Cartoons have been a beloved part of many peoples childhood, entertaining audiences with colourful characters and crazy adventures. One of the enduring aspects of cartoons is the portrayal of animals, which often take on exaggerated characteristics and behaviours. From the lightning-fast Road Runner to the whirlwind Tasmanian Devil, these cartoon animals have captured our imaginations. © Jessie Eastland© Karen Player While the cartoon Road Runner may be a fictionalized version of this bird, it’s clear that the real roadrunner is a remarkable creature in its own right, perfectly adapted to its ..read more

Outdoor Classroom Day is on 23 May and the 7 November. Outdoor education leads to a greater connection with nature and improves student engagement. Outdoor education and nature play teaches critical life skills including resilience, teamwork and creativity and is also central to enjoyment.  The Australian Curriculum section on Outdoor learning states it can be instrumental in: the teaching and learning of self-reliance, interdependence and leadership the development of an adventurous spirit managing personal risks experiencing safe journeys in nature learning the val ..read more

I moved up to the Central Coast from Sydney a few months ago and we had our housewarming party last weekend. I’ve been writing about sustainable parties and wanted to reduce plastic waste at this event too and keep to a budget. Credit: Queensland Environment There were a few challenges that I will share with you. Buying bulk food to reduce packaging wasn’t as easy as I hoped. The local wholesale butcher was great for sausages but I had to buy smaller packs of chicken skewers each in a plastic container. I ended up making additional chicken skewers to reduce waste. Separate bins for food waste ..read more

Today is World Water Day, the 22 March highlights the importance of freshwater. The day is used to promote the sustainable management of freshwater resources. This years theme of World Water Day 2024 is ‘Water for Peace’. Water is essential for all life and is the most abundant substance on Earth, yet water scarcity is one of the biggest issues facing us today. Australia is the world’s driest inhabited continent and 2019 was on of the the hottest and driest year on record. Because of many years of dry conditions, the drought worsened in 2019 ..read more

I’ve recently move to the Central Coast in NSW and have been amazed by the variety of wildlife. With the good has also come the bad and there are a lot of mosquitos in some areas of my backyard. I have put in mosquito repelling plants near the house and I’m building a Dragonfly garden. It does seem odd to get rid of mosquitos by putting in a pond, but I have thought this through. Dragonflies hunt insects like mosquitos in both their larval and adult forms. Dragonfly nymphs actively seek mosquito larvae as part of their diet. A single dragonfly nymph can consume hundreds of mosquito larvae dur ..read more

My sea and tree change to the Central Coast has allowed me to reconnect with nature and the bird life is amazing. Today has been a Bird Bonanza. First thing this morning I spotted a pair of King Parrots feeding in a tree by my front window. When I went into the front yard I was surprised to see a flock of Galahs and Cockatoos feeding on seeds under a tree and across the lawn. I then noticed movement in the trees above and spotted a dozen Rainbow Lorikeets. It was a fabulous way to start the day. King Parrot © JJ Harrison Sulphur Crested CockatooRainbow Lorikeet In the backyard I saw a Koo ..read more

Citizen science projects are a great way to engage school students in scientific research and environmental monitoring. In Australia, there are several projects that students can get involved in. © Hannah Krack Here are some examples: Students can participate in wildlife monitoring and observation projects. You can report sightings of native animals like birds, possums, or kangaroos through platforms like the Urban Wildlife App FrogID is a project by the Australian Museum that involves recording and identifying frog calls. Students can use the FrogID app to record frog calls in their local are ..read more

September is Biodiversity Month, a time to celebrate our natural wonders and diverse ecosystems. Biodiversity Month offers us the perfect opportunity to pause and appreciate the beauty, complexity, and importance of biodiversity. Biodiversity Month also encourages us to reflect on our relationship with the natural world and take action to protect it. Biodiversity is the variety of life on Earth and is typically a measure of variation at the genetic, species, and ecosystem level. Genetic diversity Genetic diversity is the variety of genes within a species. Each species is made up of individual ..read more

Trees play a vital role in supporting life on Earth and their significance encompasses ecological, environmental, social, and economic aspects. You can make a difference by planting tree on any day especially Schools Tree Day on Friday 28th July, National Tree Day is Sunday 30th July. Here are some key reasons why trees are essential: Oxygen production: Trees are primary producers of oxygen through the process of photosynthesis. They absorb carbon dioxide from the atmosphere and release oxygen, making the air we breathe cleaner and more breathable. Carbon sequestration: Trees act a ..read more

More than 400 million tonnes of plastic is produced every year worldwide and less than 10 per cent is recycled. Over half of the plastics produced every year is designed to be used only once. Discarded or burnt single-use plastic harms human health and biodiversity and pollutes every ecosystem from mountain tops to the ocean floor. An estimated 19-23 million tonnes of plastic waste end up in lakes, rivers and seas annually. Plastic pollution has emerged as one of the greatest environmental challenges facing our planet. The durability of plastic coupled with its improper di ..read more