The Big Butterfly Count 2021

It is that time of year again where the Butterfly Conservation Organisation are asking us to take part in the  annual Big Butterfly Count 2021!  This is a great activity to do over summer and will be especially useful this year as lots of us will be staying at home in the UK or perhaps travelling to different parts of the country too. You can collect data from wherever you are!  And the more data we collect, the more we can understand about how butterflies are doing in the UK and how we can help them.

Butterflies are a good indicator of the health of our environment.  The more species of butterfly we see, the healthier it means our environment is and the more varieties of plants and insects there are about.  There are thought to be around 60 types of common butterfly in the UK.  However, the numbers of butterflies and moths being recorded has significantly decreased since the 1970s due to land use change and habitat loss.  With the threat of climate change worsening and more extreme weather in the future, the outlook for butterflies does not look good.

The Butterfly Conservation Organisation therefore want us to help them survey butterflies in the UK and record where and when we are seeing them!  Visit their website https://bigbutterflycount.butterfly-conservation.org/about or download their app 'Big Butterfly Count' for more information on what to do.  The count lasts from 16 July until 8 August 2021.  Set aside 15 minutes to do a butterfly count (you can do more than one, perhaps even one every day!) and record your results on the app or website.  Even if you don't see any butterflies, you can still record it as this is useful information too.  The app also has a handy ID page to help you identify which butterflies you are seeing.  

Happy butterfly hunting!

For the love of bees

The celebration of World Bee Day this week drew attention to the plight of the world's bees and how our behaviours are contributing to their decline 🐝

Bees are some of our most important pollinators and they do a huge amount to ensure the diversity of our ecosystems.  We rely on them for the survival of our food crops most of which are pollinated by wild insects rather than by human intervention. Without them, this would cost us £1.8 billion to achieve!  Some bees provide us with other luxuries such as honey. These bees are often kept in hives but also contribute to the pollination of farm crops.  

Sadly, bee populations are now in decline. This is due to five main causes:

❌ Habitat loss - replacing natural areas with intense farming land or urban developments deprives bees of the wildflowers and meadows that they usually thrive on

❌ Climate change - changes in weather patterns are affecting the times that flowers bloom and bees are struggling to adapt to these changes meaning that they miss out on important food sources

❌ Pesticides - these are harmful to bees and often either kill them or prevent them from reproducing 

❌ Pests -  honeybees can be particularly susceptible to pests and disease which can spread through their hove colony; beekeepers should make sure they check on the health of their hives to stop diseases spreading to other populations

❌ Invasive species - some non-native bee species pose a threat to the survival of UK bees and so these species need to be kept an eye on to ensure their numbers don't become threatening

So what can you do to help?

🐝 Get planting!  Even in you just have a windowsill or window box, get some wildflower seeds and create a little pollen pit-stop for bees to refuel on as they fly past

🐝 Let the grass grow! Try not mowing your lawn or at least leave part of it unmowed for bees to feed and shelter in 

🐝 Leave off the pesticide! Pesticides do so much harm and there are easy alternatives such as using diluted washing up liquid water to remove aphids

🐝 Plant through the seasons! If you have a garden, try to include a range of plants that will flower and seed through spring, summer and autumn to give bees the best chance of survival

For more ideas, visit Friends of the Earth at friendsoftheearth.uk/nature/10-easy-ways-help-bees for some more tips and ideas 🐝

The power of worms

If you're looking for something new to add to your forest school or outdoor learning area, then consider building a wormery!  They may not sound like the most appealing of structures to have, but they can be absolutely brilliant for teaching about the importance of soil and the processes that happen within it.  If you happen to be on a school site, you can add some of your school's food waste to it as well which helps reduce the amount of food that goes to landfill.  Having a wormery provides a great teaching point and can really help educate children on what happens within soil and how decomposers are some of the most important organisms in the ecosystem.  

