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Doccy B 🌿🌿🐝🌿🦔🌿

@merylbatchelder.bsky.social

3.2K followers 1.6K following 1.2K posts

Enthusiastic communicator for climate, nature & sustainability education Former science teacher Education Lead for TerraLigo Coordinator for the Ministry of Eco Education #ClimateAmbassador #STEM Alter ego of Melody Bird I grow stuff in my free time 🌱

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Doccy B 🌿🌿🐝🌿🦔🌿 @merylbatchelder.bsky.social · Nov 18

I recently left teaching as the curriculum is failing to prepare young people for the future on our rapidly changing planet. I now work for @ministryofeco.bsky.social to support teachers to embed sustainability across subjects & key stages.
I explain more here👇🏽
northeastbylines.co.uk/news/environ...

An ‘inadequate’ national curriculum has driven me to quit the classroom

Meryl Batchelder writes about why, after 14 years teaching, she will be one of thousands of teachers leaving the classroom this July

northeastbylines.co.uk

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Doccy B 🌿🌿🐝🌿🦔🌿 @merylbatchelder.bsky.social · 1d

Thinking of buying something made out of recycled yarn as it causes less harm to people or planet? 🤔
Read this article and think again. In lessons discuss #FastFashion, #SustainableFashion and link to #SDG12 #ResponsibleConsumption.
www.theguardian.com/global-devel...

Fast-fashion recycling: how ‘the castoff capital of the world’ is making Indian factory workers sick

Reports of lung disease, skin conditions and even cancer are rising in Panipat, which recycles 1 million tonnes of textile waste a year

www.theguardian.com

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Doccy B 🌿🌿🐝🌿🦔🌿 @merylbatchelder.bsky.social · 1d

Thanks Ran! Plumbing and the other trades are relatively safe from AI... it's definitely good careers advice!

Doccy B 🌿🌿🐝🌿🦔🌿 @merylbatchelder.bsky.social · 1d

Bravo to Newcastle City Council Climate Team and Youth Council on a fantastically successful #YouthClimateSummut for 250 school students yesterday. Debates, creative thinking, discussion & learning about action Newcastle is taking and how, by working together, we have the power to change systems.

Reposted by Doccy B 🌿🌿🐝🌿🦔🌿

Ministry of Eco Education @ministryofeco.bsky.social · 2d

Listen to Simon Lightman - Head of Philosophy & Religious Studies and member of @seeducating.bsky.social sharing his advice for transformation sustainability education

youtu.be/H0NzjcdREUU

Simon Lightman - Transformative Sustainability Education - Ask an Expert

YouTube video by Ministry of Eco Education | sustainable schools

youtu.be

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Reposted by Doccy B 🌿🌿🐝🌿🦔🌿

Ministry of Eco Education @ministryofeco.bsky.social · 8d

Have you heard of schools hosting Eco Refill Shops?

We went to Brighton with @pupilsprofit.bsky.social to explore more.

Watch the video here youtu.be/HioRGjPGGHM

Eco Refill - Teaching for Sustainability

YouTube video by Ministry of Eco Education | sustainable schools

youtu.be

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Doccy B 🌿🌿🐝🌿🦔🌿 @merylbatchelder.bsky.social · 2d

It was fab to record a chat with @geogramblings.com an absolute expert on how to embed #ClimateInEducation 💚

Ministry of Eco Education @ministryofeco.bsky.social · 13d

Catch our most recent ASK AN EXPERT with @geogramblings.com discussing CLIMATE AMBASSADORS @climateambassadors.bsky.social

youtu.be/yWY0d4vBmzI

Kit Marie Rackley - Climate Ambassadors - Ask An Expert

YouTube video by Ministry of Eco Education | sustainable schools

youtu.be

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Doccy B 🌿🌿🐝🌿🦔🌿 @merylbatchelder.bsky.social · 4d

A couple of days ago William stated he wanted to "change the monarchy for good", looks like he means their own good, not the good of his citizens 🙄

Doccy B 🌿🌿🐝🌿🦔🌿 @merylbatchelder.bsky.social · 6d

I'm in my happy place, planning an event to bring joy into the lives of teachers. There'll be more info on #GroundEd coming next week 😁

#GroundEd, an immersive regenerative education experience for teachers - picture of a cottage in a meadow

Doccy B 🌿🌿🐝🌿🦔🌿 @merylbatchelder.bsky.social · 10d

You would be welcomed with open arms 🤗
Event info coming soon!

Doccy B 🌿🌿🐝🌿🦔🌿 @merylbatchelder.bsky.social · 14d

That's one type of tent we don't actually have. Might put it on my secondhand wish list 🎪

Doccy B 🌿🌿🐝🌿🦔🌿 @merylbatchelder.bsky.social · 14d

Would you join us if it was? 😁

Doccy B 🌿🌿🐝🌿🦔🌿 @merylbatchelder.bsky.social · 14d

As a teacher I had hours of CPD as twilights & INSET, almost all in a classroom or the hall with PowerPoints. Since leaving school last year I've reflected on this and believe we need something different. I've created a Venn diagram... what could a regenerative training event for teachers look like?

