May 18, 2021
National Tree Week 2020
For many years I have held the question, ‘What motivates people to care about the natural world and value nature.’ Yet, as we know so well, access to nature is not available to all, and that the bright screens of the 21st Century enclose us ever more to the indoors. However, by training practitioners from education and health to be competent and confident to embed nature-based practice in their workplace, we can create a sustainable and
May 18, 2021
Literacy Day 2020
For Literacy Day here are 10 reasons to teach literacy outside.The Covid crisis has shown an increase in 60% of our population’s appreciation of the natural world. Yet still so many of our children have not had access to nature during these months or as part of their educational experience. We decided the greatest impact we could have was to train people to practice themselves. Whilst there is a lot of focus on early years
Growing up is never easy! Often what we long for as adults, is really an indicator of what we need most in our lives. As practitioners who work with children and young people, we are more effective when we have the ability to know our unmet needs which provides a greater capacity to generate love and care for ourselves. It is from this place that we can care for another child or person. When we
May 18, 2021
Forest Kindergarten: Nature Play
Let’s connect – a sense of place and belongingEverything has a story to tell, whether it’s a person, object or a place. But it’s the connection between people and their memories/stories that make places special, unique and gives us a sense of belonging. For some, we are instantly taken back to our childhood. Maybe somewhere we loved exploring, a place that makes us feel at home or maybe a place where you feel close and
May 18, 2021
Forest School
Did you know that offering Forest School as part of your education is one of the best learning and health opportunity for children? Why not make it part of every child’s experience this Autumn?The Covid crisis has shown an increase in 60% of our population’s appreciation of the natural world. Yet still so many of our children have not had access to nature during these months or as part of their educational experience. Circle of
May 18, 2021
Common Ground Interviews
We are embarking with a series of interviews to share our common humanity that lies beneath our many differences. I am interested in increasing all our chances of being heard and understood, including the non-human world.After the first interview, I found myself pulling out an old book from my shelf called, “Neither Wolf nor Dog”. Within minutes of reading I found the following summary of words: “We can like each other, hate each other, feel
May 18, 2021
World Environment Day
Viruses, Deforestation and Wildlife Trade, what do these have in common?By Marina Robb, Founding Director of Circle of Life RediscoveryAmong the barrage of news around Covid 19, I finally succumbed to listening once again to the BBC News. An almost unnoticed comment has left me shocked – again.A scientist briefly commented that there is a direct link to the Wild Life Trade, Deforestation and the increase in the spread and likelihood of viruses into the
May 18, 2021
Outdoor Classroom Day 2020
Play? Naturally! By Kate MacairtToday is Outdoor Classroom Day 2020! As we tentatively begin to emerge from our safe spaces how are we going to re-adjust to human contact and integration? The enforced lock-down has in many ways been merely an exaggeration of the increasing individual isolation our modern world has created. I grew up in the 1960’s, by the end of the 60’s watching telly had become what we did and staying in to