* Scotland's nature agency sanctioned the destruction of 224,750 gulls nests during 2022
* All species affected were either red listed or amber listed, of conservation concern NatureScot, the Scottish government's nature agency, last year permitted the removal or destruction of more than 200,000 gulls nests, nearly half of them belonging to red-listed Herring gulls, a species that is among the most threatened in the UK, and of the highest conservation concern. I've obtained data that reveals NatureScot issued 1,953 gull licences in 2022 and approved the removal of 224,750 nests of five different species of gull. According to the agency, the nests that could be destroyed under these licences "may or may not contain eggs". The total number of nests licensed to be removed in a single year were:- 103,020 nests of Herring gulls 45,990 nests of Lesser Black-backed gulls 39,570 nests of Common gulls 22,660 nests of Great Black-backed gulls 13,510 nests of Black-headed gulls The huge scale of nest destruction allowed under Scotland's licences beggars belief, especially given the fragile conservation status of many of the species affected. In 2020, three species of gull were removed from the relevant 'general licence' in Scotland due to conservation concerns, and since then a specific licence must be obtained in order to lethally control gulls; permitted actions include removal of nests and eggs, or in some cases killing pre-fledged chicks or adult birds. NatureScot noted that "if eggs are removed then the number of eggs taken must be recorded in the returns form. Some of these eggs may have been passed onto wildlife sanctuaries." (they did not provide further information on how many eggs 'may have been passed on' to wildlife sanctuaries). The licences were approved for the purpose of "preserving public health and public safety", and NatureScot appears to have sanctioned considerably more nest destruction than equivalent bodies in other parts of the UK - Natural England, NRW (Wales) and Daera (Nothern Ireland). The enormous number of gulls affected by the Scottish licences is extremely worrying. NatureScot proudly proclaim "We are Scotland’s nature agency. We work to improve our natural environment in Scotland and inspire everyone to care more about it." Maybe they should take another look at their internal policies - before trying to 'inspire' others to care about nature.
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Hi folks,
Well there was something of a furore after my recent revelations that Natural England has been busy approving licences that permit the hunting of songbirds, including Skylark, in the name of sport. Details of these controversial falconry licences is being made public for the first time this year, all thanks to our campaign which pressured Natural England into making an annual declaration of the statistics. I can now report that the full licence data (including these notorious falconry licences) has now been published; Natural England has also issued a blog post attempting to clarify the thinking behind their contentious decision making. As you know, I'm opposed to the inclusion of any endangered species on the 'quarry' list and I think Natural England's response is lacklustre and disappointing. They said, "we understand concerns expressed about red list species being taken under these licences. Licences are only issued when there is deemed to be no effect on the conservation status of the birds involved." I don't accept this explanation at all. I have shared my thoughts with them directly and I'm calling on Natural England to remove all threatened species from the licences immediately. Many of you have expressed alarm over this matter, and I share your concerns. It is madness for the Government's nature watchdog to be sanctioning the hunting of these threatened species. So please take a look at the licence data, make up your own minds. The download link is HERE (large data file) The data summary page is HERE Their explanation is HERE Sincere thanks for your support over this, I've had so many messages and comments, every one of them is read and appreciated. The campaign continues. Best, Jase
* Natural England's bird control licence data for 2022 is about to be published....
