Environmental Education & Tree Hollows for Wildlife with Abbie Mitchell (#18)

<p>As an environmental educator <strong>Abbie Mitchell</strong> has led programs for NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service and EcoXplore. Founding Kids Connecting Nature in 2015 she delivers curriculum-aligned hands-on environmental programs for schools, the Royal Botanic Garden Sydney, council and community groups, including the ‘Super Pollinators’ about native Australian bees, and ‘Hollow Heroes’, fostering hollow using animals.</p> <p><a href="https://kidsconnectingnature.com.au/">Kids Connecting Nature</a> is balanced with her other role, as the General Manager of Roots and Shoots (The Jane Goodall Institute Australia), a program designed to inspire youth to identify local proactive solutions to the issues impacting biodiversity and humanity worldwide.</p> <p>Abbie’s book ‘A Hollow is a Home’ (CSIRO) explains complex conservation issues and scientific concepts by introducing young readers to the fascinating lives of over 340 Australian animals - united in their need for a tree hollow. The primary aim of the book is to provide that ‘penny drop moment’ about animal behaviour, their needs, interconnectedness, and the vital need to foster a sustainable environment. It was shortlisted for the Environmental Book of the Year 2020 (Wilderness Society), and the Children’s Book of the Year, Eve Pownall Award 2020 (Children’s Book Council Australia). Abbie’s passion as an educator is deeply influenced by her bushland upbringing and she strives to empower people to understand, celebrate and foster biodiversity.</p> <p>In our conversation, we talk about environmental education and tree hollows for wildlife.</p> <p>Show Notes (<a href="https://steampoweredshow.com/shows/abbie-mitchell/">link</a>)</p> <p>[01:12] Coming from film and television to science.<br> [03:51] Attunement with the bush driving the passion for environmental education.<br> [06:13] The focus on tree hollows for 'A Hollow is a Home'.<br> [06:44] The diverse range of animals that depend on tree hollows.<br> [08:32] Developing the themes for the book arou