You can make a simple wormery that will last for about a week (visit the Wildlife Trusts website to find out more).  All you'll need is a large (1 litre) plastic bottle with the top cut off.  Build up several layers of garden soil, compost and sand, and top with some fallen leaves or old flowers.  Then, hunt down some worms and add them onto the top layer of the wormery.  The'll soon bury down and start decomposing all the decaying matter.  Secure the top with some cling film and an elastic band - don't forget to puncture some holes in the cling film! Wrap the bottle in some card to make it dark for the worms and place it in a cool part of your outdoor space.  Check the layers every so often to see how the worms are doing, and add a little water as necessary to stop it drying out.  Finally, when you have finished with your wormery, release the worms back into the wild so they can continue doing their important work under our feet!

To make it a more permanent structure, buy a wormery which comes with multiple trays and layers for the worms to work their way through. This acts similar to a compost bin but has the added excitement of seeing the worms doing their thing.  How much of the school's food waste can you fit in the wormery?!

Earth Day 2021

Today we have been celebrating Earth Day and it has given us a chance to stop for a moment and think about the impact we are having on earth, our common home.

We have had lots of good conversations in school today about what we do that harms our planet, and how we might go about changing those behaviours.  I have been so impressed with the ideas that children have had in school, and I think it just highlights the importance of making green choices every day and the significant impact this can have over time.

Schools are great places to start when trying to make big social change.  If we instil those green values in young people, then they are more likely to go on and make sustainable choices later in life.  They can also influence people around them and other communities outside of their school life.

For the last year or so, I have been exploring ways of making schools greener places to teach and learn.  Many of the actions we can take are ones we know already; turn lights off when you leave the room, recycle paper, bring a reusable water bottle, eat all your food at lunchtime etc.  However, these changes alone are not always enough to bring about significant change.  They are also difficult to remember to do in the hectic nature of a busy school day.  I'd like to offer a few different ideas that might help to make a difference over time.  Some of them might require more effort or time but I guarantee they'll make a difference (and might save some money too!) Let's see how many you might manage to do?! 

🌍 Exercise books are a huge cost and use of paper -> swap them for slim, cardboard files or folders - this will save paper and glue as you won't need to glue worksheets in all the time; it should also save you a good amount of money, and time as you won't have to trim worksheets down to fit into books

🌍 Food waste can be a big problem in schools -> involve children in deciding on the school menu - this will give them to opportunity to express a preference which will lead to less food waste; make sure you buy local and seasonal as well

🌍 Schools can be very harsh environments -> bring plants into the school and classroom - green has a calming effect on the mind and the plants will help to purify the air; you can make it a task or responsibility for children to have to look after them and water them on a regular basis

🌍 Lots of water goes down the drain every day -> install some rainwater harvesters around your school grounds - the water can be used for watering plants, topping up a bird bath, or creating a mini pond; develop a little outdoor space or forest school area in which to do outdoor learning

🌍 Uniforms are often bought new or thrown out after use -> create a system where uniforms can be passed down or bought second hand to save them going to landfill; it will save parents money too, and you should encourage children to care for their clothes and belongings and not treat them as disposable or replaceable items

It is also a great idea to create an eco-council or green club within your school so that children can take ownership of what happens and change comes from within.  Sign up to become an EcoSchool with eco-schools.org.uk and follow their steps to becoming a sustainable school community.

🌍  Happy Earth Day!  🌍

Saving water

You might have noticed that it hasn't really rained much over these past few weeks.  Plants in the garden are looking a little drier than normal, and buds and leaves are seeming slow to burst and blossom due to the cold dry air that has been lingering for some time.  I've been out in my outdoor spaces trying to get things ready for early summer and get some seeds sown, but it hasn't escaped my attention that the soil is looking dry and cracked and in need of a good rain shower.

What we can do when nature needs a bit of a helping hand?  Turning the hose on and giving the garden a good old water is an obvious choice, but if water levels are low overall then we run the risk of depleting supplies even further.  Water demands are only getting higher with all the appliances that we run daily that use lots of water, and climate change is causing the supply of water available to decline. So what can we do?