* Complete statistics for 2022 reveal some staggering figures, affecting dozens of species:-
* Falconry licence data, included for the first time, shows red listed species being killed for sport including Skylark, Fieldfare, Redwing, Meadow Pipit, Mistle Thrush and more, in addition to more common birds such as various corvids, gulls and doves. I can now report that Natural England's annual bird control licensing statistics are collated and will shortly be published on their website, there'll be a link to the data file from my blog when it's available. Meanwhile Natural England sent me a copy of the statistics and I've had an initial perusal. While it's great that the data is now freely available every year - because of our campaign - the sheer extent of the killing remains lamentable. However, we are at least now able to scrutinise the figures and raise questions where we find anomalies within the licences. Falconry data included for the first time And something new for this year, adding to the general heartache over the killing of our wild birds, is that for the first time, Natural England is including data for falconry licences that they issue "for purposes of sport". These are licences permitting the killing of wild birds, not by shooting, but in the course of falconry. Now, this in itself might not sound too significant, but I've looked at the list of birds permitted to be killed in this way - it includes various corvids, gulls and common birds such as Wood pigeons and Blackbirds - but I am alarmed to see red-listed birds among the species for which licences have been granted, such as the iconic Skylark, Fieldfare, Redwing, Meadow Pipit, Mistle Thrush and Song Thrush, to name but a few. One such licence, issued to an applicant from Suffolk, approved the taking of up to 40 Skylarks, and that is just one example. Others allowed the killing of smaller numbers of Meadow Pipit, Song Thrush, Mistle Thrush, Starling and House Sparrow. Naturally, birds of prey kill all of these rare species - to survive. But, surely killing them for 'sport' is inappropriate in the midst of a biodiversity crisis, when these species are in severe decline and vulnerable? That the killing, (effectively hunting), is being licensed by the government's nature watchdog seems especially perplexing - and ironic. I realise that this opens up a whole new contentious debate, that of falconry and killing in the name of sport, and Natural England might well say that their hands are tied - falconry is legal and therefore they have a duty to 'manage' it. The problem is that many of the species being killed under Natural England's falconry licences are of high conservation concern, and I think that makes it unethical. As we know, there is little or no monitoring of licences, Natural England rely on the honesty and integrity of licence holders when submitting their return, under the terms of their licence. So, do we know how many Skylarks are actually being killed? It feels like a mixed blessing having the addition of the falconry data this year. On the one hand, as Natural England told me, the falconry figures are included "in line with our commitment to transparency", which is great, and indeed one of the primary aims of our campaign. It's just so very depressing to see all the killing. Data to be publicly available soon But anyway, I'm told the data will be published on the .gov website soon (if not then I will publish it myself). Please take a look and do feel free to alert me to any licences that might require clarification, I can ask those questions and get answers where necessary. Other news In other news, it looks like the remaining licences for the harvesting of Black-headed gull eggs (for human consumption) may have been withdrawn, I'm trying get clarification on this after Natural England told me that 'currently' there have been no licences issued this year. But they also told me last month that they would be assessing them again in March. If it is the case that they have been suspended, then it would mean that the murky trade in Black-headed gull eggs has effectively been brought to an end, a huge success for our campaign, though we need to remain vigilant in case the licences are reinstated. That's all for now folks, thanks as always for your support, Best, Jase
Photo by Heather Wilde on Unsplash
So, just as I was about to report that Natural England had stopped communicating (again), I get a rushed email last night from their Head of Wildlife Licensing, acknowledging the questions I'd asked earlier this month.
However this was only after I'd submitted three freedom of information requests to get the answers I was looking for. Co-incidence? Still, it's very good to know the communication channels are still open. Good news: The annual licence data will be published, in full, later this month or early next month - with the caveat "this is subject to everything going smoothly with the reports". I'll keep tabs on that. The wildlife control licensing statistics, as you'll know, are now published every year, only after pressure from our campaign forced Natural England to release the (previously hidden) figures - making them freely available for public scrutiny. More good news: Black-headed gull eggs will be off the menu again this year! Black-headed gulls are amber listed in the UK, that means they are a threatened species. Yet, for years, thousands of their eggs have been harvested for human consumption, under licences approved by Natural England - consumed in fancy restaurants and sold through high end grocers - hard to believe but true. Licences have traditionally been issued to applicants in two areas of England - Hampshire and North Yorkshire, but pressure from our campaign secured the suspension of most of the licences in 2022, a great result, although a handful of licences were still approved in Yorkshire. I've now asked for the complete and total withdrawal of all the licences this year, and an end to this abhorrent and outdated trade. And I am happy to confirm that most of the licences have already been withdrawn... Natural England tell me that they have not received any further requests for licences from Hampshire so far this year and that "in the unlikely event we do receive applications, these would most certainly be rejected". Excellent. This will secure the survival of thousands of the amber-listed gulls. But they have not yet confirmed that they will suspend the Yorkshire licences, and say a further assessment is to be carried out first. So I have now written to them and respectfully suggested that the logical and correct thing to do would be to discontinue the Yorkshire licences, especially given the absence of any backlash following the suspension of last year's licences in Hampshire. I am hopeful that the government sponsored harvesting of gull eggs for human consumption will soon be a thing of the past, consigned to history, where it belongs. I'll update you on this when I have further info. The campaign continues! Best, Jase
Image by Norbert Rick from Pixabay
Quite suddenly, I find myself in my late fifties.
