Gather an enthusiastic group of young people from your school or community group to take part in the project.

Introduce them to the idea of biodiversity and why you want to help it in your local area. You could use the Biodiversity in Schools website to better understand the concept of biodiversity and build your confidence in leading this project. For example, you could complete the short, online course 'Helping nature at school' available here.

An important part of this programme is to have some sort of access to an outdoor area. It has been designed with even the smallest, urban space in mind so don't feel you need large, green open spaces.

If you do have a large, open green space - great. However, if you are stuck for access - don't worry - it still suits, you just need to be a little more creative and maybe even colloborate with a community group.

Activities are very varied and will include planting seeds, hanging bird feeders, designing wildflower areas, planting trees and mounting outdoor wildlife signs.

Once you have an area in mind make a note of what biodiversity is already there and maybe even make a simple map to highlight them - this is good scientific practice in nature conservation.

Reach out to Biodiversity in Schools to book your place on the programme. After taking some of your details and preferences you will be enrolled and given a start date. You can email them on [email protected] or see here.

You will take delivery of the various items in this programme depending on the time of the year you begin.

If beginning in September you will start by receiving your chosen outdoor wildlife signs for mounting at your location. 

This is followed in autumn/ winter by the arrival of your tree or hedgerow planting kit as part of Coill na nÓg.

Your first Bosca Dúlra teaching kit arrives in early January for taking part in the Big School Bird Count.

Your second kit arrives in spring for the Pollinator Project.

All the physical resources you receive will be backed up by a comprehensive online education programme for your young people to partake in guiding you step by step all year.

After implementing all the actions it's time to keep them going - topping up your bird feeders with food, ensuring your trees are watered.

This will no doubt inspire further action and we would highly encourage you to enter the Nature Hero Awards to bring your actions to the next level.

There are also a wide selection of free resources on the Biodiversity in Schools website to continue your work here.