The Patch on the Planet: Exploring Our Local Biosphere
Welcome to The Patch on the Planet, a community project designed to celebrate and document Earth’s incredible biodiversity, one local patch at a time.
This section of our website invites you to become a naturalist in your own backyard, neighborhood park, local woodland, or any natural space you regularly encounter. By observing, documenting, and sharing information about your personal “patch” of the Earth, you’ll be contributing to a global tapestry that illustrates the rich diversity of life across our planet.
How It Works
- Choose a patch of nature that you can regularly observe – it could be as small as your garden or as large as your local nature reserve
- Document what you find there – plants, animals, fungi, seasonal changes, and interesting interactions
- Share your observations through photos and descriptions, without revealing exact locations (for example: “coastal wetlands in Southern Florida” or “alpine meadow in the Swiss Alps”). You can either email them to me at peter@peterdriley.com or share with us on Facebook.
Your contributions will join others from around the world, creating a fascinating mosaic of the Earth’s biosphere and helping all of us better understand what biodiversity truly means on a planetary scale.
Why Your Patch Matters
Even the smallest area of nature contains incredible complexity and connections. By focusing on one patch and observing it closely over time, you’ll develop a deeper appreciation for the natural world and the delicate balances that sustain it. As our collection grows, we’ll all gain insights into the similarities and differences between diverse ecosystems worldwide.
This project aims to nurture our collective curiosity about nature and encourage ongoing stewardship of our living world. In the future, we hope to connect these observations with citizen science initiatives focused on conservation and sustainability.
Join us in exploring, documenting, and celebrating the wonderful variety of life that exists in your patch on the planet!
I hope our videos in the Patch on the Planet series encourage you to look closely at a
Here are some snapshots of the patch from early to mid February. Snowdrops abound under the trees in the
Category: Behind the Books
The science lab is a fascinating place for students starting high school, and science books should build on this excitement
This is the first blog of a new era for me. I began writing posts for my blog ten years
In my last blog I talked about visual aids that I had used as a teacher many years ago and
The Learning Path
In this section you will find out all about the simple eight-step method for making any kind of scientific enquiry. You can also download posters for your wall for free showing the eight steps.
The Natural World Photo Gallery presents pictures of the natural world taken by myself, or others who have sent in their own pictures.
In this section I display some of the models and displays children have made to demonstrate their understanding of scientific concepts.
Category: Cambridge Checkpoint Science
A major feature of every science course is progression. This allows students to build up their scientific literacy to use
A major feature of every science course is progression. This allows students to build up their scientific literacy to
A major feature of every science course is progression. This allows students to build up their scientific literacy to use
Category: Class Ideas
Making an Impression: A Simple Introduction to Nature What were your first memories of nature when you were a
In the first blog in this series, we explored how creating a nature table stimulates curiosity, develops observational skills
Curious Autumn: From Nature Walk to Nature Table (Part 1) Science doesn't begin in a laboratory - it begins with
Category: Curiosity Box
The first cabinets of curiosities in the eighteenth century were not cabinets at all. They were rooms full of cabinets
Now is the time that seashells start appearing on windowsills as a reminder of trips to the beach in the
When I give talks about my writing I am always asked "Where do you get your ideas from?" As ideas
Category: Field trips
Making an Impression: A Simple Introduction to Nature What were your first memories of nature when you were a
We had our own Springwatch moment last week. We visited Malham Cove in Yorkshire to see the peregrine falcons.
The first cabinets of curiosities in the eighteenth century were not cabinets at all. They were rooms full of cabinets
Category: History Of Science
Charles Darwin (1809 – 1882) came to live in Down House in the village of Downe in Kent, England in
Selborne is a small village in Hampshire, England. It was the home of Gilbert White (1720 – 1793) for thirty
As part of my research for a new series of books to be published in 2016 I visited Oxford. A
Category: Natural World Photo Gallery
Join Our Photo Gallery On a previous website a few years ago, I set up a Natural World Photo
A couple of weeks ago someone sent me a picture of a bee on a flower collecting pollen. You
Ettie has set sail again and is on the River Scarpe in Northern France near Arras, which was one of
Category: Science Around Us
Making an Impression: A Simple Introduction to Nature What were your first memories of nature when you were a
In the first blog in this series, we explored how creating a nature table stimulates curiosity, develops observational skills
Although there were few insects flying about on this crisp autumn day, my great-grandchildren insisted on a mini beast hunt,
Category: Science Exhibition Gallery
I was invited to Settle School to take assembly and then take part in their activities for Science Day. For
Settle Primary School are taking part in the Rocket Science Experiment being run by the Royal Horticultural Society and the
Continuing on from my previous post about children at Settle school planting beanstalks, more reports on their progress have been
Category: Support Materials
This page contains support materials for the book Ways Into Science - Your Body, Your Senses. The support consists of
This page contains support materials for the book Ways Into Science - What animal is it?. The support consists of
This page contains support materials for the book Ways Into Science - Seasons. The support consists of a short film,
Category: Teachers and families
Curious Autumn: From Nature Walk to Nature Table (Part 1) Science doesn't begin in a laboratory - it begins with
Are you noticing more leaves carpeting your local paths? Here in my woodland classroom, I'm watching nature's annual transformation unfold—fresh
As an educator with decades of experience in science education, I've witnessed firsthand how disconnected many children have become from
As an experienced nature educator and children's author, I've learned that the best outdoor learning happens when we follow
As an experienced educator and author of science books for children, I've spent years helping young learners develop their
Real Rockhounds in Action My young friends Brea and her sister Hattie are perfect examples of children becoming rockhounds. Recently,
Over Seventy Years of Rock Pooling: A Naturalist's Journey from Child to Educator When you're planning your next coastal visit,
When school is out for summer, there is still plenty of time for science with the family. Check
A couple of weeks ago someone sent me a picture of a bee on a flower collecting pollen. You
Last week's mystery fossil was an Ammonite Ammonite This week, can you identify the prickly plant on my
Introduction Almost all of my books have a practical science element and this section of the website aims to help
If my books have generated a greater interest in science you might like to visit the following websites which have
All of my science books have activities in them. If the children are reading them at home they may like
Here are collected resources to support teaching in science from primary school (key stages 1 and 2) and secondary school