I used to climb mountains. Occasionally, and slowly, but with determination, expending a great deal of breath in the process and reeling when I finally reached the top, exhilarated and energised, ahead of my descent and journey home. These days I can't do it; I can sometimes manage a modest hill, the summit of which might still provide an expansive view, but the feeling of achievement is not quite the same and the horizon is a little closer. Now I come to think of it, it's a metaphor for my life I suppose, the hard slog with a sense of purpose that I had in my twenties and thirties, the lust for adventure and excitement, and the need to succeed. That thirst mellowed somewhat in my forties as I settled down; taking enjoyment, in what I had by now achieved, from memories and perhaps intermittent excursions into the same territory I'd previously explored. Now in my late fifties, I have regrettably become a little cynical about the world - no, let me correct that - cynical about many of the people in the world. For I love the world, with a passion. The miracle that this strange planet is; don't try to tell me it's all evolved somehow, that zillions of years ago, by chance, a protein soup formed and birthed everything from a butterfly to a bird, to a platypus, to a panda, to a whale. To an ape? Not to mention the flowers, the trees. Perfection, truly. Beautiful designs; not the random by-products of a chemical broth. Still, I can't understand where a human fits into all this. Man seems completely incongruous on earth, as though he found himself here, dropped from the clutches of some giant space-travelling bird of prey, as it glided across the universe, over planets and moons, on its way to some dark place at the edge of everything - which may well be mankind's natural environment. But somehow he landed in paradise and began to destroy it. Adam in the garden of Eden. It is tragic that humans, alone, have blighted paradise. My hope is that somewhere a parallel world exists, free from humankind. The dilemma is that I want to be there to enjoy it, and yet I must not be there, if it is as beautiful as Earth. Then again, here's a thought, if souls exist (as they surely do), then perhaps it's like the Egyptians told us - our souls can, if we have lived a virtuous life here, go on to dwell forever in a utopia that is a mirror image of our earthly existence. A world as beautiful as Earth but safe from our calamitous meddling; in spirit form surely we could not inflict harm on that which is physical? I'll go with that, it feels logical and right, not that logic plays much part in this earthly realm - and not that I can assume I have lived a virtuous life, for that matter; I doubt it somehow. I'll have to wait and see how I am judged in that regard. Meanwhile, there are wonders to behold; so ever onwards...
