Learning in local greenspace

Have you discovered the learning potential in your local greenspace?

The project

Learning in local greenspace is a priority project in the Scottish Biodiversity Strategy Route Map. The aim is to get pupils learning in the outdoors regularly and often by 2020. It will involve over 100 schools serving some of the most disadvantaged areas in Scotland across 10 local authorities.

Aims and objectives

The project aims to overcome the barriers preventing frequent outdoor learning. For example, it will improve access to and the quality of local greenspaces. Building teachers' confidence to take learning outdoors will be another important objective.

Legacy

The project will encourage lasting change that will improve:

approaches to teaching and learning
pupils' achievement
pupils' health and well-being

The project will also bring benefits for the wider community and local natural heritage.

Taking a collaborative approach

Scottish Natural Heritage will be managing the project. However, the keys to its success will be partnership working and its focus on tailoring the approach to individual schools.

We will be working with environmental organisations and local authorities to deliver the project. In addition to education, other key local authority departments include greenspace, parks management and ranger teams.

Resources

We have developed a resource to help you identify, access and use nearby greenspace for learning.

Beyond your Boundary: Easy steps to learning in local greenspace is for educators in all schools working in all subjects and with pupils at all stages.

It will help you to use and improve your local greenspaces and embed outdoor learning in your school curriculum. It also contains links to research highlighting the benefits of learning in local greenspace.

The online resource includes a questionnaire and template to help you develop your action plan. There is also a greenspace audit to help you assess a site's potential for outdoor learning.

There are a number of websites and apps listed below you can use to help support and enhance outdoor learning:

BirdTrack
Friends of the Earth Bee Count
Garden Answers Plant ID
Giving Nature a Home
iRecord
iRecord Butterflies
iSpot
Mammal Tracker
Nature’s Calendar
PlantTracker
Tree ID
Treezilla

Award schemes are also a good way to help enthuse staff and pupils alike about outdoor learning.

We have also created some print outs to help you with your Learning in Local Greenspace wall displays, including various logos, icons, words, and lettering that you may find useful.