Three about trees...

I refer, in my previous post, to the ‘Chrimbo Limbo’, the period when the professional world goes into a sort of hibernation, and where drinking port and wearing knitted jumpers becomes, well, normal. As a result (of the quiet, not of drinking port), here is a rather succinct review of the week’s environmental education news for you, courtesy of this week’s The Bug…

New year, new life, saplings sprouting and other new year analogies: If you’ve got a space set-aside for tree-planting but you’re struggling to cover the cost, don’t forget about the Big Tree Campaign. The first 1,000 schools to register on their website will receive a free sapling pack of fifteen native species. The deadline approaches (January 12th)... There are also bigger funding pots available through this campaign, to help your schools become tree-tastic (yes I did just write that) – find out more information here.

And talking of trees…If you’re looking for a global campaign to link your tree-based environmental education exploits to, I’d recommend having a look at information on the UN's Year of the Forest, a neat follow-on from the organismal orgy that was International Year of Biodiversity 2010 (IYB2010). If IYB2010 is anything to go by the Year of the Forest could attract a host of media attention, AND more pots of funding for tree-planting projects, and the usual cornucopia of education resources too.

What you can do with your old Christmas trees:
The tree theme continues. As well as being the Year of the Forest; the year of the Edinburgh trams; the Year of Consequences; the year of the fixed remortgage; and the Year of the Musical Robot (no, I'm not joking), 2011 is also the year to bring insects in from the cold, according to the Telegraph. One way you can help the UK’s dwindling invertebrates is by providing new insect homes in your school. One excellent idea is to cut up your spent Christmas trees and turn them into minibeast paradises – advice and information provided courtesy of Gardener’s World’s garden wildlife guru, Kate Bradbury. Great stuff – an activity I can imagine some schools relishing.

British Science and Engineering Week
One last thing…It won’t be long until the British Science and Engineering Week (11th – 20th March 2011). You can register your activities, and download information resources on their website, and there’s something in there about winning £800 too.

Happy New Year all – may it be one utterly festooned in nature.

- Jules