Geography Field Studies - Key Stage 3

The Isle of Wight, with 60 miles of coastline, safe and accessible rivers, and tourist honey pots, all within a 40 minute drive of the Centre, provides a wealth of fieldwork sites suitable for Key Stage 3 Geography.

The mix of land uses adjacent to the Centre, on the fringe of Newport, is a good starting point for practicing basic recording techniques and mapwork skills. Newport, the county town and surrounding rural settlements are within a short drive of the Centre and provide excellent fieldwork sites.

Courses can run for between 2 to 5 days and are tailored to meet your requirements.

There are a range of fieldwork opportunities on the Isle of Wight involving current people/environment issues, that may be included in a programme aimed at stimulating a lasting interest in Geography:

• Landslide hazard management of the longest and most active landslip zone in north-west Europe

• The conflicting interests along the Medina Estuary & potential impact on the estuarine ecosystem

• The wind turbine scheme application for three 53m turbines on Limerstone Down (The application has been refused by the planners but there is to be an appeal over the decision).
• The Needles Park tourist honeypot in the AONB at the western end of the Island, putting pressure on this protected landscape
• The impact of mountain biking/walkers on the Tennyson Trail along the chalk downs, in the heart of the AONB
• The proposal to site a Biofuel Power Station in the Medina Valley, a few minutes walk from the Medina Valley Centre
• Coastal processes along the fast receding south-west soft cliff coast revealing the dinosaur-bearing rocks and undercutting the dramatic chalk cliffs