Water conservation is the key and there are a number of actions we can take.  Year-round rainwater harvesting is a good option as it makes use of the natural abundance of water from the sky.  It is also a better choice than tap water as it doesn't contain chlorine and other chemicals that may exist in treated water.  You can also channel water from gutters and pipes that would otherwise go down the drain. Buy a water butt to store your water in and use a watering can to carry the water to the plants that need it.  

Grey water is water that has been used for washing and cleaning.  This water can also be used for watering plants though it's best to use it straight away rather than storing it.  Soil and compost can usually filter out any mild residue of soap and detergent.  Make sure you use this water on general plants and not ones that are going to be eaten.  

Finally, if water supplies are low then chances are that birds, insects and other wildlife are also struggling for a drink.  Consider putting a bird bath in your garden for birds to drink from or wash in.  Building a mini pond or even putting a large washing up bowl of water in your garden somewhere can also act as a vital drinking source.  Keep an eye on it and make sure it stays topped up as temperatures continue to rise and rainfall levels stay low.

For more information, visit the RHS website to find out how to save and store water.

The Wildlife Trusts website has some good information on how to build a pond.

Activity: Planting sunflowers

Sunflowers are an easy plant to grow and very rewarding when you see how tall they've become!  In a few simple steps, you can get your own sunflower plants off to a great start and you can even do it using sustainable, plastic-free resources.

First, you need to get hold of some sunflowers seeds.  April and May is the best time to start to grow sunflowers.  You can easily find seeds in garden centres at this time, or sometimes supermarkets and hardware shops (my local ironmongers has loads of cheap seeds that are easy to grow!) If you know someone who has previously grown sunflowers, you could ask them if they have any spare seeds from the previous year.

To help the seeds germinate, place them in some damp kitchen roll and place on a warm window-sill for a couple of days.  This isn't essential but might just help them get started before putting them into the soil. 

You can then sow your seeds straight into the ground, or you might like to start them off in some small containers such as yoghurt pots or tin cans.  All you need is some fresh soil or compost and a trowel or spoon to dig the soil.  Place the seeds in about 1cm down and cover them over.  Make sure you give them a good initial watering.  

As the seeds start to grow you might want to thin them out (move then a bit further away from each other) to give them maximum space and light to grow.  Slugs and snails love to eat the new shoots so you can protect them by cutting the top off an old plastic drinks bottle and place it over your new shoots.  

As your sunflower gets taller, support it with a cane or secure it to a nearby fence so it can reach even higher.  If you like, you can feed it with tomato feed which you can buy from a garden centre.  

Finally, once your sunflower has bloomed and faded, harvest the seeds for next year so you can grow more sunflowers without having to buy more seeds 🌻

Friluftsliv

If anyone's good at embracing the outdoors, it's the Scandinavians. "Det finnes ikke dårlig vær, bare dårlig klær!" - "There's no bad weather, only bad clothes!" There's a lot to be said for this approach, and (aside from cases of extreme weather!) encouraging children to play outside every day and develop resilience is an important life skill.

Friluftsliv is another Nordic word/concept/expression which we can learn a lot from.  Literally translated, it means 'open-air living'.  This means getting outside everyday no matter the season, weather or what mood you're in.  This is generally a part of Nordic culture where there is an emphasis on spending time in nature and being close to greenery, forests and water.  Historically, this may have meant spending extended periods of time in the great outdoors, but nowadays it can mean spending a part of every working day or school day outside, either as part of or in addition to the normal outdoor recreation time.  

In Norway, Friluftsliv is included into the school curriculum.  This means that all children will be taught in an outdoor setting and will learn the skills needed to have adventures and stay safe when outside; this includes skills such as swimming, orienteering, building a shelter, foraging safely for food, using tools, and practising simple first aid techniques.  Some of the teachings come from the Sami people (who are indigenous to Scandinavia) and their traditions, which helps children to understand their culture and develop in a more rounded way.  This approach has been shown to improve social, emotional, physical and cognitive development in children and teenagers. 

The English curriculum includes some outdoors education but this is generally in the context of sport rather than learning about the outdoors. Forest Schools are becoming increasingly prevalent but this is mainly in the primary school setting.  Why not think about adopting some of the ethos of friluftsliv and include it in your curriculum?  What benefits could it bring to both the children and staff at your school?

