Meet Ranger Hamza, beloved host of BBC's Ranger Hamza's EcoQuest, and his faithful Ramblers. In these short video clips, your young nature explorers can learn all about the natural world around them, from birds and insects to flowers and trees. Make sure you follow up with your own nature walk, and don't miss our free nature walk worksheets!
Noisy, messy, and always after your snacks: that's how a lot of people think of seagulls. But Patrick Safford, Scotland's first "gull ranger," says the birds are misunderstood.
Patrick works in Eyemouth, a seaside town in Scotland, which is part of the United Kingdom. His job is to teach residents and visitors how to live alongside gulls. He admits some gulls can be a problem, swooping at people and grabbing food. But he says those birds are a small minority. He estimates only about one in four gulls is bold enough to steal food.
Gulls also need protecting. Some species are now red-listed in the UK, meaning they're among the birds of greatest conservation concern because their numbers are falling fast. Much of that decline is caused by humans.
Patrick's advice for avoiding trouble with gulls is simple: don't feed them, keep food covered, throw trash away properly, and use gull-proof bins. Local leaders have also proposed a bylaw, a rule made by a town or local council, that would make feeding gulls illegal.
Officials in other places are watching to see whether changing how people behave can reduce problems with gulls. If it works, more towns could hire gull rangers of their own.
The article "The Dangers of Shark Finning: Why It’s Harmful to Sharks and the Oceans" from BBC's Discover Wildlife discusses the severe impact of shark finning, a practice where sharks are killed for their fins and used in shark fin soup. The demand for this luxury dish, mostly in China, is rapidly growing, pushing many shark species to the brink of extinction.
In Protecting Raja Ampat’s Ecosystem, Simon explores Raja Ampat, a marine paradise with over 2,000 fish species and coral reefs. While exploring, marine rangers board Simon’s boat to check permits and ensure no one is breaking the law in this protected area. The rangers share their vital work, like stopping illegal fishing of sea turtles and baby sharks which harms the ecosystem. New laws are a game-changer, saving Raja Ampat from the devastation caused by overfishing just a few decades ago. This video is excerpted from BBC’s Wilderness With Simon Reeve, an epic adventure into the heart of Earth’s last great wild areas, where nature is at its most beautiful and fragile.
Ranger tales! Our friends at the Chester Zoo have put together some written accounts of real-life rangers' animal encounters. Read about:
- Waiting to catch a poacher
- Setting a snare
- Finding an elephant
- And more!
Then you'll use those to reflect on how descriptive writing can enhance storytelling and eventually write your own!
These worksheets accompany a Chester Zoo interactive lesson on descriptive writing.
In Seed Dispersal, Ranger Hamza and the Ramblers are on a quest to find seeds, but the seeds are blowing away! Learn how different trees produce seeds that are great at getting away by blowing on the wind, being eaten by animals, and even floating away. This video is excerpted from BBC's Ranger Hamza’s Eco Quest, a nature exploration show in which Ranger Hamza and the Ramblers go on quests to discover nature’s wonders and the important role they play in our environment.
In Now You See Me… Animals in Camouflage, Ranger Hamza and the Ramblers explore sand dunes. But where are all the animals? Join them as they learn about how animals, both predators and prey, use camouflage. This video is excerpted from BBC's Ranger Hamza’s Eco Quest, a nature exploration show in which Ranger Hamza and the Ramblers go on quests to discover nature’s wonders and the important role they play in our environment.
In Life Inside a Beehive, Ranger Hamza and the Ramblers come across a beehive. They look at honeycomb and learn how bees make honey to feed their babies. Join them as they buzz and dance like bees. This video is excerpted from BBC's Ranger Hamza’s Eco Quest, a nature exploration show in which Ranger Hamza and the Ramblers go on quests to discover nature’s wonders and the important role they play in our environment.
In In Search of Seeds, Ranger Hamza and the Ramblers are in search of seeds! Join them as they investigate pine cones, observe squirrels, and feed ducks, all while learning about the role that seeds play in the environment. This video is excerpted from BBC's Ranger Hamza’s Eco Quest, a nature exploration show in which Ranger Hamza and the Ramblers go on quests to discover nature’s wonders and the important role they play in our environment.
In Building Community Gardens, Ranger Hamza and the Ramblers visit an allotment or a community garden. They learn how gardens are spaces to grow food and to engage with nature. Then they come across a compost pile and investigate why worms and robins are also at the compost pile. This video is excerpted from BBC's Ranger Hamza’s Eco Quest, a nature exploration show in which Ranger Hamza and the Ramblers go on quests to discover nature’s wonders and the important role they play in our environment.
In Searching for Seals, Ranger Hamza and the Ramblers have their binoculars ready to spot seals. Join them as they learn why seals are so important to their environment, and use binoculars to spot seals in the sea. This video is excerpted from BBC’s Ranger Hamza’s Eco Quest, a nature exploration show in which Ranger Hamza and the Ramblers go on quests to discover nature’s wonders and the important role they play in our environment.
In Seals, a Keystone Species, Ranger Hamza and the Ramblers are on a boat and they spot seals! Join them as they learn how the seals are a keystone species in this ecosystem, and how the seals help the environment around them. This video is excerpted from BBC's Ranger Hamza’s Eco Quest, a nature exploration show in which Ranger Hamza and the Ramblers go on quests to discover nature’s wonders and the important role they play in our environment.