Photo by Louis Maniquet on Unsplash
* Natural England's notorious lethal control licences are open to abuse
* 'Pitiful' punishment is no deterrent to illegal hunting of wildlife * "It is not possible to bear witness to all licensable activities" says Natural England Natural England's lethal control licences are open to abuse and they can't be effectively monitored. That's why today I'm encouraging everyone to report suspected abuse of licences - and I'm highlighting an easy way to do this. Illegal hunting enabled by Natural England's licences? Natural England recently rejected our plan that would have seen independent monitoring of their lethal control licences, amid suggestions that the current system might be facilitating illegal hunting. So I asked them to explain what measures they have in place themselves to combat licence abuse. It seems that the answer is very little. What's more, it appears that there isn't much punishment in store for those abusing the licences. Whole licensing system open to abuse It turns out that, in the absence of their own comprehensive monitoring, Natural England do rely on members of the public to 'monitor' their licences after all, albeit unofficially. All of this follows my discussions with Natural England over reports that uncontrolled killing of Cormorants might be taking place by a number of unscrupulous hunters, exploiting Natural England's notorious lethal control licences. I fear that other species too might be suffering the same fate. The whole licensing system is open to potential abuse simply because so many licences are issued and there is no way for Natural England to effectively and comprehensively oversee the actions they permit. So what punishment is in store for those who are found to have used the licences illegally? Not much it appears. 'Punishment' for illegal hunting of Cormorants: a warning letter and a telephone call... Even when a licence holder blatantly disregards the terms of their licence, there seems to be precious little punishment. Natural England told me "Where licence holders have shot too many birds or done so outside of the licensing period, this often results in an official warning letter. Any warning letters that have been issued are followed up with a compliance visit or telephone call the following year." The threat of a warning letter followed by a telephone call (the following year)? For a wildlife crime. Hardly a deterrent is it? Perhaps, if it emerges that licence abuse is more widespread, Natural England might take it more seriously. And that's where we come in, please read on.... "Not possible to bear witness to all licensable activities...we do rely on the public" Confirming their reliance on help from the public, Natural England said, "It is not possible to bear witness to all licensable activities, so outside of internal compliance activities we do rely on members of the public....to report suspicious activity so that we can take targeted action where required." This seems like a fairly weak strategy for a government agency tasked with protecting wildlife. If they can't effectively monitor their own licences, then perhaps they should drastically reduce the number of licences they issue in the first place. Of course this brings into question their culling licences for other species, and not just those they issue for bird control. Reporting suspicious activity by email In respect of Cormorants, Natural England told me that they have received only a 'small number' of suspected incidents of licence abuse, "we are not privy to any robust evidence which suggests widespread abuse of the licensing system," they say. But you could argue that this merely reflects the fact that there has been no clear way for the public to alert them to a problem. Today that changes. In a small but significant step forward - with Natural England's permission - I'm publishing a direct email address so that members of the public can alert Natural England to any apparently illegal activity associated with their licences. We should all keep a close eye on our own local wildlife populations and report suspicious activity directly to Natural England (in addition to the nearest wildlife crime officer). This includes accounts of alleged wildlife crimes found on social media. Natural England should then log and investigate those reports. If anyone suspects abuse of wildlife control licences, such as illegal shooting, they should contact Natural England directly at: [email protected] I'd suggest asking for a reference number and also to be kept informed of any subsequent investigations. Disorganised and not fit for purpose Yes, the licensing system seems to be disorganised and not fit for purpose. And yes, the punishments for those found abusing the licences seem pitifully inadequate. But for now we have to work with what we have. So please do keep a close eye on your local populations of Cormorants and all other protected wildlife. If you see or suspect illegal killing taking place then please do report it. I'm publishing Natural England's full response to my enquiries (below). In it they refer specifically to Cormorants but their explanation doubtless applies to much of their other licensing activities too. They use a lot of words, but I think we can perhaps conclude from it that Natural England has no practical ability to manage the lethal control activity that their licences permit - licences that might actually be facilitating hunting rather than protecting our wildlife. Please see my note following their response. From Head of Natural England Wildlife