Venn diagram of climate and Nature CPD, living on a smallholding and organising festivals with a 'what goes here' question in the centre

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Doccy B 🌿🌿🐝🌿🦔🌿 @merylbatchelder.bsky.social · 17d

Growth 💵 vs Growth 🌱
I know which I prefer.
Why does the government think that expanding the air travel industry is even remotely acceptable at this point in the climate crisis 🤷🏼‍♀️

Ross McNally @rossmcnally.bsky.social · 17d

This is a criminal abdication of responsibility to the future of humanity. We should be removing subsidies for aviation fuel and taxing frequent flyers to reduce demand, not inducing more.
www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2025...

Gatwick given green light for £2.2bn second runway plan

Heidi Alexander approves expansion to allow 100,000 more flights a year

www.theguardian.com

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Doccy B 🌿🌿🐝🌿🦔🌿 @merylbatchelder.bsky.social · 17d

The use of images to prompt discussion in the classroom provides a great starter activity or hook. If you want to introduce your students to satire, the use of the creative arts in the media or even just shake things up I'd highly recommend following @coldwarsteve.bsky.social for some inspiration 👇🏼

Cold War Steve @coldwarsteve.bsky.social · 20d

Doccy B 🌿🌿🐝🌿🦔🌿 @merylbatchelder.bsky.social · 20d

The @ministryofeco.bsky.social, @oasescharity.bsky.social and #TerraLigo are collaborating on a fantastic new CPD event for teachers planned for June 2026.
You just know it's going to be exciting by the big smiles on our faces 😁

Picture of Meryl from MEE and Jo from OASES

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Doccy B 🌿🌿🐝🌿🦔🌿 @merylbatchelder.bsky.social · 21d

Love and solidarity right back atcha from here in northern England 💚
#Resist

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Doccy B 🌿🌿🐝🌿🦔🌿 @merylbatchelder.bsky.social · 23d

Those are beautiful butternuts 😍
In North East England we don't manage to grow them as well as other types of squash.

Doccy B 🌿🌿🐝🌿🦔🌿 @merylbatchelder.bsky.social · 24d

With one pumpkin you can certainly feed a lot of people 😁
bsky.app/profile/mery...

Doccy B 🌿🌿🐝🌿🦔🌿 @merylbatchelder.bsky.social · 25d

I haven't fed 5000 people with five loaves of bread & two fish. However we have grown 33 squash this summer. One Crown Prince will produce 14 main meals. Tonight it was squash & chickpea tagine. Vegan, nutritious & delicious 😋
£0.50 per portion for chickpeas & spices, everything else was homegrown.

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Doccy B 🌿🌿🐝🌿🦔🌿 @merylbatchelder.bsky.social · 24d

That's my fave! Crusty fresh bread, a few olives & tomatoes and loads of houmous! Fab for lunch!

Doccy B 🌿🌿🐝🌿🦔🌿 @merylbatchelder.bsky.social · 24d

I based the recipe on this - crown prince squash aren't quite as sweet as butternut but with the apricots it was still delicious: www.hillvale.co.uk/blogs/recipe...

Chickpea, butternut squash & harissa tagine

One pot wonder, vegetable tagine. Once all the preparation work is done, pop in the oven and cook for 45 mins before serving.

www.hillvale.co.uk

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Doccy B 🌿🌿🐝🌿🦔🌿 @merylbatchelder.bsky.social · 25d

The squirrels will be happy!
We've had great crops of berries, squash, beans etc but the apple orchard is a bit less protected as it's away from the house.

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Doccy B 🌿🌿🐝🌿🦔🌿 @merylbatchelder.bsky.social · 25d

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Doccy B 🌿🌿🐝🌿🦔🌿 @merylbatchelder.bsky.social · 25d

The apple harvest is disappointing. Late frosts killed the blossom & Storm Floris caused fruit drop.
These are James Grieves which can't sustain supermarket handling so you can only taste how delicious they are from local suppliers or growing your own. We have another ~30 varieties to go!
#pomology

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Doccy B 🌿🌿🐝🌿🦔🌿 @merylbatchelder.bsky.social · 25d

When teaching about #ClimateChange teachers are instructed to be impartial. But science is science, a huge proportion of the blame can be pointed at #BigOil as the evidence is undeniable.
Schools should boycott educational initiatives such as Wonderverse by Equinor & Energising Futures from BP.

Climate Dad @climatedad.bsky.social · 25d

“ExxonMobil made 51 heatwaves at least 10,000 times more likely than in an unheated world”

ExxonMobil knew they were cooking our world 50 years ago, & then CHOSE to spend decades funding doubt & denial.

People made this choice.
People who will be responsible for billions of people.

Carbon emissions from oil giants directly linked to dozens of deadly heatwaves for first time

Study shows how individual fossil fuel companies are making previously impossible heatwaves happen and could have to pay compensation

www.theguardian.com

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Doccy B 🌿🌿🐝🌿🦔🌿 @merylbatchelder.bsky.social · 26d

The concept of dilute and disperse should only be considered for small amounts of relatively low toxicity materials over short timeframes where exposure risk will be monitored. We seem to be doing absolutely everything wrong.