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Education settings across Wales have been rewarded for their ‘antics’ this autumn which will help plant over 115,000 trees.
A huge thank you to all the education settings that took part in our 2023 Acorn Antics campaign. 384.75kg of acorns were collected generating £1,690 for the education settings that rolled up their sleeves, embraced the fresh air and scoured the ground for acorns! A great result considering it’s been a poor acorn year.
Welsh oak trees face a fight for survival against pests and diseases that have the potential to devastate the oak population. Trees grown from local seed stock will have a higher growth rate and ability to survive and resist diseases than trees grown and imported from further afield. Imported trees tend to be more susceptible to pests and diseases. Most acorns received by Maelor tree nursery are gathered by professional collectors who collect from the same trees each year. This does not help to strengthen or increase the genetic gene pool of Welsh oaks. With acorns being collected from 32 different locations across Wales as part of this year’s campaign, these well distributed sources of tree seed will help increase and strengthen the genetic gene pool of Welsh oak trees.
Congratulations to Albany Primary School, Cardiff (pictured) who have been awarded the Digital Acorn Award, winning a £150 voucher for their efforts. This is an award presented to the education setting that shares the best enviro-vlog documenting their Acorn Antics adventure. Check out their winning entry here. Hats off to Ysgol Calon y Dderwen, Newtown, Powys who have been awarded the Golden Acorn Award. Quality not quantity, this award was given for collecting the best quality acorns.
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Ever wondered how a sand dune forms? Want to enthuse your learners about the fascinating adaptations of marram grass?
Sand dunes are one of the most at-risk habitats in Europe. There are often rare species living on the dunes therefore it is very important that they are managed in a way to ensure these species do not become extinct. Our sand dunes resource webpage includes activity plans covering everything from why sand dunes are important to activities explaining how to carry out sampling on sand dunes. Recently updated with new resources, the following are now available on the webpage:
- Activity plan – How do sand dunes form?
- Resource cards – On your marks, get set, dune
- Information note – Marvellous marram
- Activity plan - Marvellous marram
- Case study – Pembrey Burrows
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Like many other countries around the world, historically in Wales we have many Christmas and New Year traditions and celebrations, some of which continue to this day. Our country has a rich and fascinating range of folk customs, many of which are linked or based in nature. Why not introduce, and share some of them with your learners. From ‘wassailing’ to ‘holming’ what do they think of them? Why not take your learners outside and gather materials to make a calennig as pictured?
Photo – Peoples Collection Wales
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In November, 27 woodlands were welcomed into the National Forest for Wales network. Amongst them was the Erlas Walled Garden, Wrexham, Cwmcarn Forest in South Wales and one school - Oak Field Primary School in Barry (pictured).
A newly planted urban woodland has been transformed with the help of the Woodland Investment Grant. The woodland has proved an invaluable resource to the school community already, the pupils enjoy spending time, learning, and appreciating the woodland and the biodiversity it supports. Becoming a part of the National Forest demonstrates that your woodland is exemplary, well managed and resilient. Each woodland offers a wide range of different benefits for both local communities and the environment – from providing valuable green spaces for people to enjoy and learn in, to helping to contribute to improving biodiversity and important wildlife habitats. We can't create the National Forest alone though! The National Forest for Wales will belong to us all and will provide a place for people and nature to thrive together.
Applications for the status scheme are open to anyone who owns or has management control of woodland in Wales. Woodlands of any size, type or setting can be recognised for the contribution they make to improve the environment and connect with communities. The scheme is being delivered by Natural Resources Wales on behalf of the Welsh Government. Funding is available via different options. Advice and support with applications to the Woodland Investment Grant or Coetiroedd Bach is available.
If you know of any woodlands that deserve this recognition, we would love to hear from you. You can find out more about the National Forest for Wales on the Welsh Government website. If you would like to get in contact with the team, please email:
nationalforestwalesstatus@naturalresources.wales
NRW's Flood Risk Management Plan (FRMP) has been published. Flood risk management plans set out how we will manage flood risk in key areas across Wales over the next six years. The plans explain the priorities and actions that we propose to manage the risk of flooding at a national and local level. They also consider how we need to adapt and mitigate against climate change.
Set against the backdrop of the climate and nature emergencies, why not discuss with your learners how the nation can do more to mitigate and adapt to the inevitability of flooding?
