Envision Grads team up with EarthWatch Institute

Envision recently partnered with international environmental charity, EarthWatch to send a team of Envision grads on a week long expedition to investigate the impact of modern agriculture on bumblebees.

Envision grad, Emma gave her accounts of an exciting and educational week.

"Early on Monday 20th July a group of Envision grads headed to Stratford upon Avon to work with Earthwatch on a project to investigate the impact of modern agriculture on bumblebees. On first hearing the project title it may not sound particularly interesting but the week was really educational and rewarding and far more wide reaching, incorporating something for everyone.

Once we had learnt how to identify the different types of bees we split up into groups and did our own mini projects about bee conservation. This enabled us to collect valuable data to feed into the Common Agricultural Policy. As well as this core programme, throughout the week we learnt loads about other types of nature. Our guide and Earth Watch scientist, Carl, knew absolutely everything about well everything. He was pretty amazing.

One evening we went on a bat walk and armed with our strange bat detectors which made us look more like ghost busters than Envision grads we were able to see the bats flying over the lake at dusk which was really good fun and I'd never seen a bat before so that was pretty cool.

As if that wasn't enough environmental education for one week we also learnt about the interrelation between climate change and agriculture which was really interesting. I learned so much about the world around me and developed an appreciation for how our food is made which I think is important as we are so far removed from the process in today’s society. I had a fantastic time with my group and the Earth Watch staff and would recommend the experience to any Envision grad and young person."

Envision/EarthWatch.