Surrounded by 1,600ha of saltmarsh, foreshore and sand dunes, but within easy access of a wide variety of habitats and landscapes, Brancaster Millennium Activity Centre (BMAC) is an ideal base for undertaking A/AS/degree level Geography and Biology fieldwork.
The Centre can cater for residential groups and day visits.
The units offered are designed to meet the fieldwork / coursework requirements of the main A-level examining boards but can also be tailored to fulfil individual requirements, including higher level fieldwork.
Units are taught by qualified, experienced and friendly staff, ensuring students engage in high quality learning. Self-taught groups are also welcome.
Saltmarsh / sand dune succession
A study of the formation and ecological succession of sand dune / saltmarsh ecosystems. Students are introduced to different ecological and / or geographical sampling techniques and equipment as they investigate the change in communities, physical structure and xeromorphic adaptations through the different seral stages.
In the dunes, students also have the opportunity to estimate the Banded Snail population, undertake mark-release-recapture experiments (residential unit only) and calculate diversity indices.
Analysis of results (residential unit only):
Microsoft Excel and Word available to record, present and analyse fieldwork data. Statistical analysis using appropriate tests: The T-test, Chi squared, Spearman rank correlation or Mann-Whitney U test.
- Whole day unit: full investigation of one ecosystem
- Half-day unit: overview of one ecosystem
Coastal processes and management
Pupils study how the coastline of Brancaster has changed over time, in terms of its physical development (formation of beach, spit, dunes, and saltmarsh) and the increasing human pressures placed upon it.
The potential impacts of global warming on this dynamic system are discussed and a variety of hard and soft coastal management schemes explored (groynes, gabions, granite blocks, dune replenishment, Brancaster West Marsh managed retreat scheme).
- Whole day unit: overview of all features including brief look at saltmarsh/dune succession
- Whole day unit: overview of all features including more detailed debate on managed retreat scheme
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