We are excited to share the news that The Royal Society has awarded Mount Kelly another grant to support our strategy to truly embed an understanding of biodiversity and scientific fieldwork into the curriculum.
Our project: Can we protect the school’s temperate rainforest from the changes in climate predicted by 2050?
We believe that a very rare habitat may exist within our school grounds. Temperate rainforest covers just 1% of the Earth’s surface and plays a vital role in buffering against extreme climatic change. Our mission is to rigorously collect and analyse ecological data in the hope of demonstrating that this rich and biodiverse ecosystem is present on our site.
To achieve this, we will gather evidence of key indicator tree, lichen, moss and liverwort species associated with temperate rainforests. Pupils will receive specialist training in identification from Gemma Boyson, an environmental consultant, who will also assist with the baseline mapping of the site. Support in designing robust and scientifically valid methodology will be provided by Dr Nicola Quick, marine mammal researcher and lecturer at Plymouth University. Dr Quick will also lead our young scientists in the use of Geographic Information Systems (GIS) to map and visually communicate their findings to the wider community. For the most up-to-date climate modelling and projections, pupils will be advised by Dr Laila Gohar, a senior climate scientist.
In the long term, we hope to use the knowledge gained through this project to identify tree species most likely to thrive under future climatic conditions. We can then carefully introduce and establish more of these resilient species within our woodland, helping to maximise its ecological health, biodiversity and long-term survival. We believe that asking our pupils to think critically about the challenges of climate change, and act proactively to protect their environment, is one of the most important lessons they will ever learn here at Mount Kelly.
More information on how to get involved in the study will follow soon.
Article Written by Mrs Russo