Licensing Service (NEWLS), National Delivery Dear Jason, Thank you for your patience with this matter. I have now spoken with colleagues in my team and can give you some background information on how and when compliance activities take place, in regard to licensing the lethal control of cormorants. Having read your blog, it appears a number of your followers have come across posts on social media accounts which indicate illegal activity is taking place or that licences are being abused. To be clear, in the first instance, for anyone who suspects that illegal shooting is taking place, they should make contact with a wildlife crime officer to report the incident. In addition, any social media reports which suggest that individuals or groups are abusing licences should be forwarded to Natural England for investigation. The wildlife licensing team can also undertake checks to see if licences are in place, where reported lethal control is occurring. I have made contact with my team who manage concerns from members of the public, who tell me no such recent reports have been made. I have undertaken a thorough look into our compliance and enforcement activity relating to cormorants over the last two years and can give an overview of the sorts of situations we have handled. Since the 2020/21 licensing season, we have dealt with: 3 incidents of shooting more birds than the licence permits 6 incidents of birds being shot outside of the licensable period 2 licences were revoked on the outcome of an enforcement investigation 5 referrals to the police for further investigation. Of the police referrals made, the cases concluded closed without further investigation or resulted in a community resolution. Where licence holders have shot too many birds or done so outside of the licensing period, this often results in an official warning letter. Any warning letters that have been issued are followed up with a compliance visit or telephone call the following year. This is to ensure they continue to understand and comply with the terms and conditions of the licence. If licence breaches were to persist, we would treat repeat incidents as ‘significant’ which means revoking licences or instigating an investigation leading which could lead to prosecution. As we grant approximately 600 cormorant licences over a 2-year period, the above incidents only account for a small number of the total licensed figures. Across our licensing work, we are committed to undertaking compliance activities for some of the licences we grant and this figure is increased where there is justification for doing so. For example, the species being impacted is of conservation concern and the proposed activities are considered high risk for the species. As cormorants are a green listed species which have increased by 50% based on a 25-year trend, they are not currently flagging as a compliance concern for wildlife licensing, and we are not privy to any robust evidence which suggests widespread abuse of the licensing system. The regulators code is clear in stating that: “Regulators should take an evidence-based approach to determining the priority risks in their area of responsibility and should allocate resources where they would be most effective in addressing those priority risks.” If a consecutive decline in cormorants indices continues beyond this current trend, and they become a species of conservation concern, we will review our approach to licensing and compliance to ensure favourable conservation status is not negatively impacted by lethal control. Having said the above, as a team we are concerned about the impacts of our licensing work on the spread of Avian Influenza which is having a devastating effect on birds across the UK. Consequently, we have placed additional restrictions on cormorant control activities this year and therefore will be undertaking increased compliance checks this season and once the returns information has been submitted. As you correctly point out in your email, the licensing system does rely on the honesty and integrity of the user, however this is not an issue restricted to wildlife licensing. It is not possible to bear witness to all licensable activities, so outside of internal compliance activities we do rely on members of the public and others to report suspicious activity so that we can take targeted action where required. I hope I have sufficiently outlined our compliance approach to cormorant licensing above, but if you have any further questions, I am happy to respond. Kind regards, Note: In their response Natural England maintain that Cormorant populations have increased over a 25 year period. This may be true in general, but other data in fact shows a decline in the birds core breeding areas across Europe, and a drop in UK populations in the shorter term. And why do we have to wait until a population decreases to the point of being threatened before we take action? As I've said before, with thousands of the birds being killed in England alone to 'protect inland fisheries', we might not have to look too far for an explanation of the population decline. Let's not forget that the government generated £24,583,342 in income from fishing licences between 1 April 2020 and 31 March 2021. We shouldn't be conjuring with figures to suit financial agendas when it comes to wildlife conservation. And we shouldn't forget that the appalling state of our rivers through total mismanagement, is a much bigger threat to fish stocks than Cormorants could ever be. Humans are at the core of all ecological imbalance, it's a fact. That email address again, for reporting suspected wildlife licence abuse: [email protected]
