Watch: Natural resources
I’m stocking up on supplies. I need fuel, food and clothing and the UK is a good place to find all these things because it has a wide range of natural resources.
Natural resources are materials or substances that are produced by the environment, such as crops for food, oil for fuel or even wind, rivers and tides for generating electricity!
Our mild climate is good for growing crops like wheat and barley, as well as for raising livestock for meat and dairy produce.
Grassy hills are a habitat for sheep that provide wool for making fabrics.
These are called agricultural resources because they come from farms.
Resources found underground are called geological resources.
These include minerals like china clay, metals like tin and fossil fuels like gas and oil.
Fossil fuels were formed from the remains of plants and animals that died millions of years ago and we use them to power everything from cars and aeroplanes to gas cookers.
But nowadays we are using more power from renewable resources like wind and water instead.
Different countries have different natural resources.
South Africa has lots of gold and New Zealand has lots of sheep, Venezuela has lots of oil and Iceland has lots of fish and if I eat all these beans I’ll have lots of gas!
What is a natural resource?
Natural resources are materials or substances that are produced by the environment.
Humans use natural resources to survive.
They can be used to heat homes, transport people around the world, feed and clothe them.
What are agricultural resources?
Agricultural resources are natural resources related to farming.
These include:
| Resource | What is produced? | What do we make? |
|---|---|---|
| Crops | Wheat and barley | Food such as bread and pasta |
| Livestock | Cows, pigs and chickens | Food such as meat, eggs and milk |
| Sheep, cows, pigs, goats | Wool and leather | Clothes |
Farming in the UK
In the UK, there are three main types of farming:
| Type of farming | What is produced? |
|---|---|
| Arable | Growing crops like wheat, barley, oats and potatoes |
| Livestock | Raising animals like sheep, cows, pigs and chickens |
| Mixed | Growing crops and raising livestock |
- For farming to be successful, farmers rely on expected levels of temperature and rainfall.
- Unusual weather events such as drought, flood or heatwaves can destroy crops and harm livestock.
Activities
Activity 1: Where is fruit grown?
Visit a local shop or supermarket and look carefully at the fresh fruit and vegetable section.
How many products can you identify that were made in the UK or in Britain?
Make a list and see if you can find out any more information about the exact location of the farm. Sometimes, labels give the names of the farms and their address.
Where else in the world are products grown? You could make a map to show where different foods are made.
Activity 2: Agricultural resources quiz
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