Education in the Wensum Valley
One of the objectives of the Wensum Valley Project is to promote understanding of the Wensum Valley and the need for its conservation. This is done both by supporting learning in schools and by less formal means such as guided walks, talks and countryside events.
Field trips for schools
One of the ways in which we support school learning is by organising field trips for schools. These can complement classroom study by giving first hand experience of biological, ecological and geomorphological processes. Aimed at primary, middle or secondary schools, they can be designed to complement the needs of individual teachers and to illustrate National Curriculum themes.
Themes covered on past field trips have included the water cycle, water in the landscape, river erosion and deposition, “dipping” for aquatic invertebrates, comparison of habitats and natural succession.
The close proximity of wet and dry woodland, alder carr, fen, wildflower-rich grassland and heath within the Wensum Valley creates opportunities to compare different habitats in one visit. The Wensum Valley Project has local knowledge of habitats and access and can provide organisation and leadership of field trips.
See the bottom of the page for examples of some past field trips
Informal education
Education and interpretation have also been provided by means of guided walks (although sometimes the “walking” was done by canoe or bicycle) on themes such as wildlife or the evolution of the landscape. The Project Officer can lead walks or give illustrated talks to clubs or other organised groups.
Other events with an educational slant have included ‘The Countryside on your Doorstep’ days on the outskirts of Norwich, practical workshops on crafts associated with reeds and willow and nocturnal walks to find ‘Creatures of the Night’. Snapshots of North Elmham’s history were seen in ‘Ghosts on the Line’, when actors in role presented glimpses of factors that shaped the landscape around County School Railway Station, from the Peasants’ Revolt, through agricultural improvements, to the coming of the railways and the Second World War.
If you think we could help your school or group please contact the Project Officer
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Some past school trips have been………
Brisley Primary School children visited a number of locations along the valley to learn how rivers work, man’s influence on them and the types of invertebrates found in them.
Great Witchingham Primary School children walked to the nearby Charity Lakes and, amongst other things, learned about natural succession, decomposition and different habitats.
Children from All Saints at Great Ryburgh compared different habitats near to the school and the different creatures found in them.
See the 'Recent Activities' page for more information on our education work.
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Children from
Mile Cross Middle School learned about wildlife, landscape and habitats at Sycamore Crescent Wood, Mile Cross Marsh and Sloughbottom Park, all places a short walk from the school. The ‘secret safari’ activity helped them to find evidence of animals using the habitats without actually seeing them. (Broken snail shells, nibbled leaves and a variety of droppings, for instance, showed evidence of eating by unseen creatures.)