Take learning outside this spring

The return to school tomorrow is feeling like a new start for many of us :)  The long winter slog is almost over, and the longer, lighter days are bringing us sunshine, new hope, and the chance to rekindle old friendships.  Why not take the opportunity to introduce some new ideas into your teaching too?

Taking learning outside has been shown to increase engagement and stimulate many more senses and types of learning than in the classroom.  Being outdoors facilitates more practical, hands on learning and encourages children to thrive who might normally shy away from participation in an indoor setting. 

Forest Schools have become a way of making outdoor learning more regular and this helps children to engage with nature and appreciate its dynamics and rhythms over the seasons.  You don't have to be an official forest school, however, to take advantage of the benefits of teaching outside.  Why not incorporate some outdoor time into your science or geography lessons, or even think of a way of taking maths outside or spending time having discussions during a PSHE session?  

Spending time outside may be a particularly useful way of easing the return to school for some children who may find the intensity and chaotic, noisy nature of being in the classroom a bit overwhelming at first.  Including some activities such as forest school crafts or team building games which can be done in an open space might help children interact with each other and remember how to play together.  

There are loads of useful websites for outdoor learning, these are some of my favourites:

🌳 The Wildlife Trust 

🌳 Learning through Landscapes

🌳 The School Run

🌳 Twinkl (you may need membership to access fully)

Have a search on Pinterest for tonnes of ideas, or look at the resources on my blog too:  learningthroughnatureblog.blogspot.com

Planting blossom trees

We are approaching blossom season! 🌸🌸🌸

To boost the amount of blossom trees in the UK, the National Trust is pledging to plant hundreds of blossom trees at different sites including London, Nottingham, Newcastle and Plymouth.  These will include varieties such as cherry, hazel and plum which all give beautiful pink flowers in the spring.  The project is hoping to boost nature in these areas where there is currently not much access to green space and to give people a closer connection to the natural world. 

The inspiration for this has come from Japan where each spring they have "Hanami" - the celebration of flowers at the arrival of spring.  Trees are in bloom everywhere you look and it creates quite a spectacle which people travel from far and wide to see.  By boosting the number of trees (particularly blossoming trees) it is hoped that it will create a similar spectacle in the UK and draw people's attention to the beauty of nature.  Many populations live in 'grey deserts' in the UK where there are large areas of no trees or green space, and this can have an impact on people's mental health, and their appreciation and respect for the natural world.  

Blossom is also plays an important in supporting ecosystems.  An abundance of pollen increases the number of pollinating insects such as bees, wasps, beetles and flies.  These in turn feed birds in the local area who can further spread pollen and seeds.  When looked at together, these behaviours all help to make a richer environment that can support a more diverse wealth of wildlife.  

Why not think about planting some blossoming trees in your garden or school?  The sight of blossoming trees can spark interest in young children and help them to understand the life cycle of trees and the seasons. You could even incorporate these events in to lessons, and do some research into places like Japan who have amazing blossom events every year!

To find out more, visit the BBC to learn about the blossom planting project; or kiddle to find out more about Japan's seasonal blossoming 🌸🌸🌸

Activity: Rainy days at home

When it's raining non-stop (like it is at the moment!) it can be hard to get outside for any length of time.  Although it might be fun to go for a short walk, anything longer than that can just feel miserable if it's cold and raining really heavily.  There are however, lots of things you can do inside that can still help you connect with nature and feel like you're bringing a bit of the outside to the inside....

☔ Make a toy raft or boat

After the rain has gone, there will be heaps of puddles left on the ground.  Make a boat out of paper or a raft out of twigs or straws.  Think about how to ensure it will float!  Once the rain has cleared away, head outside and see which one floats best!

☔ Collect rainwater

Rainwater is brilliant for the garden as it contains lots of different minerals and seeds which help our ecosystems flourish.  Watering the garden with tap water is ok, but there will still be traces of chemicals such as chlorine in it which over time may not be great for our plants. Rainwater is best, so when its is tipping down quickly dash out and put some buckets and watering cans in the garden and see how much you collect!

