Year 10 Geographers Explore Town Life and Coastal Landscapes

Data collection in Swanage and Cley-next-the-Sea

On May 16th, Year 10 students took part in an exciting two-day geography fieldtrip to Sheringham, a traditional seaside town on the North Norfolk coast. This hands-on experience was a great opportunity to put classroom theory into practice, exploring both human and physical geography in a real-world setting.

Day One – Urban Geography in Action

Thursday was all about understanding how Sheringham works as a town and tourist destination. Our main focus was to investigate how busy different areas of the town are and whether the seafront is the busiest part.

Armed with clipboards and stopwatches, we spread out across various locations around Sheringham and completed 10-minute pedestrian counts. From the high street to the promenade, we collected data on how many people were in each area. We also carried out a land use survey, recording the different types of shops and services, from touristy ice cream parlours and souvenir shops to everyday places like pharmacies and banks.

After a busy day of data collection, we headed to the Sheringham Youth Hostel to relax. Dinner was a hit – burgers or jacket potatoes, followed by delicious waffles with cream for dessert. Later in the evening, we gathered for hot chocolate at 9pm and enjoyed some free time before lights out at 11pm. The hostel had a great atmosphere, and it was fun spending the evening together.

On Friday, we travelled 20. minutes west along the coast to study Cley-next-the-Sea’s coastal landscape. Our aim was to investigate pebble size and shape, as well as the profile of the beach.

We used callipers and Powers Index cards to measure and classify pebbles, collecting samples from different points along the beach. It was interesting to see how the size and roundness of pebbles changed further from the sea, giving us clues about coastal processes like longshore drift and wave action.

To measure the beach profile, we used ranging poles, clinometers, and measuring tape to record changes in slope and height. Despite a bit of wind and sand in our shoes, it was a fun and practical way to learn about coastal erosion and deposition.

Overall, the trip was a great success. It gave us a chance to apply geographical skills outside the classroom and understand the connections between people, places, and physical processes. Plus, we had a lot of fun along the way!