Biodiversity

School grounds provide an excellent place for children to learn about nature and biodiversity – a key element of Education for Sustainable Development.  

All school grounds support a range of wild plants and animals and a variety of habitats, just minutes from the classroom.  Children can help to survey and look after wildlife in the school grounds throughout the year.

The Ecology Group in the Environment Department provide expert advice on all aspects of nature and biodiversity in Hampshire, from minimising effects of development on wildlife to securing management of areas of land for nature.

We help schools by providing:

• An annual Hampshire School Nature Watch event in June.

• A comprehensive data and information service on Hampshire's plants, animals and natural environment.

• Management advice for existing large nature areas in school grounds.

• Advice on protected species such as bats.

In 2005 the County Council produced Conserving Nature for the Community – a comprehensive action plan for biodiversity for all departments.  The plan encourages wider awareness of the benefits of nature for health, inspiration and many aspects of environmental education.

Visit  www.hants.gov.uk/biodiversity for further information on the County Council’s biodiversity programme and a downloadable copy of the Corporate Biodiversity Action Plan.

Data and information on Hampshire's natural environment is available at www.hants.gov.uk/biodiversity/hbic.  This includes links to related organisations for birds, butterflies, bats and other wild plants and animals.

For ideas of how to help biodiversity at school and lots of links to organisations in environmental education, visit: www.hampshirebiodiversity.org.uk/schools.html
Please contact  ecology.group@hants.gov.uk for further information.