Women’s Institute members learn about climate change at Wytham Woods
Nine Women’s Institute members from across Oxfordshire paid a visit to Earthwatch’s Europe Regional Climate Centre where they participated in hands-on scientific field research on how temperate forests are responding to climate change.
During the course of the three days, participants learnt about the challenges and opportunities inherent in climate change, and took part in sessions which aimed to: stimulate action by helping participants understand the role they can play in their homes to help improve energy efficiency and combat climate change; and also raise awareness of climate change issues within the WI.
Acting as research assistants to scientists, the group was involved in leaf-litter sorting and measuring tree-growth, core activities to understand how fragmented forests are being impacted by changes in the climate.
Richard Sylvester, Field Director at the ERCC and the WI team
The Europe Regional Climate Centre is one of five research and learning centres around the world set up under the HSBC Climate Partnership. Earthwatch and HSBC have created a scientific research programme which is contributing to global understanding of how climate change is affecting the world’s degraded forest ecosystems. During the programme, 2,200 HSBC employees will have been selected to spend one or two weeks at a Regional Climate Centre to take part in this programme, which also includes learning sessions on what climate change means for the business and their communities.
Upon completion of the programme, Earthwatch will have conducted the largest employee engagement programme on climate change.
Earthwatch is looking forward to further engagement with local organisations and community groups like the WI.