Year 12 Coasts Fieldtrips

Year 12 coastal fieldwork

In place of the planned 4-day residential fieldtrip to Swanage in April 2021, we arranged day visits for Year 12 geographers to collect data for their NEA coursework in Southend-on-Sea and Studland Bay on Wednesday 30th June and Friday 2nd July 2021. 10 students visited 3 of the beautiful Southend beaches: Shoeburyness, Thorpe Bay and Chalkwell to collect data to investigate the changing beach characteristics along this stretch of coastline, including beach width and profile, pebble shape and size, wave type. It was also an opportunity to see first-hand the impact of different coastal defences on beach morphology. We had a great day despite getting a bit muddy due to the tide being out!

Two days later, 14 students visited Studland Bay sand dune system on a lovely sunny Friday. Studland sand dune system is the only west-east system in the UK and gives the opportunity to experience all stages of plant succession from the marram grass on the sandy, embryo dunes to the climax community of trees, within a short distance. The students collected data on the changing sand dune profile, plant species diversity and height, soil pH and temperature and they were able to see first-hand how humans have impacted the sand dune development. It was so good to be able to take students out into the field following 18 months of restrictions. We really hope the 4-day visit next April will be able to go ahead for the new Year 12 geographers!