In the Geography GCSE, climate change is often a stand-alone topic about possible causes. Carrying out a quick analysis of science courses shows that the AQA GCSE Physics course doesn’t mention climate change once, Biology mentions it once, and Chemistry uses the term nine times with a focus on greenhouse gases. The language used by…
Read full postThis time of year is a prime season for leaf blowers. Wanting a ‘tidy’ garden and a drive free of debris is the driving force behind many proud homeowners blowing away the leaves from the paving, but for insects and small animals, that quick garden tidy can spell disaster. A report by Germany’s Ministry…
Read full post
With insects on the decline, why not roll the metaphoric red carpet out for them by turning your garden into an insect haven? CREATE WOODPILES Insects such as woodlice, beetles and centipedes love a good woodpile. Wood left outdoors is also the perfect habitat for lichen and fungi. It can also house small…
Read full post
Our planet’s insects are collectively the cogs that keep the delicately tuned ecological machine in balance, but through a combination of temperature change, habitat depletion and modern agricultural practices, we are losing many of our insect species. Humankind needs insects in order to survive. They are crucial decomposers that help to break down and…
Read full post
We need to reinvent our relationship with nature for a sustainable future. A new relationship that helps slow climate warming and helps wildlife recover. A closer relationship with nature is for everyone, wherever they live. It doesn’t have to be about trips out into the countryside and it’s not about ‘hugging trees’. More and more…
Read full postMindfulness sounds like a panacea for modern day ills: it’ll boost your self-esteem, ease your stress and make you happier! So why aren’t we all doing it? In principle, mindfulness sounds simple enough; just pay full attention to whatever you’re experiencing right now, without judgement. But in practice it takes just a few seconds…
Read full post
Alighting at Pembrey and Burry Port Station I face the intriguing possibility of walking on for two months, keeping the sea on my left, then clinging to Offa’s Dyke down the Welsh border, before arriving back at this very spot. Instead I will taste a modest, introductory 12 miles of the Wales Coast Path…
Read full post
Our greatest river begins under a protective spinney in a Gloucestershire field. Did Isambard Kingdom Brunel deliberately route his London to Cheltenham railway within yards of this spot, drawing support from the watery spirits? My train to Kemble Station, a short stroll from the source, started at Paddington, which is only a mile from the…
Read full post
I run a regular Death Cafe, and although I tell the attendees in advance that it isn’t grief therapy, most people arrive carrying the baggage of loss, whether it’s a slender case or heavy trunk. During the general discussion about death, between sips of tea and fingerfuls of cake, the loss presents itself. Within this…
Read full post
For 30 years, we have been waiting for world leaders to act on the biggest crisis facing humanity, and now we have to accept that politics is not going to save us. The system transformation we need will not be driven by our leaders – it will come from us. When it comes to climate…
Read full post