Fieldwork and education in the Broads
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Date posted: 13/10/2020
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Time to read: 5 minutes
The wonder of learning in the Broads National Park
Like all the National Parks, the Broads has so much to offer for top quality fieldwork. However, it truly excels as a unique and magical place when it comes to educational opportunities which flow along the rivers and through the swamps!
This watery national treasure can be used to explore the curriculum and children’s imaginations in so many inspirational ways.
The ever-changing nature of waterways is a cross-curricula story thread, which speaks of ecology, history, geography, transport, tourism, literature, art and above all, the relationships between people and the environment.
Geography
Waterways can be all about practical measurements such as flow rates, bank-full discharges and current velocity. In the Broads, the rivers also tell stories of settlement, agriculture, tourism, recreation and conflicting uses, transport, drainage, flooding and landscape reshaping.
Above all, the story of the Broads is one of climate change. The landscape offers a fascinating (and very relevant) case study of human fuel use and climatic fluctuations, from the creation of the broads from abandoned mediaeval peat diggings, to the current threats posed by sea level rise.
A hands-on activity involving charcoal making and drying peat around a campfire brings in aspects of history, geography and science, and leads to thoughtful and provocative discussions about human use of resources and the environmental consequences.
History
The history of the Broads is a rich seam of endlessly surprising learning opportunities.
The changing populations of the Broads, from Romans to modern day tourists, via Vikings, mediaeval peat diggers, drainage engineers and Victorian marshmen, have all left a legacy.
The timeline is written in the landscape and can be illustrated by peat cores up to 3m deep. Sinking an auger into a fen and handling the peat formed 2,000 years ago always seems to capture the imagination of both students and teachers.
Science and ecology
In terms of science and ecology, the potential of wetlands and waterways is almost endless.
River, pond or dyke dipping in spectacular natural environments is among the most stimulating fieldwork activity for any age. The possibility of finding the largest or most fearsome or most exciting underwater creature will engage almost everyone. Concepts like food chains and adaptations, and skills like using identification keys are brought to life. Water testing for nitrates is given real world context when there is a possibility of spotting kingfishers, or even swallowtail butterflies! Working in quaking fens and swampy carrs brings adventure to transects and quadrats.
Practical habitat conservation work like willow scrub clearance will also give a muddy realism to the science.
Other learning ideas for educators
Themes for literacy could be postcards from an Edwardian tourist, or poetic marshland myths and legends. The captivating landscape between shivering reeds and eternal skies has inspired artists and authors for centuries.
Getting close to the water and splashed while spotting a swimming grass snake or otter makes any activity involving small boats very memorable.
Throw in some water safety activities (with all the fun of practising with a rescue-line) and a group of students can have an exciting learning experience.
Just being out in the Broads is excellent for health and well-being, but when coupled with the amazing stories and science woven through the landscape, this wonderful wetland becomes a truly magical, inspiring and potentially life changing place to learn.
The naturalist Ted Ellis described the Broads “a breathing space for the cure of souls”, a phrase which seems particularly relevant today. We need places like this more than ever!
Article by Nick Sanderson, Education Officer for the Broads National Park
👻 Strange sights and spooky stories await in the @Southdownsnp
From mist-shrouded woods and twisted trees to castles beneath the moon, the National Park is home to many eerie spots.
And across our 15 National Parks, there are tales that have endured for centuries, legends still passed down today, and histories with dark chapters.
📸
Ghost in South Downs - Luis Fernando Mancilla
Iping tree - Richard Murray
Harvest moon - Andrew Gambling Photography
Devil’s Dyke - Sam Moore
Stamner Park - Finn Curry
#SouthDowns #Halloween #NationalParks
🎉 Happy Exmoor Day, @exmoornp!
Today, Exmoor National Park celebrates years of connecting people with nature, wildlife and the great outdoors.
From England’s largest wild red deer herd and native ponies to Europe’s first International Dark Sky Reserve and dramatic landscapes, Exmoor is a place full of life, history and discovery.
Its landscapes, wildlife and historic villages bring people closer to nature and create opportunities to explore, connect and enjoy the benefits of being outdoors.
Here’s to Exmoor – and many more adventures to come! 💚
#Exmoor #ExmoorNationalPark #NationalParksUK
Happy birthday @parc_eryri 🎂
From its towering peaks and sweeping valleys to its rich heritage, Eryri (Snowdonia) is a place that means so much to so many people.
It`s a landscape full of stories, shaped by generations of people and home to some of Wales` most treasured places, from the summit of Yr Wyddfa to the quieter corners.
Today, we`re celebrating everything that makes Eryri unique, from the people and traditions that give it its character to the ongoing work to protect its landscapes and wildlife.
Share your favourite memories of Eryri in the comments! 💬
📸Ogwen Valley, Snowdonia @cinqueportsphotography
#Eryri #EryriNationalPark #TheAnswerIsNationalParks
Autumn is a chance to give nature a helping hand. 🍂
From leaving fallen leaves to providing food for birds, small actions can make a big difference to the world around us.
Here are some of the ways to help nature this season.
#NatureRecovery #Autumn #NationalParks
An ancient wall almost 2,000 years old, and a catch-up with your mate? ✅
Historic landmarks like Hadrian’s Wall in Northumberland National Park have been connecting people for centuries.
While that connection looks very different today from the wall’s original role as a Roman defensive fortification, it’s still a place where people come together and explore history.
Because our National Parks are about so much more than great places for a day out. They’re places to connect with friends, clear your head, get active and learn about history, all in one place.
#Northumberland #HadriansWall #NationalParksUK
They’re more than just pretty places. 🌳
Our National Parks are home to some incredible trees, from ancient giants to England’s tallest tree.
Swipe through for a few #WildFacts about the trees growing across our 15 National Parks.
#NationalParksUK #Trees #Woodland
National Parks are places where animals make their homes, people catch up over coffee, and we pause to marvel at the dark skies above.
Places to connect, discover and look a little closer.
We’d love to see your images of autumn in action in a National Park. Tag us or use the hashtag #AutumnInAction 🧡
#NationalParks #Autumn
What if Middle-earth’s Rangers had more in common with National Park Rangers than we might think?
Of course, our National Park Rangers have a little less to worry about than Aragorn and his fellow Rangers.
But they do both know their landscapes well, protect the places they love and guide others to find their way.
Across the UK’s 15 National Parks, our Rangers are taking action every day. They may not be defending the Shire from the forces of darkness, but they certainly do an incredibly important job. 💚
#MiddleEarth #Rangers #NationalParksUK
