Biologists learn ecological skills in Field Trip to South Wales

At the end of last week our Upper Sixth Biologists - all fifty of them, along with four Biology teachers, headed off to South Wales for their Field Trip. 

We broke the journey up at Dinefwr Park for a nature walk through the flower-rich meadows and dense ancient woodland. The parkland is a designated SSSI, and it was a great introduction into different ecosystems and their communities and structures. Fungal fruiting bodies and rutting deer being an added autumnal bonus. Dinefwr is the only designated parkland National Nature Reserve in Wales and is home to the National Herd of White Cattle, whose records date back to the year 920. 

Over the course of the Field trip our students learnt how to sample different ecosystems and collect data on the abundance, distribution, and adaptations of organisms as well as study the complex wood webs and structures in these ecosystems.

They worked in small group projects on the rocky shore at the species rich Bracelet Bay near The Mumbles.  Project work developed their skills in experimental design, data collection and manipulation including the use of several different statistical tests.  An invaluable trip to consolidate learning and learning to use statistics in the field.  They produced scientific posters which they presented to their peers one evening.  Truly impressive work from all our students.

This was the faculties’ first visit to the FSC Margam Discovery Centre which is situated within Margam Park, an 850-acre country estate nestling on the narrow coastal plain and southern slopes of Mynydd Margam. The Centre is situated just off the M4 between Swansea and Cardiff and has easy access to a wide variety of field sites on the Gower ANOB, a few miles to the west; the Heritage Coast to the east and Brecon Beacons to the north, as well as access to the diverse and varied landscape of Margam Park. We were not disappointed. 

Our students were able to study succession on the SSSI Crymlyn Burrows Sand Dune site, kick samples in species rich streams within the grounds of Margam park, study zonation on the rocky shore and grassland biodiversity near to the field centre.  We were even able to explore different sampling techniques for nocturnal mammals, setting Longworth traps for small mammals and going on a bat walk in the park with bat detectors and night vision goggles. 

The students were fantastic, and we were thoroughly impressed with their quick acquisition of skills in the field.  Learning ecological skills outdoors is an invaluable experience. 

Margam was a true success and we’ve already booked to take our Biologists there again next year. 

Jackie Matthews

Biology