Tending the green shoots of curiosity is an

Let’s create nation of wildlife lovers, says Stephen Woollard

REMEMBER the first time you climbed a tree or jumped in a puddle, or picked up autumn leaves and threw them in the air? Remember the first time you saw a red squirrel or a salmon leap, or witnessed birds flying silhouetted in the sky at sunrise or sunset?

These amazing experiences are free and readily available to all as part of the everyday natural world; and children today enjoy them just as much as I did when I was growing up.

Popular Christmas gifts this year included the latest gadgets, toys and games linked to TV and film franchises and of course the next generation of mobile phone and computer devices.

However, the amount of time we now spend focused upon “screens” and social networks, for example, is becoming a concern and where is that time coming from? It is the time that used to be for playing and going outdoors.

The Royal Zoological Society of Scotland (RZSS) is in the unique position of being able to offer a diversity of learning opportunities that engage with all age and ability groups, across all Scotland.

Using our two visitor attractions, Edinburgh Zoo and the Highland Wildlife Park, we are able to provide an inspiring and exciting insight into the world and its wildlife, both locally and globally.

A multi-sensory experience (often it will be the smell or sound of an animal that will be just as memorable as the sight of it), it is the foundation for building an awareness and understanding of the world and how to care for it.

From this it is important to focus learning and to provide opportunity for teachers and students to develop real knowledge and understanding that will hopefully inform their decision and way of living in the future.

In Scotland we have the Curriculum for Excellence, an educational philosophy which aims to developing young people into successful learners, confident individuals, responsible citizens and effective contributors.

The education programmes