30/03/2021

Archive

Conservation dogs to the rescue

As a dog lover – dogs are not called ‘people’s best friend’ for nothing – I’m interested in how dogs are used to help us humans in many different ways.  They ( dogs) are intelligent, can be trained for very particular purposes …. Here are two examples of dogs skills being applied to help with nature conservation especially endangered species. Australia Detection Dog Research Team In addition to the Fighting Extinction Dog Squad, Zoos Victoria employ the skills of dogs...

Hope for the Oceans | Dr Sylvia Earle & Hope Spots

Dr Sylvia Earle- oceanographer spectacular – has had a remarkable connection with the sea, and a similarly remarkable history of achievements .   Her charity Mission Blue Mission Blue inspires action to explore and protect the ocean. Led by legendary oceanographer Dr. Sylvia Earle, Mission Blue is uniting a global coalition to inspire an upwelling of public awareness, access and support for a worldwide network of marine protected areas – Hope Spots. Under Dr. Earle’s leadership, the Mission Blue team...

Watch out for … bees !

, Bee sting twice as likely to land Australians in hospital than encounter with venomous wildlife   Study finds five in 100,000 Australians taken to hospital for bee and wasp stings, twice the rate for spiders and snakes   Australia is home to the 11 most venomous snakes in the world, the deadliest spider in the world, and some of the most venomous marine life. And yet according to a study released on Wednesday, Australians are twice as likely end...

World Book Day | Some great nature books

As its World Book Day – here are some books that I would recommend for your reading pleasure, for the nature lover …. including Diary of a Young Naturalist Best nature books    Wild Child by Patrick Barkham review – why children need nature From blackberry picking to digging a pond … a perfect lockdown reminder of how having fun outdoors is essential for children, in cities as well as the countryside Alice O’Keeffe There is a certain grim irony...

Forests | Sustaining People and Planet … Wild at Home

Wild at Home Thousands of consumer products used in Europe and around the world contain ingredients obtained from wild plants. Wild ingredients often come from the most biodiverse ecosystems on earth and are collected by some of the most impoverished communities. However, thousands of harvested species are at risk mainly from a combination of overharvest and habitat loss, with over 20% of species estimated to be threatened with extinction. These declines threaten biodiversity and wider ecosystems also putting at risk...

Helping children to identify wildlife – UK

( image – The Wildlife Trusts ) Ever came across an insect, birdsong, or a rock which…. you just could not identify? Here are some great groups resources about ‘kids nature ID activities’ – mainly downloads. United Kingdom   wildlife in general Wildlife Watch – the junior branch of The Wildlife Trusts – has ‘dozens’ of worksheets to give you ideas and actual activities, which you can then adapt for your local use.  Click here  Countryside Classroom similarly has ‘dozens’...