Before the Easter holidays, the Year 12 A Level Geography class took part on a three day field trip to Keswick and the Borrowdale Valley in the Lake District. The trip was an opportunity for students to practise and learn a range of physical and human fieldwork techniques and skills to support them in their NEA coursework which is to be completed later in the year. Whilst also seeing fantastic landscapes and exploring a new area.
During the visit, we examined several relict glacial landforms, helping us to better understand the region’s glacial history and how past ice movement shaped the landscape we see today. This was particularly helpful as the Lake District is a case study we can use for our final exam.
Our human geography investigation focused on urban deprivation in the town of Keswick. We collected data across different areas of the town, analysing factors such as environmental quality and living stands. In Borrowdale, our physical work included studying clast orientation to investigate past glacial processes. We also examined footpath erosion considering the impacts of tourism on the natural environment.
On our final day we designed and carried out our own independent investigations applying the skills we had developed earlier in the trip. We also had the opportunity to come up with our own techniques, coming to the realisation that it’s not as challenging as we perceive. We gathered personal research to answer our questions and gained experience in planning and conducting fieldwork.
Overall the trip was a valuable experience, combining classroom knowledge with real world investigation and helping us to develop key geographical skills vital to our final grade.
By Ethan D
