Anyone know about study of nature?

[ShiteRider]

I love nature, specifically woodland, lakes, rivers and the sea. I would like to learn more about it. I work in a totally unrelated field and would like to be able to sit down in the evening and work through some online courses as an opportunity to switch off from the day. Certainly initially I’d want them to be free while I decide honestly if I’m committed enough.

Can anyone suggest topics / subjects or resources which might be interesting?

I would also be interested in this, for my DD.
I think there is a new Natural History GCSE, but some shorter, more casual courses would be good.

Ooh, natural history sounds interesting.

Look up courses in ecology too. Maybe open university

Look up Field Studies Council courses. Some online, some residential. All really good. FSC.

Emma Mitchell on Twitter.

You could join the local Wildlife Trust to start with. They have lots of free resources and things to read, as well as activities to go to. You could do that alongside formal study. The Natural History Museum has great resources too.

Some great suggestions thank you, my day job is in mental health so Emma Mitchell’s tweets are really connecting with me

You could take a look at the Cambridge Environmental Management igcse or AQA Environmental Science A Level,
There are also lots of online courses with Field Studies Council and Open Learn (OUs free course tasters)

What particularly interests you? The geography/hydrology and physical sciences or the “softer side” of nature and how humans interact and benefit from it?

I work with museum natural history collections and love it. Could you volunteer at a museum? The Mammal Society has some great online short courses on British mammals

I think the physical sciences? What I love about nature is when it’s unspoiled and in its natural state. I’d like to understand more about what I’m looking at (if that makes sense?)

That sounds like such a cool thing to do @MerlinsBeard87 I’ve always volunteered but taken a step back recently because of health issues but also because I ended up in quite responsible roles which just felt like too much headspace. Something more hands on might be better.

I didn’t expect so many responses so thank you all.