Tag Archive: nature
Hedgehog Survey- Can You help?
‘2014 Hibernation Survey
We need your help to collect hedgehog records from 1st February until 31st August 2014.
Simply tell us every time you see a hedgehog, noting its location and whether it is alive or dead…..’
Click on the link above for more information
Old School Gardener
Biomimetic Products- Exhibition
‘What is biomimicry? Derived from the Greek word bios meaning ‘life’ and mimisis, meaning ‘imitate’, biomimicry refers to the copying, emulating and imitating of nature in all its forms and functions.
Dedicating an exhibition to highlight the many everyday products, objects and buildings that have used nature as a source of inspiration, Designs by Mother Nature presents an intelligent, interactive and thought-provoking display of objects, videos and photographs that demonstrates the power of biomimicry….’
Click on the title for more information
Old School Gardener
Ideas for Nature Play
Some great downloadable resources here on nature play – from active recipes to messy recipes!
Old School Gardener
- The Garden- man made artifice?
‘Let us, then, begin by defining what a garden is, and what it ought to be. It is a piece of ground fenced off from cattle, and appropriated to the use and pleasure of man: it is or ought to be, cultivated and enriched by art, with such products as are not natural to this country, and consequently, it must be artificial in its treatment, and may, without impropriety, be so in its appearance; yet, there is so much of littleness in art, when compared with nature, that they cannot be well blended; it were, therefore, to be wished, that the exterior of a garden should be made to assimilate with park scenery, of the landscape of nature; the interior may then be laid out with all the variety, contrast, and even whim, that can produce pleasing objects to the eye.’
Humphry Repton- ‘Observations on the Theory and Practice of Landscape Gardening’, 1803
Hmmm. what do you think? Repton’s advice about blending the edges of a garden with it’s surrounding landscape has become a tenet of garden design, but what about his words on making the garden itself a clearly ‘man made’ feature? Is the phrase ‘natural garden’ a contradiction in terms?
Old School Gardener
Picture via Camsaw
Kids Fund- children experiencing nature
‘We believe that the only way you can learn about and appreciate the environment is by getting outside, experiencing it…and having some fun. The FSC Kids Fund provides financial support for groups of disadvantaged young people who would like to visit one of our centres for an FSC experience.
FSC Kids Fund courses are funded by donations – from FSC members, FSC staff and support from Trust Funds.
Read about the experiences of groups who have really benefitted from Kids Fund below:
Find out about becoming a member of the FSC and contributing to Kids Fund
Find out more about how to apply for Kids Fund…’
Field Studies Council website
Bee Appy
‘There are 23 bumblebee species in Britain and Ireland. They play an increasingly appreciated role as pollinators and indicators of habitat diversity. Now for the first time there is an app for iPhone, iPad and iPod touch that provides a comprehensive resource to help identify bumblebees in the field and for learning all about them….’
Old School Garden 