Inspiring the next generation is a critical issue for the future of biodiversity and the environment especially when, in the current generation, children have far less access to the natural world than previously.

Big Nature Day

Big Nature Day was initially developed in response to the UN International Day of Biodiversity (May 22). Bob championed as SRO Big Nature day at the Natural History Museum over 2010-13, to create a weekend for families to explore nature with a host of engagement activities from simple work counts and min-beast safari’s and pond dipping, to engaging in citizen recording through Bioblitzes, to meeting the amateurs and experts. By 2013 the event had grown to host more than 5000 visitors and being supported by 50 amateur societies and schemes joining the nature festival atmosphere and encourage a new generation of amateur naturalists

Scout’s Nature Badge

In partnership with the Wildlife Trusts and the National Trust Bob championed for the NHM a partnership to work with the Scouts England to redevelop a Scout nature Badge which would be achieved by young cub-scouts who explored and learned to recognise their local species.

The Big Draw

Working with Sue Greyson-Ford CBE from the Campaign for Drawing and Dr Jane Mainwaring, Bob championed the Big Draw as a large-scale engagement event for the South Kensington Culture Group – the institutions and organisation along Exhibition Road.  The event, which required the weekend road-closure to use the Exhibition Road as a drwing space for thousands of yonng people was also a significant demonstrator for the potential value of plans to pedestrianise the road which came into being in 2012.