Wild flowers and "Plantlife"

This is a good time to get out looking for wildflowers in our verges, hedges and nature reserves. This is an extract from Plantlife's latest newsletter.

Dear supporter, Happy Spring! Get ready to hunt for woodland flowers, learn more about how we are protecting ancient trees and help us speak up for wild flowers in Government. Read on...

Great British Wildflower Hunt 2018

The 2018 Great British Wildflower Hunt launches next week with a new list for those who enjoy a woodland walk. Help us discover where those bluebells and primroses are blooming!  Here is a link to Plantlife's web site where you can find out much more about the important work done for wildflowers :https://mailchi.mp/plantlife/plantlife-news-april-2018?e=3369987e57

Rewild the Child , George Monbiot.

Link here:                                  Rewild the Child


This is how it starts:


A week in the countryside is worth three months in a classroom.

By George Monbiot, published in the Guardian 8th October 2013
What is the best way to knacker a child’s education? Force him or her to spend too long in the classroom.
An overview of research into outdoor education by King’s College London found that children who spend time learning in natural environments “perform better in reading, mathematics, science and social studies.”(1) Exploring the natural world “makes other school subjects rich and relevant and gets apathetic students excited about learning.”

My own experience confirms all this. As a member of the Somerset Wildlife Trust and our local wildlife Group the experience opens up a view of the world which is fascinating and leads into many other avenues of life . All our activities are open to young people especially our Watch Club.

As a member of Langport Runners , assisting in the management of our Junior Athletic Club I am constantly amazed at the enthusiasm of our young members. Recently we have been involving them as much as possible in the coaching sessions so that older 14 year olds can act as Leaders for some of the time. It works very well.

I cant explain it as well as George  so please read his article and use the link above.

Field Study Centres face closure

I have been passing this message on by Twitter and it may be of interest to Bloggers too. Its an extract from an email I received yesterday!


Use this link to view the youtube video produced by the Field Studies Council: 


   http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WPEenciK8uQ

From: Steve Tilling [mailto:steve@field-studies-council.org]
Sent: 25 January 2012 10:46
To: Steve Tilling
Subject: Save Our Outdoor Education Centres

We have launched a petition to the government calling for them to protect outdoor education centres from imminent closure.

One in three Local Authority outdoor education centres are facing closure which could mean millions of young people are denied potentially life-changing experiences, at a time when health, physical activity and contact with nature are all declining.  Some children from poorer and disadvantaged groups may not have another opportunity to share a night away from home and visit places they would not otherwise see. 

The sad fact is that closure need not happen, in many cases given extra time these centres could become self sufficient.  If centres close they may not reopen again.

****************************************************************************

I'll add a link to see the petition a bit later.

This photo is nothing to do with the email above. I took it in a pub whilst having lunch the other day. Its a very good view of the parts of a flower. The sort of thing our Botany Group have been studying.