Many of us have fond memories of skating at this fantastic rink to celebrate the festive season with our family and friends. The December buzz coming into the air, the fairy lights wrapped around the towering plane trees, the bright colours cast across the walls of the museum - even if there was always  an enormous puddle of water spread across the ice. But a new chapter is opening up in the life of the Natural History museum and it promises to be even better!

Many have realized the huge environmental impact that winter ice rinks can cause due to their enormous carbon footprint. Research by the firm Xtralce Rinks, a manufacturer of synthetic ice rinks, suggests that the average artificial ice rink installed outdoors in Europe for Christmas uses 19,900 litres of water and emits 5.52 tonnes of CO2 into the atmosphere each month. Likewise, the Environmental Protection Agency states that ice rinks generate the equivalent of the greenhouse gases from 110,000 cars - a staggering figure.

This is why its so inspiring that the Natural History museum is planning to turn over a new leaf and build a breathtaking urban nature project on the plot where their rink used to reside. The project will span five acres and greatly increase the biodiversity of the gorgeous but nature-starved city of London. A sprawling wildlife garden is due to unfurl in the plot around the museum by the year 2023, transforming it into an organic gem in the heart of London - a fitting setting for this truly prestigious landmark which welcomes visitors from all over the globe and celebrates the past and present wonders of the natural world.