Use our Introduction to flooding presentation to set the scene and explain what flooding is and why it happens.
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Our free to join, cross curricular CPD webinars are brimming with activity ideas to support you to get your class or group learning in, about and for the natural environment. Usually lasting just over an hour, all attendees receive a follow up document with web links to all the resources mentioned along with a recording of the webinar.
We have got the following webinars coming up in 2024:
Naturally happy and healthy 🍏
Enhance learners' health and well-being through a connection to nature.
18th January - 6.00 pm presented in English
24th January - 6.00 pm presented in Welsh
Natural childhood 👧👦
Early years in the outdoors.
7th February - 6.00 pm, presented in Welsh
8th February - 6.00 pm, presented in English
Life on the rivers Tywi, Cleddau, Teifi & Usk 🐟
A cross-curricular journey down river
20th February - 4.15 pm, presented in English.
21st February - 4.15 pm, presented in Welsh.
Life on the rivers Dee and Taff 🦆
A cross-curricular journey down river
13th March - 4.15 pm, presented in English.
14th March - 4.15 pm, presented in Welsh.
Wales Coast Path 🏖️
Your route to coastal learning
19th March - 4.15 pm, presented in English.
20th March - 4.15 pm, presented in Welsh.
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Look no further – all our education and learning resources are available bilingually and are written in ‘Cymraeg clir’ / ‘plain Welsh’ and are gobbledegook free!
In the past, Welsh language resources and webpages were written in ‘Proper Welsh’ or ‘Eisteddfod Welsh’ as some would refer to it – technically and grammatically correct but too formal and so complicated that you needed a degree in Welsh to understand them. Arguably this put people off engaging with us in their first language and Welsh-speakers would opt to use English resources.
Things have improved massively over recent years. To ensure our Welsh language content and resources are easy to understand and are user-centred, our in-house translation team are included in our planning process from the off. People can access high quality services in Welsh and English which are designed bilingually from the outset. Resources are drafted creatively rather than just being given a straightforward translation and ‘getting it done’. All our resources are proofread by our translations team to improve readability. To read our webpages or access our resources through the medium of Welsh simply toggle between languages by pressing the language toggle on the right hand side of our webpages.
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Designated Landscapes, consisting of National Parks and Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONBs), cover approximately 25% of Wales. They are areas legally recognised for their natural beauty, and for National Parks, the opportunities they provide for open-air recreation. The Welsh Government has commissioned Natural Resources Wales (NRW) to evaluate the case for a new National Park in North East Wales based on the existing Clwydian Range and Dee Valley Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB). This would be a fourth National Park for Wales, and the first new such park to be established in Wales since 1957! Does Wales need another National Park? What would be the advantages and disadvantages? What do your learners think? There will be opportunities for learners to engage throughout the project which runs to 2026.
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Schools are invited to submit an entry which celebrates the heritage of Wales to the annual Welsh Heritage Schools Initiative competition. The Curriculum for Wales provides rich opportunities for exploring the heritage of Wales and the concept of cynefin. Where the starting point for the project is a contemporary issue, enquiry, or theme, can your learners make links with the past?
The judges will specifically look for the following in the project submitted by each school:
- The heritage focus of the project and the knowledge and understanding gained by learners.
- The development of learners’ enquiry skills, thinking skills and wider skills.
- The impact of the project on learners and the wider community.
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The roller coaster ride that is Christmas is looming.
May you survive the Christmas play or carol service.
May your mince pies be full, rich, and crumbly.
May your turkey/nut roast be fully cooked yet moist.
May your other half not shrink your Christmas jumper in the tumble dryer.
May you get your Christmas cards in the post in time.
May you seek refuge in a Bucks Fizz or a sweet sherry.
May you survive the descent of the family.
May you prepare yourself to receive random gifts.
May you get out in the fresh air and enjoy some time in nature with your family.
May we wish you a Merry Christmas and we look forward to catching up with you in 2024. Happy New Year!
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Our Education, learning and play YouTube playlist offers a range of a short how-to videos to provide inspiration for some outdoor adventures:
Would you like regular outdoor learning updates and news? Why not follow the Outdoor Learning Wales Twitter account or join the closed Facebook Group which both offer a platform to keep up to date, spread the word of ongoing projects and facilitate discussions with anyone with an interest in outdoor learning and environmental education in Wales.
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