☔ Indoor gardening

Gardening in the rain is a bit exhausting and you don't want your tools to get damaged or the ground to get churned up as it softens with the water.  Have a go at some indoor gardening instead!  Plant out some seeds into little pots (they can be old yoghurt pots) or see if you can get them to sprout on damp tissue or cotton wool. You can also try placing the left over stems of celery or spring onions into a jam jar of water. You'll be surprised at how much they can grow just in water!

☔ Write a poem

Many famous writers and poets were inspired by the weather around them.  Grab a notebook and a pencil and look out at the rain for inspiration.  Listen to the sounds of the rain and see if you can include any onomatopoeia (sound words) such as pitter-patter, spit-spot....

☔ Make a biosphere

A biosphere is an enclosed ecosystem that regulates its own oxygen, carbon dioxide and water levels.  Planet Earth is actually a biosphere! You can make your own mini biosphere using just a jam jar.  Clean your jam jar and then place some sand or gravel in the bottom. Add a layer of good draining soil and then a few features such as pieces of bark or rocks. Add some moss and a few small slow-growing plants.  You can even add a beetle or worm of you can find one! Finally, water your biosphere, put the lid on, and place it somewhere where it has sunlight but not too direct as this will make it too hot. 

☔ Raindrop race

Find a window that has rain drops running down it! You might need to open the window to make a bit of an angle for the raindrops to fall on.  Find someone else to race against, and then each pick a raindrop and see whose is the first to reach the bottom!

☔ Indoor bird watching

Set up an indoor area where you can look out and watch for wildlife.  Use some binoculars if you have any and watch for any birds that come to visit!  See if you can identify different types of birds.  If you're not sure, try counting them instead and see how many pass through in  time frame like 15 minutes or half an hour.  Look for how their behaviour changes too.   Do birds behave differently if there is a cat nearby? How many like using a bird feeder or a bird bath?

☔ Watch a nature documentary

There are so many different nature documentaries available on platforms such as BBC iplayer.  If you don't feel like going outside, now is the time to pick a documentary and learn something about animals and wildlife elsewhere in the UK or in a completely different part of the world!

☔ Cloud gazing

There are so many different types of clouds that bring different types of rain and weather.  Look up at the sky and see what the clouds are doing.  Can you identify different types? Are they dark grey rain clouds or towering storm clouds? Is the cloud high up or does it feel like its low down like fog or mist?Are the clouds moving quickly in the wind or staying in one place?  Make observations every 15 minutes of what is happening. 

☔ Make a bird feeder

Birds are always grateful for extra food supply, especially going into autumn and winter when food sources might become a bit more scarce.  Get some seeds such as sunflower seeds or mixed bird seed, and some chopped nuts such as peanuts. Mix together with some breadcrumbs, crumbled cheese and soft dried fruit.  Add some softened lard and mix together to form a paste.  Get a yoghurt port and make a hole in the bottom.  Push some string through and tie a knot on the inside of the pot so it hangs upside down like a bell.  Fill the pot with your bird food mixture and leave in the fridge for a few hours.  When it has solidified, hang upside down outside and wait for the birds to visit!

Activity: Flower pressing

At this time of year the beautiful summer flowers are just about to reach the end of their blooming phase. Before they completely go, have a try at doing some flower pressing! 🌸

Use any flowers from your garden or balcony or window box, and make them into a pretty little display that you could either frame or turn into a hand-crafted note card for someone.

1. Select the flowers you wish to press and make sure they are dry and free of soil

2. Place your flowers in an arrangement that you like onto a sheet of blotting paper or poster paper

3. Cover over with another piece of blotting paper or poster paper and then place between two flat, heavy objects such as two large hardback books

4. Move your press to a dry, warm place such as an airing cupboard or above a radiator

5. Check your press every 12-24 hours until you are happy that it is dried out

6. Mount your press in a frame or fix to a card with PVA which will dry colourless

Click here to read more about how to press flowers from the RHS 🌸