Gower
Address: National Trust Workbase, Little Reynoldston Farm, Reynoldston, Gower SA3 1AQ
Tel: 01792 390636
The National Trust cares for 24 miles of glorious coastline on Gower. We manage a variety of pressures and challenges that make for excellent case study material for Geography students of all ages, but which particularly suit Key Stages 3 and GCSE pupils.
The landscape of the South Gower National Nature Reserve is home to an abundance of wildlife including breeding seals and nesting birds. Dramatic lifting and folding is visible in the rugged limestone cliffs of the south, limestone which has been quarried in the past and is still spread on the fields of Gower today. A richly varied landscape, Gower features windswept salt-marsh, beaches pounded by Atlantic surf and a medieval field system known as The Vile where traditional land management practices are still in use.
Guided walks are available which highlight issues and potential conflicts and how they are managed successfully by the National Trust and its partners. The walks can be organised at a variety of stunning coastal locations and can be tailored for other Key Stages at selected locations.
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Windermere and Troutbeck
Address: St Catherine’s Property Office, Patterdale Rd, Windermere, Cumbria LA23 1NH
Tel: 015394 46402
The National Trust owns much of the eastern shore of Windermere, England’s longest lake. The fantastic mix of natural woodlands, meadows and lake shore is balanced with a 17th-century farmhouse and a Roman fort.
Key Stage 2 visitors enjoy cross-curricular sessions focusing on Geography, nature and sustainability whilst using Art, Literature and lots of imagination.
All groups leave after having had a fun day designed to stimulate their curiosity and their desire to know more.
One of the sessions focuses on the forces that have influenced the landscape at St Catherine’s. Starting with the last ice age and covering forest clearances, Romans, monks, Victorians and modern day, we examine natural and human pressures. The session sets the scene for work based on ESD through exploring the idea that if the environment today is a result of the past, then the environment of the future will be a result of the present.
Key Stage 3 groups use role play to investigate land use pressures in such a tourism honey-pot, and university groups use Wansfell as an ideal location for studying the balance needed between recreation and conservation.
Regardless of age or experience, we aim to expand students’ awareness of the natural world but, more importantly, plant a deep seed of interest that keeps on growing.
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Studland Beach, Purbeck Estates
Address: Castle View, Corfe Castle, Wareham, Dorset BH20 5DR
Tel: 01929 480609
A beach attracting 1.5 million visitors a year is backed by an extensive dune system of high conservation value. About 25,000 education visitors come each year, of which the Trust meets about 7,000.
All ages are catered for, but especially A Level Geography students. Presentations in the Studland Eco-Centre focus on the development of the beach and dunes and the management issues facing the Trust. Guided walks with optional data-gathering activities complement the presentations.
Students gain ideal case-study material with up-to-date information, including the important aspect that current coastal processes are not fully understood and therefore the prediction of – and planning for - future coastal changes is difficult.
The Study Centre is an ideal base for Biology and Geography field study groups of all ages with hands-on activities offered for Key Stage 1 and 2. The Centre is also a prime example of a sustainable building.
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The North Coast, Northern Ireland
(Includes the Giant’s Causeway, White Park Bay, Carrick–a-Rede, Bar Mouth, Portstewart Strand)
Address: 60, Causeway Road, Bushmills, Co. Antrim, Northern Ireland BT 57 8SU
Tel: 028 – 207 315 82
The North Coast possesses a range of coastal habitats and environments from the extraordinary hexagonal basalt columns of the Giant’s Causeway to the rolling dunes of Portstewart Strand. All sites are full of examples of how nature has shaped the land and how wildlife has adapted to the extreme North Coast environment.
The majority of pupils visiting the North Coast are between 9 to 11 years of age with some Key Stage 3 and 4 pupils visiting to undertake course work.
Depending upon the site visited, school groups take part in a variety of activities from seashore, tree and mini beast surveys to rock, flower and coastal erosion investigations.
The pupils get to experience the wonders of nature hands-on, in a way that no textbook could ever allow them to. The programmes involve fun group work and activities to ensure all children participate and learn to appreciate their natural world.
Schools working within the School Arts Partnership programme are particularly welcome to North Coast properties.
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Shropshire Hills – The Long Mynd
Address: National Trust Education Office, Carding Mill Valley, Church Stretton, Shropshire. SY6 6BX
Tel: 01694 724536
This Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty is perfect for Geography fieldwork with safe streams such as that in the 'honeypot' of Carding Mill Valley where we can provide trained leaders (one per group of 15 students) and equipment to measure the stream in different locations. A chance to get wet, excited and learn by doing - our activity sheets make for an entertaining co-operative collection of data by groups of five students to support hypotheses on stream development (Key Stages 2, 3 and 4).
Alternatively a guided walk past the stunning Lightspout Waterfall up onto heather moorland, allows examination of tourist and farming impacts, sustainability, natural erosion and how this and nearby landscapes have been shaped.
Any age can use our field labs to examine water invertebrates that you can net in the stream. Other services include woodland studies, farm visits, map and compass and outreach. Back-up materials of CD, student / teacher notes and ID charts are also available.
Free parking when you book our services. A lunch room is also available.
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