The Manx Wildlife Trust, the Island’s leading nature conservation charity, is delighted to have received renewed support for its key Biodiversity Education Officer post from the Department of Education and Children (DEC) and the Department of the Environment, Food and Agriculture (DEFA). Since April this year, funding for the post, currently held by Dawn Dickens, has been split three ways between the two government departments and the Manx Wildlife Trust and it has recently been confirmed that this funding arrangement will continue for at least a further year from April 2015.
In her role as Biodiversity Education Officer, Dawn is helping to implement the education sections of the Island’s first Biodiversity Strategy, specifically to ensure that all school children understand what biodiversity means, have an appreciation of the values of biodiversity and the benefits it provides us now and in the future, using Manx examples. With this in mind, Dawn works with local schools and other groups for young people (and the young at heart!) to plan, develop and deliver a programme of environmental education services.
Dawn is responsible for running Watch – the junior arm of the Manx Wildlife Trust – and also hosts a variety of wildlife-related events, open to the public, at weekends and during the school holidays. This summer, the public rock-pooling sessions proved to be particularly popular with approximately 200 people in attendance at each location.
Tim Crookall MHK, Minister for the DEC, said, “The Department is very pleased to be able to continue its support for the Manx Wildlife Trust’s Biodiversity Education Officer post. Since taking on the role in April, Dawn has given more than 2000 local children the opportunity to get out and about and learn about our wildlife through a wide range of fun events and activities which support national curriculum topics and reinforce the learning process.”
Mr Crookall and Chris Thomas MHK, DEFA’s Member for the Environment, Safety and Health Directorate and recently appointed Chair of the Manx Nature Conservation Forum, took the opportunity to join Dawn for a rock-pooling session on Douglas beach with pupils from Onchan Primary School and were able to see for themselves the level of learning and enjoyment this afforded. Mr Thomas said, “We could see how Dawn’s knowledge and passion was inspiring the children to learn something of what was in the rock pools, and more generally about what is around them. What a resource for our schools and our community. The Department is pleased to continue its support for this post.”
The Manx Wildlife Trust would like to thank the DEC and DEFA for their ongoing support.
Photo - (L to R) Tim Crookall MHK, Chris Thomas MHK and Dawn Dickens rock pooling on Douglas beach with children from Onchan Primary School.
