Sampling And Succession Are All Part Of The Sixth Form Biology Field Trip
From 15-18 September 29 Upper Sixth students visited the Isle of Wight for this year’s Biology Field Trip. An essential part of their A-level studies, the trip allowed students to complete two required assessed Biology practicals, as well as getting hands on experience of field work.
The group’s first stop off the ferry was to Monkey Haven, an Owl and Monkey rescue sanctuary, in Newport, where the students enjoyed learning about ex-situ conservation. The next few days were spent at the Medina Valley Outdoor Education Centre. There they completed predator and prey studies, dissecting owl pellets for skull remains and other bones to identify what the owls had been eating. They also visited St Helens to explore the saltmarsh and study succession and then went on to Bembridge to undertake work on the rocky shores examining limpets and population interactions and practicing their sampling techniques. They even had the time to enjoy some crabbing and an ice cream on the sunny beach.
Biology teacher, Catherine Warne, commented, “Our Sixth-Formers made the most of every experience, they learnt a lot but had fun too. The weekend’s sunshine was a fantastic welcome bonus to a very successful trip.”