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A Level Topics
• Coastal Zone Management & Crowded Coasts
• Ecosystems - Sand Dunes & Saltmarshes
All geography field studies courses are tailor made to suit your needs. All fieldwork programmes have specific learning outcomes, which relate directly to syllabuses. With a variety of excellent field locations from a UNESCO Biosphere reserve to the active and dramatic coastline of North Devon, backed up by a comprehensive collection of handouts we are ideally suited to meet your educational needs. We welcome any enquiry and hope that we can build a course that exceeds your expectations for a residential field trip.
‘Students and staff felt Mark was
knowledgeable, helpful and interesting
and vey willing to be flexible to meet our nees'
Weston 6th Form College 2011
Data and Statistical Analysis
Groups have the option to do a wide range of data analysis on all of their collected data and represent it in a number of ways from distribution plots in our computer suite to species diversity and correlations. All of our days can include the appropriate statistical analysis e.g. Chi Squared, Mann Whitney U, Spearman’s Rank and Simpson’s Diversity Index. Detailed course content and programme is decided in conjunction with visiting staff to ensure that syllabus requirements are met.
Topic Explanation
Hydrology – River Dynamics and Function
Looking at drainage basins, channel characteristics, long profiles the effects of rejuvenation and flood management strategies.
Our case study area is the Lyn drainage basin on Exmoor. The aim of the day is to survey a river from source to sea, measuring river channel characteristics, learning fieldwork techniques and discussing the causes and effects of the 1952 Lynmouth flood. It is also possible to visit Boscastle and compare and contrast the two flood events.
Our aim is to investigate the coastal processes (past and present) that are affecting the North Devon coast. Our case study area is from Hartland Quay to Westward Ho!, looking at the influence of geology, weathering, mass movement and past climatic change on coastal landforms. Investigation of the processes of erosion, deposition, longshore drift and spit formation. Sampling strategies can be developed for sediment sorting on the spit at Northam Burrows to help students work on fieldwork techniques.
Coastal Management & Crowded Coasts
Using the same case study area; form Hartland Quay to Westward Ho! students can look at the management strategies, both past and present that are affecting this active coastline. Students are asked to consider what strategies are appropriate for coastal management in the future? Students can also look at the human and physical factors affecting the development of this stretch of coastline. Fieldwork including land use mapping and conflict matrices can be carried out here.
This module looks at the processes of succession and zonation, the impacts of conservation and management on two distinct ecosystems.
Sand Dune System – Braunton Burrows
Recognised as a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve, Braunton Burrows offers a great example of succession, species distribution, diversity and the impacts of conservation and management on this globally important ecosystem.
Saltmarsh – Taw and Torridge Estuary
This looks at the development of a Saltmarsh and the environmental factors affecting distribution and abundance of species. The ecosystem module offers students the chance to look at sampling strategies and statistical analysis of data collected and both areas are good opportunities to learn about the advantages and disadvantages of different sampling techniques.
This fieldwork day looks at three contrasting Devon settlements. Students can use provided secondary data for population, wealthy, ethnicity and land use in conjunction with their own collected primary data. This includes environmental quality, housing age and density, traffic and service counts, investigating rural and urban change whilst learning new fieldwork techniques.
Rebranding Places Using case study examples including the London Docklands, students are asked to develop a rebranding strategy for Bidefords old industrial quay. Learning and enquiry will be guided to include certain data collection methods and students can present their findings to justify their rebranding strategy.
