Putting climate and nature at the heart of education in England
The Natural History Museum is leading a partnership that is developing and delivering the National Education Nature Park, a programme commissioned by the Department for Education as part of their Sustainability and Climate Change Strategy.
The National Education Nature Park is a free programme for all schools, colleges and nurseries in England that embeds climate and nature across the curriculum and sees children and young people leading the way in improving their sites for both people and wildlife.
By mapping out, monitoring and caring for habitats on their learning sites, children and young people develop their connection to nature and build skills for their futures all while collaborating with Natural History Museum scientists on trailblazing research into nature recovery. A huge community science project, the data collected by children and young people is being used by Natural History Museum scientists to estimate biodiversity levels across all of the schools, nurseries and colleges taking part in the programme – filling in the gaps in knowledge about current biodiversity levels on across the education estate, and estimating the collective difference being made for nature by the children and young people taking part in the programme.
With support from Elgol Fund for Nature, the Natural History Museum have been able to grow the Nature Park team at the Museum. Elgol Fund for Nature has funded two new roles – a Data Analyst and a Community Science Officer – which will help enable the team to increase engagement with the programme across England, putting nature and climate at the heart of education and empowering children and young people to make a positive difference to both their own and to nature’s future.
All photos courtesy of the Natural History Museum
