Articles
Pollinators
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Support From ACSA For Our National School Citizen Science B&B BioBlitz
The 2023 National School Citizen Science B&B BioBlitz is now happening. While we are looking ahead and excited about all the upcoming observations from schools around Australia, we also look back at the successful 2022 BioBlitz supported by an Australian Citizen Science Association (ACSA) Seed Grant to PlantingSeeds Projects. This grant enabled us to kickstart the National BioBlitz and generate interest and engagement in schools around Australia. The ACSA Seed Grant was also used to provide training to teachers and develop educational materials and resources. The B&B BioBlitz attracted educational institutions from every Australian State and Territory and saw over…
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Banishing Bad Bugs: The Power Of Natural, At-Home Pesticides
Are you looking for a way to rid your garden of pesky pests, but also want to avoid using toxic chemicals? Imagine a world where you can take a greener approach to pesticides, some of which you can create with unused materials you already have lying around your home. The secrets to harnessing the power of homemade pesticide alternatives are about to be at your fingertips! No longer is the only solution to warding off unwanted critters commercial pesticides with harmful ingredients. In today’s world, there are plenty of natural alternatives that preserve the health of both plants and the…
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Getting Out Of The Classroom - Why It's Important
Technology in the classroom is becoming more prominent each year. The instantaneous access to information is undoubtedly beneficial for students, although the sedentary lifestyle that screens promote is not. Attention Restoration Theory (ART) is one explanation for how exposure to nature helps children psychologically. It is thought that modern life requires extended periods of concentration, which leads to mental fatigue. This can make a person irritable and easily distracted. Exposure to nature, however, can help to repair this mental fatigue and restore a person’s wellbeing. (Laird 2017) PlantingSeeds provides an opportunity for children to have positive experiences and gain a…
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Q State Of Play
Queensland is now very much a State of play for PlantingSeeds’ B&B Highway with seven schools now part of the regenerative corridor north of the NSW border. Our Queensland educator is busy planning education sessions and habitats in schools in Samford, Pine Rivers and Brisbane. PlantingSeeds was also a central part of the recent 2023 Sustainability and Science Schools Showcase hosted by the Queensland’s Office of the Chief Scientist at Queensland Museum’s The Edge. CEO Dr Judy Friedlander was invited to present to over 150 Queensland primary and secondary school students and teachers from over 30 schools on citizen science…
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The Case For Biodiversity And Pollination
It is estimated that half of the world’s insect species are rapidly declining, and a third are threatened with extinction. The rapid loss of biodiversity worldwide calls for an integrated global response. Factors such as urbanisation, deforestation, monocultural practises and the ongoing impacts of global warming have consequently posed threats to ecosystems. The global cost of biodiversity is valued at $125-140 trillion (US dollars) per year, with one in three bites of food connected to pollination. Pollinators play an essential role in ecosystem survival and food production. However, pollinators also continue to be affected by critical habitat loss, especially in…
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Parramatta For Pollinators!
Locals helping to bring back endangered bees, birds and butterflies Parramatta locals are helping to bring back pollinator species from threatened to thriving. PlantingSeeds Projects’ B&B Highway program is working with 11 schools and their families to plant, create habitats and evaluate their school grounds for biodiversity. Schools engaging with the program are: Carlingford West Public School, Ermington Possum Patch Early Learning Centre, Ermington Public School, Newington Public School, North Rocks ELC, Northmead Redbank ELC, Our Lady of Mercy College- Parramatta, Parramatta North Public School, St. Bernadette's Primary School - Carlingford, St Patrick's Primary School, and Telopea Public School. Plants…