We recently took a group of biology students in Year 13 on a 3 day trip to a field studies centre, where they learned about ecology and completed practical work outdoors. Whilst the main aim of our trip to FSC Juniper Hall was to complete two of the required practical activities that students must complete as part of their A-Level Biology studies, the trip also allowed students to enjoy being outdoors, go for walks in the sun and spend time with their friends away from home.

On Friday, after arriving at the centre, students were given time to explore and have their lunch. We then met our tutor for the weekend, and were shown how to carry out a few ethical and humane ecological techniques to sample populations, including ‘Mark-Release-Recapture’ on pond snails, and studying the effect of light intensity on the shape and size of leaves.

On Saturday, we walked to nearby Box Hill, where, after practising some sampling techniques, students planned, co-ordinated, and carried out an investigation that counts towards one of the required practical activities students must complete for their A-Level studies. The students worked extremely well in their groups, and collected valuable data. We were also fortunate to enjoy fantastic sunny weather, and got to have lunch at the picturesque visitor centre at the top of the hill. After a long day spent outdoors, the students were able to spend some time in the evening sitting around a campfire with their friends, with some evening snacks enjoyed by the students.

On our final day, students completed their second required practical activity. This involved investigating the effect of various stimuli on behaviour in woodlice. Out of necessity, this required students to spend some time beforehand outdoors catching the woodlice, which, despite being fairly tricky, was an oddly enjoyable experience!