There is a fascinating world of nature all around us which we can see if we know how to look for it. Wherever you live, be it in a city or the countryside, you will find areas that support a range of wildlife. This free course, Neighbourhood nature, will provide you with basic scientific and observational skills so that you can go into your local neighbourhood to discover the animals and plants in open spaces. You will learn how to observe, identify and record the wildlife around you, building up a picture of a small part of your local environment.

After studying this course, you should be able to:

• understand how woodland is structured
• understand what is meant by the term ‘ancient woodland’ and how such woodland may be recognised
• understand how certain woodland management methods can benefit biodiversity
• understand the conservation importance of ancient trees.