Education
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Students at Peatlands
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Peatland education programmes
The study of the environment has always been included in the
Northern Ireland curriculum but it is now a significant and
compulsory component of many subjects. At primary school children
have an opportunity to study local habitats, including peatlands,
as part of the curriculum. The GCSE syllabus for Biology involves
the in-depth study of local habitats while the GCSE Geography
syllabus specifically requires the study of the peatland ecosystem
and how it is affected by human activities. Other secondary
level subjects, and also tertiary courses provide opportunities
for pupils to increase their knowledge of peatlands.
Schools, teachers and educators play a vital role by helping
pupils increase their knowledge and fostering positive attitudes
towards the environment. The primary aims of peatland education
programmes are to provide pupils with a basic knowledge of the
habitat and to raise awareness of how they as individuals interact,
and impact on peatlands. Having this information will enable
them, in later years, to make informed choices and decisions
that could affect peatlands.
In Northern Ireland the provision of peatland education programmes
at various sites has enabled pupils to discover and experience
first-hand the plants and animals of the peatland habitat. Environment
and Heritage Service (EHS) have been at the forefront of peatland
education and awareness with the creation of Peatlands Park
in Co Armagh.
Click on a link below for more information
on sites in Northern Ireland providing peatland education programmes:
