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Eclectics 2012-13
Geography Year 7: Romshed Farm Our form, 7F, piled into two mini buses and set off on the short trip to Romshed Farm, Underriver near Sevenoaks. The term 6 field trip meant we worked outdoors all day, hence it was a non school uniform day, and I was pleased it was dry and sunny. We explored the organic farm with Andy, the farm manager, who led my group and indicated things of interest. In the morning he showed us his animals. The rare Saddleback Pigs and rather large piglets were a hit with me as I found their massive ears quite comical. Lambs were now sheep and drifted in mobs at the far side of their fields whilst the ducks and chickens also flocked freely in their fields. After a picnic lunch on benches in front of the farm house, we discovered the wildflower meadows with their huge headed daisies and protein providing clover carpets. The long grassland, cereals and crops were all either food or winter bedding for the animals. Their cover provided a harvest, home and hide-a-way for insects, mini beasts and small
Year 7: Lewes A Modern Medieval Adventure; or Year 7’s Geography Trip to Lewes Did you know that the majestic castle overlooking the East Sussex town of Lewes was built by William the Conqueror? No, me neither until I went on the Year 7 Geography Trip on 12 June, with the aim of studying land patterns and the development of this beautiful town. We learnt that Lewes was originally a small, medieval settlement based around the river Ouse and its fertile plains. We discovered just how important the Ouse was in helping the town grow and develop through trade. On the ground each Year 7 group completed a ‘Land Use Survey’ to uncover what type of town Lewes is today. We then carried out an ‘Environmental Quality Survey‘ to measure various
mammals too, though not all the time; the most memorable aspect for me was watching Skylarks that Andy had pointed out hover at a medium height, before swooping down on their prey! Thank you to Andy and Fidelity for their hospitality and to Mrs Adkin and Mrs Fedrick for organising the trip. Edward Smith-Dunlop, 7F and Nick Hood, 7F aspects including; upkeep of buildings, traffic levels, greenery and noise levels. Each group had a specific area to examine. At 11 o’clock we did a Pedestrian and Traffic Count from the main bridge. Later, on our Town Walk, led by Mrs Thomson, we were introduced to the principal places of interest in Lewes. My personal highlights were The Crown Court and the Castle; due to their very striking yet totally different styles of architecture. After that an exercise delineating the Central Business District showed us where business premises end and residential dwellings begin, and we considered how this had come about. Despite a very wet lunch time and variable weather throughout the day, we all gained a deeper insight into land patterns within Lewes and how the town had grown, and continues to develop. Taking part in this practical field trip certainly helped bring Geography alive. Samuel Platt, 7F