* Natural England acknowledges Cormorant numbers are in decline but rejects plans for independent monitoring of culls
* In spite of warnings that licences might be facilitating illegal hunting.... Natural England has acknowledged a decline in the Cormorant population but has rejected our plan to monitor the culling of the birds. This in spite of our warning that illegal hunting may be contributing to the downturn in the birds population. The story so far.... Earlier in the summer I alerted Natural England to accounts of illegal shooting of Cormorants, being facilitated through misuse of their own lethal control licences. I'd discovered that members of an online forum had been openly discussing anecdotal illegal use of the licences at inland fisheries and angling clubs across the country, where the birds are culled to protect fish stocks. At that time Natural England seemed concerned by this, their Head of Wildlife Licensing going so far as asking my advice on how they could address the problem. "I would be very keen to hear your views on how NE might access data intelligence to monitor cormorant licensing better," he told me, adding that, "Intelligence and information from members of the public etc is critical in helping NE with its compliance/enforcement activity. We often visit sites as a result of information we receive". So, back in June I proposed a plan to overhaul the Cormorant licences, and I had an assurance from Natural England that it had their attention: "We are considering how we might evaluate changes to cormorant licensing.... some early views which we will try and develop. Reform/change might take some time to do alongside our other licensing priorities.... but I want to reassure you this has our attention." Plan rejected I remained optimistic over the summer, even through significant staff changes at Natural England, which saw two new faces heading the licensing department, but then last week I had a very disappointing update from them and an outright rejection of our proposals. It was a disappointing and lacklustre response. While acknowledging that Cormorant numbers are in decline, Natural England have now dismissed our call for better, independent monitoring of culls - in spite of the suggestions that their own licences are being used illegally. "We do not know the reason for the decline" Natural England recognise the dwindling numbers of Cormorants but said they 'don't know' the reason for the species decline in recent years. They told me, "it is important to note that we do not know the reason for the recent decline", adding that "we will continue to monitor the situation and adjust licensing levels accordingly". I believe the reasons for the Cormorant's decline might actually be very clear indeed. Unmonitored shooting 'out of control' The shooting of Cormorants in England is largely underregulated, unmonitored and apparently out of control. Some of those hunters tasked with killing Cormorants under licences issued by Natural England might be doing so with scant regard for their legal obligations, perhaps killing many more of the birds than is legally permitted. The plan I put forward to tackle this problem was based on suggestions from readers of my blog and supported by members of our campaign which now has nearly 400,000 signatures. Our plan would have enabled the public to report potentially criminal misuse of licences and required police checks on those carrying out the culls. This has been dismissed by Natural England. They explained: "While we understand the public interest in licensed control of wildlife, advertising of specific dates and locations of shooting is unlikely to result in positive debate or understanding and is unlikely to be supported by the Police." They didn't elaborate further except to say, "on the suggestion that Natural England licences should be checked by the Police for suitability of those licensed to shoot, this is not a responsibility that the Police will be able to take on in addition to their issue of Firearms Certificates, determining the use permitted in each case". "Trend shows an increase in birds" In an attempt to justify their continuing policy of culling Cormorants, Natural England says "the 25-year trend shows an increase of 50%, and the 10-year trend shows a smaller increase of 23%" But, however they try to dress it up, Cormorant numbers are now in decline. With apparently little or no monitoring of the Cormorant culls and Natural England dismissing hopes for public and/or police involvement, the government agency gives the unfortunate impression that it puts the interests of anglers and fisheries above the wildlife it claims to protect. An 'emotive' issue In conclusion, Natural England told me, "We understand that the control of wild birds is an emotive issue, however as a regulator we must ensure we carry out our duties in accordance with the legislation and Defra policy which will result in licences being issued where the tests have been met." Public have lost confidence in Natural England But it's clear to me that Natural England has lost the confidence of the public and should not underestimate the power of public opinion. I've now asked Natural England what, if any, monitoring they have (or intend to) put in place to combat this potentially illegal shooting of the birds. They said they would get back to me and I'm awaiting their response. Meanwhile our campaign to protect all wild birds continues, please sign and share the petition HERE.
