Thank you for taking part in Brilli-Ant! We hope you enjoyed the exhibition and that you have come away with some brilliant ideas to help tackle the climate crisis at home. We all have a part to play in this and there is plenty that we can all do to help protect and improve our environment. Our insects have come together to create a guide for you...
Want to reuse some of your rubbish? Here are some creative solutions for your recycling.
Ant-vice on Thinking Smarter About Your Food!
Like me, if you want to try meadow friendly ways to eat more sustainably, try these top tips.
I just heard that food waste from around the world causes more carbon emissions than some entire countries! You can take action by composting your food waste. Compost heaps are a Brilli-ANT way to turn food waste from your kitchen into lovely nourishment for your garden. Even small gardens should have space for a compost heap and you don’t need much gear to get going. If you don’t have a garden, you could always use an indoor worm composting bin. Here is a great website to get you started making your own compost bin (hope it's not too smelly!).
A Cricket’s Guide to Getting your Voice Heard
Hi, if you think that there are things happening that aren't right, an important way to take action is to talk to people about these issues. Talking to your family is one way to start. Get your friends and school-mates active as well. Maybe you could have a conversation with an elderly relative about how the environment has changed during their lifetime.
If you want to go a step further, check out the Youth Climate Action website to see how you can join the conversation.
Bee Helpful
Did you know that all of us insects, in the meadow and wherever I fly to, face problems caused by climate change? You can help by making your gardens and green spaces better places for us insects and other wildlife. For instance, try planting flowers that will attract me and my friends, create a wild area in the corner of a garden or school grounds, and build 'bug hotels' or spaces that may encourage hedgehogs. Also please avoid using pesticides and other chemicals in your gardens. On my travels I found lots of good advice you'll find here on the Wildlife Trusts website.
Glow Worm’s Guidance to Save Energy
Porrution! It's everywhere! Did you know that the climate crisis we face is largely caused by how we use energy - especially fossil fuels such as gas, oil and coal. Saving energy is good for the planet and can save the two-legged ones money too.
A simple ‘home energy assessment’ is a good place to start. You and your family can do this yourselves. Look around and make a list of the different ways in which you use energy: turning on lights, heating the house, cooking, or powering a phone, TV or computer. Then think of ways in which you and everyone in your household could use energy more efficiently.
You could print off this home energy audit activity sheet (developed by Oxfam) to record your findings. Have a look at the Energy Saving Trust too for lots of useful suggestions. You could take gas and electricity meter readings and then challenge your household to reduce their usage. Not only will you be helping to reduce your carbon footprint, you’ll also save money at the same time!
Butterfly’s Recommendations to Embrace Change
By making small changes at home and in your everyday life, you're helping to stop the Climate Crisis. Changes can begin with small steps, like educating yourself on the evidence, causes and effects of climate change.
Little two-legs (aka children) are inherently curious and want to learn too. If you know any of them (they're usually very nice!) make sure that they learn from credible sources such as:
Solution Finding with Super Worm
Us scientists have been working hard to invent new ways for us all to be more resourceful. Just as soon as we solve some big problems, even more problems come along. Our job is never done! For example, scientists have managed to create Renewable Energy but it's expensive so now we need to make it affordable for everyone.
There are lots of great inventions out there, but if you think of new solutions, it's brilli-ANT to invent something new. Don't be scared to share your ideas - a great book to encourage the junior two-legs on this is Rosie Revere Engineer*.
Grasshopper’s Tales to Find Out More
On my travels I've found so many great stories about positive Climate Action. If you want to read, play or watch some of these, see some recommendations below! Books are available from The Story Museum's shop and you can also order online via Hive* and support The Story Museum. Please remember when completing your order using Hive, you need to choose The Story Museum as the shop to benefit from your order and a percentage of your payment will go directly to us!
For Under 5’s
The Robber Raccoon* by Lous Kuenzler and Julia Woolf
There’s a Rangtang in by Bedroom* by Frann Preston-Gannon and James Sellick
Somebody Swallowed Stanley* by Sarah Roberts and Hannah Peck
Be Kind*
by Pat Zietlow Miller
Hello, Mr World* by Michael Foreman
For Under 10’s
George Saves the World by Lunchtime* by Jo Readman
We Have A Dream* by Mya-Rose Craig and Sabrena Khadija
How You Can Save The Planet* by Hendrikus Van Hensbergen and Robert Macfarlane
Jayden’s Impossible Garden* by Mélina Mangal and Ken Daley
Hope Jones Saves the World* by Josh Lacey and Beatriz Castro
For Teens
Birdgirl*
by Mya-Rose Craig
Wrath* by Marcus Sedgwick
Climate Crisis for Beginners* by Andy Prentice, Eddie Reynolds and
Green Rising* by Lauren James
The Summer We Turned Green* by William Sutcliffe
Eco-Anxiety
The Climate Crisis can be a scary and overwhelming thing to talk and think about. We have to make sure that everyone puts their mental wellbeing first. If you or any of your family need further support, please see these articles, resources and groups who are supporting those who are worried about the planet:
Individual actions alone are not enough, but are a great starting point, and can help people get engaged. However, they shouldn't replace calling for change from governments, big businesses and other powerful players who can do way more than we can at a household/community level.
We just need to get started. And it can start with our families.
This guide was created with input and guidance from the following giant two-legs:
Noga Levy-Rapoport - Climate activist
Chris Church - Friends of the Earth
Mim Saxl - Low Carbon Hub Project & Founder at KidsCAN - Kids Climate Action Network
Zakiya McKenzie - Journalist, academic and nature writer