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Love is all around in February with Valentine’s Day encouraging us all to seek out things that are good for us. So how about using nature to inspire your learners to find their passions?
 Can your learners show their appreciation for the natural world, perhaps by writing a love poem, story or song about their favourite plant, landscape or nature spot? Or can they investigate the romantic courtship behaviour of different species of wildlife like adders, swans, and pine martins, and why this behaviour is important to ensure the survival of the species? Or maybe just simply share time together on a dreamy walk, admiring nature on the doorstep.
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Looking to develop your knowledge and skills in 2024? Join us for some professional learning this spring term!
With tightening budgets all around, we are pleased to be able to offer free webinars and in-person training courses where you can access a STEM Learning bursary. All of our training sessions will help you build confidence, access suitable activities and resources, and develop your practice.
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Imbolc is an ancient Celtic holiday that has celebrated the seasons since the pre-Christian era, running from 1st February, through sundown on the 2nd February.
Imbolc is traditionally observed by pagans, wiccans and druids, and marks the halfway point between the winter solstice and the spring equinox, heralding the change of the season. Rituals included using bundles of oats or rushes to make effigies of the pagan fertility goddess, Brigid. They also paid tribute to her by burning lamps and lighting bonfires. Over time, Christianity subsumed Imbolc into the Candlemas holiday, which uses the lighting of candles to mark the return of light after winter’s darkness.
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Did you take part in Wales Outdoor Learning Week in 2023? If so we'd love to hear what you got up to!
We're busy preparing for the 2024 campaign and are looking for a range of settings to share their experiences to help us raise awareness and support other settings to get involved. If you are happy to be featured please drop us an email and we'll be in touch.
Feeling a bit like a 'traitor' and not got a clue what we are on about?
Forgotten to put the dates in your diary?
No problem - we won't banish you. Everything you need to know to get #WalesOutdoorLearningWeek ready is shared here.
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Showing our aquatic species some TLC, a new guide will help landowners boost biodiversity by digging new ponds and resurrecting some of those we have lost.
Based on the latest scientific evidence and written by experts from the Freshwater Habitats Trust the guide demonstrates how to create and restore these small waterbodies to make a big difference to wildlife.
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One of our most loved mammals, hedgehogs were put on the IUCN red list as vulnerable to extinction in Great Britain, in 2020. Sadly, our spikey little friends often find themselves injured or in danger, needing some tender, loving care.
Fortunately, there are hedgehog heroes out there, working to rescue, care and rehabilitate hedgehogs when they need help. Hedgehog heroes like Tracy Pierce, who set up Hedgehog Help Prestatyn, and has even written a book to help spread the word, ‘Prickly Pals in Peril!’.
Could you and your learners give a helping hand to a hedgehog, or a hedgehog helpline?
Are you an early years practitioner? Join our Natural Childhood webinar!
A virtual course which will give you the tools to make the most of using the outdoors as a context for child development, play and learning.
Audience - Suitable for practitioners working with pre-school and foundation phase aged learners.
07.02.24 @ 6.00 pm - Presented in Welsh
08.02.24 @ 6.00 pm - Presented in English
Learn about the journeys of the Rivers Teifi, Tywi, Cleddau and Usk - tune into our 'Life on the River' webinar.
All the activities shared could be used to learn more about any river in Wales or beyond. Cross-curricular in content, this session will highlight how learners can improve their knowledge about the social and economic benefits rivers offer as well as their environmental plight.
Tue 20th February 2024, 4.15 pm presented in English.
Wed 21st February, 4.15 pm presented in Welsh.
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In 2023, Carmarthenshire County Council launched a project to monitor and improve the air quality around four of its schools.
Initially focussing on areas within, or close to, the three Air Quality Management areas of Llanelli, Llandeilo and Carmarthen, the project is expanding to also assess air quality surrounding Ysgol Llandeilo, Ysgol Teilo Sant in Llandeilo, Ysgol Ffwrnes in Llanelli, and Ysgol Parc Waun Dew (Richmond Park) in Carmarthen.
The project involves collecting information from air quality monitors that provide real time data on any pollutants present, such as nitrogen dioxide and particulate matter. Findings are used to raise awareness of the importance of good air quality around schools, working with the students, parents, and the wider community.
NRW are working with the schools to develop learning resources and activities, sharing the successes of the project, which the Council hope will be extended to other schools in the county later on this year. So, if you are a Carmarthenshire school watch this space for more info!
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Wales has 20 Special Protection Areas for vulnerable birds, and 92 Special Areas of Conservation for other rare species and threatened natural habitats.
Together they are known as Natura 2000, and along with areas across Europe, they form an unparalleled network of international importance for nature conservation.
Our ancient woodlands are incredibly important habitats that support wildlife, people and our economy. Find out more about how we protect and manage them in our Ancient woodland natura 2000 film.
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Longing to spy the bushy tale of our native red squirrel, or maybe a deer or two?
Check out Natural Resources Wales woodland wildlife webpage for hints and tricks, best times and places to pursue a glimpse of your quarry, and where you chill out while investigating some of our iconic wildlife species.
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Most of us admire the stunning plant life that we see around us, so check this one out. Growing up to 2 metres tall, with narrow and rolled leaves that help the plant to retain water, marram grass is a familiar sight along our coastline.
Marram grass is a native species to Wales and the engineer of our spectacular sand dune systems, thanks to its sand binding and sand trapping abilities which help to build and stabilise dunes.
Enable your learners to understand how marram grass root systems help to support sand dune development and how the species has adapted to the arid conditions of dune systems with our new teaching resources:
Information note - Marram grass
Activity plan - Marvellous marram
Activity plan - How do sand dunes form?
Resource cards (set A) - Sand dune super species
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Welsh Government wants to make sure people are treated fairly when it comes to health and that they have good chances to be healthy and happy.
To help make this happen, they are bringing a new law to Wales called the Health Impact Assessment (Wales) Regulations, which will ensure that our public bodies assess health impacts when making big decisions.
You can find out more and have your say by responding to the consultation by the 29th March 2024.
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Earthworms are an essential link in our food chain, helping to create and maintain healthy soils needed to produce all of the delicious foods we enjoy.
Did you know that globally, there are approximately 2,700 different kinds of earthworm? With spring around the corner, it’s time to start thinking about this year’s gardening projects, so get digging up the dirt on these helpful creatures to make sure your soil is in tip top growing condition.
Find out more about Worms with our information note, or maybe recycle a plastic bottle to Build a wormery. You can even get your group working together on an OPAL soil and earthworm survey to find out how healthy your setting’s soil is.
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Using outdoor learning as a pedagogy to support primary/secondary transition, cluster primary school Year 6 pupils and staff were welcomed to Natur, Dinefwr’s outdoor learning area, for a week in January 2024.
Mrs Wendy Thomas-Davies (Assistant Headteacher and Outdoor Learning Co-ordinator) and Mr Andrew James (Outdoor Learning Technician) organised an activity packed, fun-filled day.
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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 X 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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