Photo by Amee Fairbank-Brown on Unsplash
* England and Northern Ireland entirely fail to engage over nature education plan for schools
* Wales and Scotland provide enthusiastic and thorough responses * The devolved nations lead the way in environmental education - while England and NI remain apathetic and disinterested Recently I wrote to the education ministers of England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland asking them to put nature at the core of primary school education, starting with the re-introduction of nature tables to the classroom, something that was common until the early 1970s. There was huge support for the idea from my readers. Many of you agreed that educating children, from the youngest ages, to respect and appreciate nature is perhaps our best hope if we are to encourage biodiversity regeneration in the UK. Alas, as you'll see, in England and Northern Ireland at least, it seems unlikely. Those two governments failed to respond at all. We have to look to the devolved nations of Scotland and Wales for direction and forward thinking. Both countries provided full and enthusiastic feedback to my suggestions. Prompt and thorough response from two devolved nations The Scottish and Welsh governments responded quickly and comprehensively, and pointed out a range of policies that they have established in order to provide their country's children with a positive view of nature and an involved interest with the environment throughout their schooling. The response from Scotland The Scottish Government Directorate for Education Reform told me:- "While climate change, biodiversity and nature are currently covered under sciences, technologies and social studies within Curriculum for Excellence, we also encourage sustainability education to be investigated across the curriculum." Eco-Schools in Scotland The Scottish government also continues to fund the 'Eco-Schools' initiative, giving schools the chance to earn a Green Flag award which shows the schools commitment to 'Learning for Sustainability'. This is an international scheme, recognised in 74 countries around the world. "But, we are not complacent", they told me, "we will continue to engage widely with children and young people and with education partners from early years through to higher education and lifelong learning, to ensure our young people gain the knowledge, skills and competencies required to help conserve nature in Scotland and internationally." The response from Wales The Welsh government is already very proactive too in educating the country's children about nature. The STEM policy branch of the Education Directorate explained to me in great detail about the plan already in place for significant change, under the new Curriculum for Wales which commenced last September. Within the framework of the curriculum, the government allows great flexibility for teachers to meet the specific needs of children depending on their individual circumstances. I feel this is a really excellent approach to education generally. 'Spiritual development and well-being' in Welsh schools I particularly liked what they told me with regard to nature education; using carefully chosen and thoughtful words they said:- "Experiencing the wonder of the natural world can contribute to learners’ spiritual development and well-being, and can help to cultivate in them a sense of place and sense of belonging, as embodied in the Welsh word 'cynefin'*" Among the elements that focus on nature education, the Welsh government says:- "The world around us is full of living things which depend on each other for survival. By recognising the diversity of living things and how they interact with their environment, learners can develop an understanding of how these have evolved over significant periods of time." I think it is a particularly encouraging strategy from the Welsh government, it gives specific direction to educators who are then free to tailor the programme with great flexibility, allowing teachers with empathy and understanding to share their knowledge and enthusiasm with their pupils. Empowering children in Wales to take action But the Welsh government goes even further than this. They told me that:- "through two programmes, 'eco schools' and 'size of Wales', the Welsh Government are able to go further than the classroom and actively engage with children and young people with policy development and taking action, listening to their views and creating opportunities for them to have their voices heard. These programmes empower children to learn about climate change and the importance of forests and nature and to drive change, improve their environmental awareness and take action." Seems like Wales already has a brilliant system in place, one that other countries would do well to emulate. I do still maintain that the simple inclusion of a nature table in the primary school classroom would bring huge and long term benefits for both the pupils and the natural world. Though Scotland has not committed to this directly, the Welsh government has implemented a framework within which this and much more can take place. England and Northern Ireland - No Response I did not receive so much as an acknowledgement from the education ministers of either England or Northern Ireland. We know that the governments in Westminster and Stormont are in disarray - and it shows. Nevertheless, their silence speaks volumes, it shows a shocking ignorance and suggests a lack of interest in expanding the horizons of young people. The shambolic chaos and apathy at government level surely ripples through the schools system in both countries, to the detriment of children's' education. Scotland and Wales lead the way forward So, for those who live in Scotland and Wales, I think it is a time of hope for nature education. While neither country can boast a particularly impressive track record across the board for environmental protection, learning lessons and recognising the need to teach children about the natural world is key in the longer term, and both Scotland and Wales have each implemented a national curriculum that reflects this need. They understand the impact and influence a good education can have on the natural world and are actively encouraging teachers and children to share knowledge and enthusiasm for nature. England and Northern Ireland? Well who knows, it's anybody's guess. I'd love to hear from them but for now it seems they have nothing to say - and quite possibly nothing to offer. Which is a scandal. No wonder the UK as a whole has a deplorable environmental record, one that is worsening rapidly. * Cynefin is a complex Welsh word that describes the relationship between one's natural environment and relationship to that environment. |
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July 2023
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