Innovative Environmental Education Brighton & Lewes Downs Biosphere Brighton & Lewes Downs Biosphere Biosphere Management Strategy Topics (2014-19) 1. Nature Conservation 2. Sustainable Socio- 3. Knowledge, Learning & 4. An Interconnected Economic Development Awareness Natural Environment - Key Habitats Carbon / Energy Research (Physical, Living, Landscape Connections Socio-economic Environments) Rural: Chalk Grassland, Waste / Sustainable Materials Monitoring (Environmental) "Ecosystem Services" Farmland, Woodland, Freshwater Urban: green spaces (e.g. Sustainable Transport Environmental Education in "Green Infrastructure" parks) & features (e.g. street Schools trees) Coastal/Marine: vegetated Local and Sustainable Food Universities & Colleges Climate Change shingle beaches, chalk cliffs & (adaptation & mitigation) reefs Sustainable Water (demand) Environmental Education Centres - Key Species Groups: Birds, Culture and Community Water Resources Butterflies/Bees, Plants (e.g. Heritage) (Ground & Surface Waters) Local Economy Public Awareness & Flood Risk Management (e.g. Ecotourism) Engagement (freshwater & coast) - Geology: chalk downs and Health and Wellbeing Professional Training Bathing Water Quality cliffs (e.g. Recreation) (vocational) Biosphere Action Priorities Our Priorities to add value are: (from Biosphere Management Strategy) 1. Green Infrastructure town-downs (networks, gateways, ecosystem services) 2. Water (groundwater chalk aquifer) – quality/quantity/awareness (+ coast/marine) 3. Tourism & Recreation (visitors & residents) economic & social development 4. Environmental awareness – of local people/kids 5. Research & Monitoring – applied by universities Environmental Education in Schools • 100 local schools • 3 LEAs • Work through Brighton & Hove environmental education project (council-commissioned) • Thematic focus on local water (cycle) • Videos production (2) • Minecraft Biosphere game module • Part of ‘CHAMP’ groundwater quality project ‘Our Water Matters’ programme (KS2) • 10 primary school classes in Spring term 2016 • Funding from Uni & Public Health • Virtual and/or Outdoors learning activities • Participant feedback – teachers & kids • University research study on learning outcomes, 5 schools (225 children): Children's baseline knowledge 7% of terms Introductory presentation av. 17% Minecraft module av. 37% (+ Outdoors??) ‘Our Water Matters’ programme (KS2) ‘SuDS ’ in parks - Rain Garden Pilots Pollinator Projects – ‘Bee Beds’ Our Biosphere Follow Your Better Nature [email protected] www.biospherehere.org.uk .