Field Study Sessions
These KS3-5 age programmes are designed to meet the needs of the National Curriculum and can be adapted to your individual requirements. All programmes are fully risk assessed, as are the sites used.
Each outdoor session begins with an introduction, either indoors or in the field; followed by the investigation. A short summary concludes the sessions which are as follows…
Coastal Landscapes and Processes: This coastline allows students to see first-hand some of the most dramatic coastal processes the UK has to offer up close. The Holderness Coast in particular provides a wealth of opportunities including beach surveys and coastal management studies. The 2 Scarborough Bays again allow study and comparison of the required sea defences, (a hot topic of controversy for locals) and also the impact on human development in the area.
Settlement Studies
This study compares the structure and facilities found within two or three very different settlements. There are a number of North Yorkshire towns and villages to choose from. The study consists of a tour of the settlements recording the structure, facilities and the student's feelings about them. These can then be compared with their home area if desired. Local history and, where applicable, folklore are also included to better give a feel for life in the settlements. This is an outdoor activity which requiring your coach.
Recreation and Tourism
Tourism is a major source of income in the largely rural area of North Yorkshire, especially within the two national parks. This programme of study investigates the effects of tourism on the landscape and social wellbeing of people living within it.
There are a range of studies available dependent upon your requirements and accessibility. This study will require your coach to visit the North York Moors or Yorkshire Dales
Pond or Stream Ecosystems
Freshwater is always a popular habitat for students to study. This programme of study investigates the ecosystem within a pond or stream. Invertebrate sampling techniques are included; botanical and bird sampling can be involved if required and possible. The study is very flexible and can be used as the basis for more complex studies, for example the energetics study, effects of pollution, or effects of abiotic factors by comparing more than one site.
Seashore Ecosystems
This programme of study investigates succession down a shore within the inter-tidal zone. A transect is set up and marine algae and creatures are recorded. Botanical and invertebrate sampling techniques are included; bird sampling can be involved if required and possible. A study of the effects of abiotic factors can also be included, for example, the effects of wave action on dog whelk or limpet shell morphology. This investigation studies a rocky shore, depending on time and access you can also study a soft shore for comparison.
Meadow Ecosystems
Grasslands are a relatively new addition to the earth's habitats, having been around a mere 3 million years or so. However, they have played a vital role with herbivores evolving to graze them. Arguably, humans would not have developed our complex social structures without grass; no oats, wheat or barley for food, or domesticated grazing animals. This programme of study investigates the botanical and invertebrate richness of grasslands. Random samples are taken within a range of grasslands to assess the effects of management within an agricultural context.
A popular study investigates how abiotic factors affect communities as you move from an open grassland into a woodland. This involves a transect being set up along the environmental gradient, sampling the plant and invertebrate communities. Abiotic measurements are also taken, for example, light and soil moisture levels.
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