Burning fossil fuels (e.g. oil, coal and natural gas) for energy has led to a build-up of harmful gases in our atmosphere, which is continuing to contribute to climate change. As we need to keep generating energy, research and development into other less damaging methods is being done – and Scotland is home to some world-leading research and testing sites for marine renewable technology!

Our windy weather here in Scotland offers the chance to harness that wind power! Wind energy is what we call a renewable energy source because it is ‘clean’ – it doesn’t release harmful gases. We can find wine turbines on land, and in the sea. These big turbines spin in the wind, and we use this energy to power our homes – it helps us turn on lights, cook our food and stay warm!

JARGON BUSTER! Climate change refers to weather changes across the planet, including warming temperatures. Due to human impact, it is happening more rapidly and having severe impacts on plants and animals (including us humans!)

However, we must be very careful where wind turbines go to minimise their effect on wildlife! With lots more wind farms being built in the sea, seabirds are especially in danger as they can collide with them. It’s important we know where seabirds like to go, and that new developments work closely with scientists to reduce as much disturbance as possible!

Try this game with your group to get them thinking about the effects of wind farms on seabirds.

What you will need:

• This game works best for a larger group, recommend a minimum of ten young people.
• A clear, open space (this game is great outdoors; try it by the coast, local park, or on your own grounds). The size of your space can be influenced by the number in your group (e.g. smaller space for a smaller group)
• Instruction sheet (can be digital or paper copy)

How to play:

You can download and print the instruction sheet below.

1. Find an open space you can run around in as a group – this can be by the coast, a grassy area in your local park, or an indoor space. Mark the boundaries of a roughly rectangular area so everyone knows to stay in the zone
2. You are all seabirds on a Scottish island! Line up on one side of the hall/area. Flap your wings on the spot and make some bird calls to warm up! You could ask your group to choose what Scottish seabird they are.
3. You need to fly across the sea, from the island you are on to the island on the other end of the hall/area. Move safely to the other end of the hall/area, flapping your wings and calling as you go!
4. Once the group is now at the other end of the hall/area, tell them that their journey between islands has been interrupted – a wind farm has been built! Choose a small handful of children to be wind turbines. Turbines must be spread out around the middle of the hall/area – no two turbines should be close enough to touch each other. Children who are turbines must stand still with arms outstretched on either side – like a turbine, children can swing their arms gently from side to side.
5. The seabirds must fly back to the other island, dodging the gently swinging arms of the wind turbines! Wind turbines will try and tap a seabird gently on the shoulder. When this happens, the child moves to the other team and becomes a wind turbine – remember wind turbines can’t be close enough to touch each other!
6. Tell the seabirds when to start each flight as a group. Seabirds should fly back and forward between islands (while flapping and calling!) trying to dodge as many wind turbines as they can until there are too many wind turbines and the game is over!