A-Level Biology Field Trip to FSC Castle Head, Grange-over-Sands

Following days of torrential rain, we set off on Monday morning for the annual Year 13 A-Level Biology Field Trip expecting it to be a very soggy time indeed. As we arrived at our destination we caught a break though and our first afternoon and evening on location was fairly dry and clear.

The Year 13 Biologists spent a fantastic three days learning about and performing many ecological sampling techniques in wonderfully scenic surroundings of FSC Castle Head in Grange-over-Sands, using their new skills to complete two of the A-Level required practicals with the assistance of the excellent FSC tutors.

The techniques they practised included methods of sampling and studying both motile and non-motile organisms. Random sampling using quadrats and grids along with systematic sampling using belt transects were both employed to study the plants in the grounds around the site. To investigate the nocturnal wildlife, students used electronic bat detectors to listen to the ultrasonic sounds which the bats use to locate their prey in the darkness. Moth traps were also set and these did provide a good selection of the smaller winged fauna of the region.

Overnight, small mammal traps were placed by students in locations which they thought maybe home to small rodents. With the weather on our side, following the recent downpours, the smaller animals were clearly out and about and apparently in a cheeky mood, as several traps had been sprung and food eaten but only two contained field mice, obviously content with a nice meal and a dry warm bed for the night, before being carefully released back where they had been found. The pupils consulted secondary data from owl pellets and spent some time picking through he remains of a variety of small animals, identifying them from their skeletons. Gruesome but fascinating work!

Students also sampled aquatic organisms in streams and ponds and were surprised by the diversity of different organisms and how big some of them were! Some newts were even collected – a rare find indeed! Several chose to collect this data for their final assessed practical work.

Woodlice were also gathered for one of the practicals and observed to identify their response to stimuli and draw conclusions about their preferred habitats.

The students conducted themselves excellently and were brilliant ambassadors for the school, the centre staff commented on the exceptional behaviour and how efficient Wellington pupils were at designing their own investigations and gathering their data. The reward (albeit unintentionally) was a return journey on an absolute luxury coach (£1M, according to our driver!). I doubt we’ll be so lucky again in the future.

Next year’s trip is already booked, so watch this space.

Mr Crabbe, Mrs Hoogenberg and Dr Glass