Meet Ranger Hamza, beloved host of BBC's Ranger Hamza's EcoQuest, and his faithful Ramblers. In these short video clips, your young nature explorers can learn all about the natural world around them, from birds and insects to flowers and trees. Make sure you follow up with your own nature walk, and don't miss our free nature walk worksheets!
Noisy, messy, and always after your snacks: that's how a lot of people think of seagulls. But Patrick Safford, Scotland's first "gull ranger," says the birds are misunderstood.
Patrick works in Eyemouth, a seaside town in Scotland, which is part of the United Kingdom. His job is to teach residents and visitors how to live alongside gulls. He admits some gulls can be a problem, swooping at people and grabbing food. But he says those birds are a small minority. He estimates only about one in four gulls is bold enough to steal food.
Gulls also need protecting. Some species are now red-listed in the UK, meaning they're among the birds of greatest conservation concern because their numbers are falling fast. Much of that decline is caused by humans.
Patrick's advice for avoiding trouble with gulls is simple: don't feed them, keep food covered, throw trash away properly, and use gull-proof bins. Local leaders have also proposed a bylaw, a rule made by a town or local council, that would make feeding gulls illegal.
Officials in other places are watching to see whether changing how people behave can reduce problems with gulls. If it works, more towns could hire gull rangers of their own.
The article "The Dangers of Shark Finning: Why It’s Harmful to Sharks and the Oceans" from BBC's Discover Wildlife discusses the severe impact of shark finning, a practice where sharks are killed for their fins and used in shark fin soup. The demand for this luxury dish, mostly in China, is rapidly growing, pushing many shark species to the brink of extinction.
In Protecting Raja Ampat’s Ecosystem, Simon explores Raja Ampat, a marine paradise with over 2,000 fish species and coral reefs. While exploring, marine rangers board Simon’s boat to check permits and ensure no one is breaking the law in this protected area. The rangers share their vital work, like stopping illegal fishing of sea turtles and baby sharks which harms the ecosystem. New laws are a game-changer, saving Raja Ampat from the devastation caused by overfishing just a few decades ago. This video is excerpted from BBC’s Wilderness With Simon Reeve, an epic adventure into the heart of Earth’s last great wild areas, where nature is at its most beautiful and fragile.
Ranger tales! Our friends at the Chester Zoo have put together some written accounts of real-life rangers' animal encounters. Read about:
- Waiting to catch a poacher
- Setting a snare
- Finding an elephant
- And more!
Then you'll use those to reflect on how descriptive writing can enhance storytelling and eventually write your own!
These worksheets accompany a Chester Zoo interactive lesson on descriptive writing.
In Seed Dispersal, Ranger Hamza and the Ramblers are on a quest to find seeds, but the seeds are blowing away! Learn how different trees produce seeds that are great at getting away by blowing on the wind, being eaten by animals, and even floating away. This video is excerpted from BBC's Ranger Hamza’s Eco Quest, a nature exploration show in which Ranger Hamza and the Ramblers go on quests to discover nature’s wonders and the important role they play in our environment.
In Now You See Me… Animals in Camouflage, Ranger Hamza and the Ramblers explore sand dunes. But where are all the animals? Join them as they learn about how animals, both predators and prey, use camouflage. This video is excerpted from BBC's Ranger Hamza’s Eco Quest, a nature exploration show in which Ranger Hamza and the Ramblers go on quests to discover nature’s wonders and the important role they play in our environment.
In Life Inside a Beehive, Ranger Hamza and the Ramblers come across a beehive. They look at honeycomb and learn how bees make honey to feed their babies. Join them as they buzz and dance like bees. This video is excerpted from BBC's Ranger Hamza’s Eco Quest, a nature exploration show in which Ranger Hamza and the Ramblers go on quests to discover nature’s wonders and the important role they play in our environment.
In In Search of Seeds, Ranger Hamza and the Ramblers are in search of seeds! Join them as they investigate pine cones, observe squirrels, and feed ducks, all while learning about the role that seeds play in the environment. This video is excerpted from BBC's Ranger Hamza’s Eco Quest, a nature exploration show in which Ranger Hamza and the Ramblers go on quests to discover nature’s wonders and the important role they play in our environment.
In Building Community Gardens, Ranger Hamza and the Ramblers visit an allotment or a community garden. They learn how gardens are spaces to grow food and to engage with nature. Then they come across a compost pile and investigate why worms and robins are also at the compost pile. This video is excerpted from BBC's Ranger Hamza’s Eco Quest, a nature exploration show in which Ranger Hamza and the Ramblers go on quests to discover nature’s wonders and the important role they play in our environment.
In Searching for Seals, Ranger Hamza and the Ramblers have their binoculars ready to spot seals. Join them as they learn why seals are so important to their environment, and use binoculars to spot seals in the sea. This video is excerpted from BBC’s Ranger Hamza’s Eco Quest, a nature exploration show in which Ranger Hamza and the Ramblers go on quests to discover nature’s wonders and the important role they play in our environment.
In Seals, a Keystone Species, Ranger Hamza and the Ramblers are on a boat and they spot seals! Join them as they learn how the seals are a keystone species in this ecosystem, and how the seals help the environment around them. This video is excerpted from BBC's Ranger Hamza’s Eco Quest, a nature exploration show in which Ranger Hamza and the Ramblers go on quests to discover nature’s wonders and the important role they play in our environment.