Award-winning nature writer and conservation campaigner Mary Colwell MBE has visited Naturezones on the Isle of Wight to launch a new initiative aimed at bringing science teachers together and strengthening natural history education.
Mary, a former BBC Natural History Unit producer and director of Curlew Action, successfully campaigned for the introduction of a Natural History GCSE onto the national curriculum.
She visited Naturezones to officially launch the Isle of Wight’s Nature and Ecology Science Hub (NESH), which aims to bring together secondary school science teachers and primary school science leads.
The initiative will provide opportunities for teachers to network, share knowledge and benefit from the expertise and support offered by the Naturezones team.
Speaking following her visit, Mary Colwell MBE said:
“I loved my time at Naturezones, what inspiring people. Naturezones is a microcosm of love and dedication to the natural world.
“It shows that this planet is not just a problem to be solved but a source of fascination and inspiration. It was an honour to spend time with everyone to explore how teaching about nature instils hope for the future.”
Naturezones Wildlife Education Trust has been delivering dedicated natural history education on the Isle of Wight for 20 years.
The charity is led by Director Angela Hewitt, who was awarded the British Empire Medal in the King’s first Birthday Honours list in 2023 for services to education and conservation.
Through its 10-acre Living Natural History Museum, Naturezones works alongside teachers to bring classroom learning to life, with activities designed around the school curriculum.
Angela Hewitt BEM, Director of Naturezones, said:
“Everything we do is curriculum based and we work with teachers helping them to deliver their lessons. Bringing classroom lessons to life at our 10 acre Living Natural History Museum.
“We have an exceptional team of dedicated Natural History teachers fully committed to the education of natural history, we are like no other.
“We couldn’t have wished for a better person to launch this special initiative to support Island Primary and High school teachers.
“Mary is a truly inspirational person, she has dedicated her life to bringing the undeniably important natural history to our doors. We have to connect with nature not just walk through it.”
Naturezones is a charitable organisation that relies entirely on grants, donations and benefactors to continue its work.
The trust believes that education and a greater understanding of the natural world are essential to protecting the planet and the wildlife that depends on it.
