Geography Southwest Newsbites February 2023
The weather is improving and spring flowers are appearing in the South West. In this February Newsbites you will find details of events, lectures and conferences for geography teachers and students, and new resources for learning.
With the arrival of Spring, outdoor learning becomes easier. We have included new resources for fieldwork, and sites to visit. Do also look at the Spring edition of our Primary Newsbites if you teach Early Years or Key Stages 1 and 2. https://www.geographysouthwest.co.uk/primary/primary_news/primary-newsbites-spring-2023/
Do check out our new articles and resources on this website, including Professor Ross Cameron's topical and engaging Can plants help cities adapt to climate change? with its accompanying PowerPoint for 16+ https://www.geographysouthwest.co.uk/secondary/16-plus-articles/can-plants-help-cities-adapt-to-climate-change/and also the case studies of urban regeneration in different places from Terra Firma https://www.geographysouthwest.co.uk/secondary/case-studies/urban-regeneration-landscape-projects/
The RGS Geography for All project aims to address equality, diversity and inclusion (EDI) in the subject. More details can be found on their website. They are establishing a network of geography teachers to particularly support the capacities of geography teacher trainees and early career geography teachers in addressing EDI within their practice. Do contact them through their website if this interests you. https://www.rgs.org/schools/geography-for-all/
Do you have a student who has completed an outstanding NEA? If yes, do encourage them to considering submitting it for the RGS Ron Cooke Award, by the deadline of Friday 17 March. Full details of the award can be found on their website. https://www.rgs.org/schools/competitions/ron-cooke-award/
Geography Events
Save the date! SW Geography Conference 2023 will be on Monday 26 June 2023 at UWE. This in-person event is being run by Geography Southwest in association with the RGS-IBG and the University of the West of England. Further details of the conference will be available at the end of March.
We are delighted to report the creation of a new Geographical Association Branch in the South West region, GlosGeog. Dipo Faloyin, author of the fantastic book, ‘Africa is not a country: Breaking stereotypes of modern Africa’, will deliver the inaugural lecture on Monday 27 March at 2 pm at Kings School Gloucester to students and teachers from Key Stages 4 and 5. To book places, contact emma.espley@gmail.com
Geographical Association on-line webinars: The GA has two on-line webinars launching in March, on Embedding Climate Change and Sustainability into the Curriculum, (3 sessions) and Getting Ready to Mark the NEA. The three day GA Conference on Collaborative Geographies opens on Thursday Friday 13 April at Sheffield Hallam University and the full programme can be found on the website.
https://www.geography.org.uk/events/getting-ready-to-mark-the-nea/15286?OccId=20790
Conference 2023 (geography.org.uk)
The GA is running a programme of revision events for both GCSE and A level students starting in March. https://www.geography.org.uk/Student-courses
RGS Events: The RGS has several events and lectures both in-person and on-line in February and March. Its not too late to book the in-person teachers CPD The Weddell Sea, Antarctica: expeditions and education on Friday 24 February.https://www.rgs.org/events/spring-2023/the-weddell-sea,-antarctica-expeditions-and-educat/
An on-line event aimed at students considering geography at University is on Wednesday 29 March. https://www.rgs.org/schools/school-student-events/
Several lectures from recent months can also be found on the RGS website in the extensive Talks on Demand series. https://www.rgs.org/geography/online-lectures/
Other forthcoming RGS events include:
Tuesday 14 March, 1700: On-line introduction to finding and using images from the Geograph project. Royal Geographical Society - Finding and using educational images from the Geograph Project (rgs.org)
Wednesday 15 March, 1915: On-line and in person lecture on recent volcanic activity and hazards around the world. Royal Geographical Society - Volcanic hazards as shown by recent eruptions across the world - Dr Carmen Solana (rgs.org)
Wednesday 22 March, 1700: On-line introduction to Digimap and its potential classroom applications in KS2 and KS3. Royal Geographical Society - Digimap for Schools for KS2 and KS3 Geography (rgs.org)
Hodder GCSE and A level revision: Hodder are running three in-person AQA Geography GCSE revision conferences in March, and details can be found on their website. https://www.hoddereducation.co.uk/2023-aqa-gcse-geography-revision
In May, Hodder is running two revision webinars on AQA shorter and longer tariff questions. https://www.hoddereducation.co.uk/aqa-alevel-geography-shorter-questions
Geography Resources:
River and coastal flooding: The Environment Agency have published updates on flood and coastal management schemes in the South West recently, including more information on eco-friendly sea defences using eco-blocks at Newlyn in Cornwall, this winter's flooding in Somerset, and a major new scheme at Arne in Dorset to allow the sea to create new wetlands as part of the adjustment to sea level rise.
