Winter cave trips endanger wintering bats Bats spend almost half a year hibernating, thus avoiding the harshness of the winter. For the winter, bats hide in underground spaces – in Estonia, they favour basements, mines, caves, old military tunnels and shelters. The main criterion for the choice of wintering grounds is the temperature, which must not fall below zero; high humidity is also a plus...

You can follow in the footsteps of Livingstone or Darwin even in the nearest wooded area, on the bank of a ditch, on the roadside, or perhaps even in your own backyard It is not necessary to buy a sailboat or organise a month-long journey through the jungle for a scientific expedition. You can follow in the footsteps of Livingstone or Darwin even in the nearest wooded area, on the bank of a ditch...

Citizen science is the contribution of volunteer citizens to science by carrying out observations, helping to compile databases, or engaging in other assisting activities. Although the lion’s share of citizen science today takes place in the field of natural sciences, the help of amateur scientists is also used in one way or another in medical research, linguistics, anthropology, etc. The Estonian...

Grow plants whose nectar or fruit is also suitable for mammals, birds, and insects There is nature all around us. In both the wild bushland and near people – in city parks, waste lands, home gardens. In human-inhabited areas, which until recently were important habitats and sites for many species, there is now mostly low grass where many plant species cannot grow and where insects cannot find...

Spending time outdoors, climbing trees, playing with rocks, watching insects – all this makes a child notice the nature around them Getting to know nature begins with noticing and giving thought to the surroundings. Therefore, no one is ever too young or too old to discover for themselves the endless wonders of nature and the uniqueness of every moment. How do I make my children interested in...

When moving in nature, always remember that you are in someone’s home Many people consider hiking in the nature and discovering new places their favourite hobby. But it should be kept in mind that nature is our common treasure and we should take care of it while hiking – in this way, future generations can enjoy the beauty of nature as well. When moving in nature, always remember that you are in...

When moving around in nature, treat the surroundings with respect, understand and value biodiversity The freedom to roam formulates the rights and responsibilities of people when moving in nature. In the Nordic countries, this freedom is based on historically established practices and is often not enshrined in legislation, but rather is based on respect and trust. In Estonia, the rights and...

Urban nature There is a natural need for people to be in an environment surrounded by greenery and biodiversity – it lifts the mood and provides opportunities for movement; in addition, trees improve the air quality and stabilise the air temperature [1]. A city is a completely unique environment that offers different eco-niches compared to the rest of nature. In the city, we primarily see species...

Biodiversity ensures the well-being of people One of the most important ideas of the Age of Enlightenment was that man stands outside nature, studies and rules it. Unfortunately, this idea is still present in Western civilization today and may also be the main cause of the modern ecological crisis. In ecological terms, man does not stand outside nature, but is critically dependent on it. The...

Since 2002, the Estonian national curricula have included the cross-cutting theme ‘The environment and sustainable development’ Aristokli Hrebtov, the inspector of the schools of Saaremaa and the founder of the Saaremaa Society of Friends of Nature (founded in 1913), prepared a detailed circular letter for schools, titled ‘For the preservation of nature works’, in which he called on people to...