Biodiversity relates to the variety of living things on our planet. There has been a huge loss of biodiversity with reports of the extinction of many species. The interaction between all living things is essential for all we need: clean air, water, agriculture, food etc. This week we are emphasising the importance of connecting with and protecting our natural world. The children were asked to find their favourite nature spot and describe why it is important to nature and why it is important to them: Here are some examples:
Aaron made a lovely video of our local woods here in Newtownmountkennedy after a huge thunderstorm. Look how lush the trees look after that heavy rain!
There are lots of species of wild flower, plants and bushes and trees around our school grounds. Here are some that can be identified at this time of the year, especially along our hedgerows. The hedgerow provides a safe place for birds to build their nests and small animals to build their homes. It is habitat to a variety of wild flowers and bushes. The hawthorn is abundant in it and its thorny branches provides great protection. The hedgerow is also a great food source fort butterflies and their larvae, and of course bees will find a great supply of nectar and pollen as well as a place to nest. It is important for us to protect to prevent loss of biodiversity.