Tiny Forests: Do you have Tiny Forest in your local area? Check out the website for details of the Tiny Forests project and what they have achieved in Bristol, Frome and Hampshire. https://tinyforest.earthwatch.org.uk/tiny-forest-sites
Topical Lectures on-line for teachers and students: Birmingham University website has a wide selection of lectures on topics relevant to A level available on line ranging from climate change to post-covid city planning. https://canvas.bham.ac.uk/courses/61592/modules
Fieldwork techniques and resources: The website Island Geographer has a wide range of resources to support data collection and analysis and also ideas and support for fieldwork on the Isle of Wight. There are ideas and supporting materials for NEA investigations and fieldwork and CPD links. https://www.theislandgeographer.co.uk/resources-1
Sustainable Coastal defences: The Ocean News website from the National Oceanography Centre provides updates and articles for geography teachers. This February, a summary of how mangrove planting can be used for sustainable coastal defences provides a relevant case study for A Level. https://noc.ac.uk/news/new-study-paves-way-improved-nature-based-coastal-defences
Forests and Flooding: The Forest Research website has two detailed resources suitable for GCSE and A level teachers. Climate Change Flooding and Forests provides an overview of the importance of forests in regulating runoff, while Designing and Managing Forests and Woodlands to reduce flood risk is a detailed booklet with case studies. https://www.forestresearch.gov.uk/publications/factsheet-climate-change-flooding-and-forests/
Field Studies Council free resources for GCSE and 16+ outdoor learning: The FSC has resources on their website to support fieldwork and investigations on their website and a digital hub with further resources and videos to support them. Organised by topics, the resources cover Rivers, Coasts, Urban, Rural and the Route to Enquiry at GCSE and Coasts, Glaciation, GIS, Place and Water and Carbon at 16-18. Free Biology & Geography Teaching Resources | FSC (field-studies-council.org)
Geography News:
Rail transport improvements update: Funding has been agreed for a new railway station on the Dartmoor line called Okehampton Parkway costing £13.5 million as part of the Government's levelling up strategy. Just over a year ago in 2021, railway services started again from Exeter to Okehampton. The new park and ride station will be located on the east side of Okehampton alongside the A30 and will include enhanced facilities for cyclists and EV charging points. https://westdevon.gov.uk/article/9451/Multi-Million-Pound-Transport-Hub-Set-for-Okehampton
The new Marsh Barton station in Exeter is due to open in early 2023. This will serve the Marsh Barton trading estate and new housing in south west Exeter as well as providing access to the riverside valley park. Full details can be found on the website, including videos of the construction progress. https://www.devon.gov.uk/marsh-barton-railway-station/
It is hoped that Cullompton station may re-open as early as 2025. There are plans to build a Garden Village on the edge of the town close to the railway line, and a new station would provide a much needed link to Exeter, Taunton and beyond.
Substantial Jurassic Coast Rockfall at West Bay: A major rockfall occurred in January 2023 between West Bay and Burton Bradstock. The sandstone cliffs here are undermined by erosion at high tide and, in winter, storms further weaken the cliffs. There have been several significant rockfalls in the last 10 years, which have affected the South West Coast path that runs along the top of the cliffs. Rockfalls are a natural process and are important as they supply fresh sediment into the local sediment cell to replenish beaches in the area and further along the coast by longshore drift. https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-dorset-64318100.amp
Hard engineering sea defence improvements at Blue Anchor, Somerset: Work to reinforce the sea wall at Blue Anchor will take place in Spring 2023. Erosion of the soft mudstone cliffs and undermining by waves of the old existing sea wall has been threatening property and the important B3191 coast road. Somerset West and Taunton Council carried out emergency works to stabilise the wall in 2020. This Spring, 13,500 tonnes of granite boulders will be delivered by sea from western Scotland to form a rock armour revetment. (rip-rap). Once the new protection is in place, the mudstone cliffs will be regraded to reduce the risk of slope failure.
New tidal barrier with environmental benefits being built near Bridgewater: A £128 million tidal barrier is to be built across the River Parrett in Somerset to hold back high tides and prevent the river banks upstream being overtopped. The project is needed to protect 13,000 new homes and 1,500 businesses at risk from flooding as sea levels rise. Environmental benefits, delivered by the Wildfowl and Wetlands Trust, will increase biodiversity and encourage wildlife in the area. The WWT has won the contract worth £140,000 from Somerset County Council to help fund these improvements. https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-somerset-60124245
River re-engineering scheme to improve biodiversity at Holnicole, Exmoor: The National Trust is leading a major scheme to reconnect the River Aller at Holnicote, Somerset with its natural flood plain. Instead of being confined to a single channel, the river will once again be able to form a complex pattern of channels, pools and marshland. These new wetlands will hold more water during floods, provide water supplies in droughts and increase the catchment area's resilience to changes in climate. Wildflowers, fish, aquatic insects, and mammals including bats, otters and water voles will benefit from the increased habitat diversity. https://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/visit/somerset/bossington/riverlands-project-at-porlock-vale