is that environmental issues will not be forgotten after lockdown, and that people will become even more passionate about protecting their local green spaces and will strive to make the most of the nature that is always around them.
If anything, lockdown is teaching us to get outside and appreciate the local wildlife on our doorsteps! I have definitely noticed an increase in the number of people walking and biking when I go out for my walks and runs, and the little changes between seasons become even more precious and beautiful when you tune in so often to the world around you.
Schools are having a particularly difficult time at the moment. As someone who currently works in primary education teaching SEN children, I know the challenge of keeping the sense of school community and normality going for these young people. However, for me I also see it as an amazing opportunity to get children excited and exploring their gardens, parks, school grounds... wherever they can get to! Taking the time to get outside (which is definitely more germ-friendly anyway!) and learning about the world is so important and this period of time is a great opportunity to get kids involved in exploring outdoor spaces and beginning projects such as planting bulbs or making bird feeders for the winter.
This new year, I'll be taking a bit more time to post about how to encourage green education and make your school green too, as I believe that our actions and behaviours have as much impact as any school lesson, if not more so!
Stay tuned for more #learningthroughnature this spring 🌳🌸📝
