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Seasons

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Seasons and climate change

Seasons don’t happen because of climate change or global warming – they happen naturally every year. However, climate change and global warming do mean that the seasons are changing. You may notice a longer summer, or a ‘false spring’.  

A false spring happens in late winter where the temperatures are higher than they usually would be. 

This has consequences for animals and plants who rely on the seasons. For example, animals that hibernate in winter may come out of hibernation too early as they think it is spring.  

The seasons being out of sync can also influence the food chain. Spring is the season that birds usually have baby chicks, and these chicks eat caterpillars. However, spring getting earlier means that the caterpillars are around earlier than when the chicks are born. The caterpillars have adapted to the earlier spring but the birds haven’t. This can put the chicks in danger as they don’t have any food to eat. 

Ellie exploring

Explore the seasons with Ellie

Ellie the Climate Champion is exploring outside! Join her with your magnifying glass and see if you can find five living things. 

Teacher guidance: If you are in a school with no outside green space of your own, you can still encourage pupils to find insects on concrete or perhaps trees or birds in the distance.

This activity can be used to support the National Education Nature Park initiative. 

Explore the seasons with Ellie

Explore the seasons with Ellie