Geography Southwest Newsbites June 2024
Welcome to the June 2024 Geography Southwest Newsbites! On Monday 17 June, we welcomed 75 geography teachers along with our guest speakers, workshop leaders and educational companies to the 2024 South West Geography Conference at the University of West of England, (UWE). (add image). A report of the conference and presentations is here, and Powerpoints from most presentations will be added soon. Next year's conference will be in June 2025. The date will be confirmed in September.
In this post we feature news from the South West, recently published resources for geography teaching and details of forthcoming geography events. Do also look at our guest blogs in the News section and if you are in the South West during the summer, plan some visits using our Places to Walk and Places to Visit pages.
Geography in the News:
Important new Cornwall road upgrade opens: After four years of construction, diversions and delays, a vital new section of the A30 will open at the end of June 2024 in time for the summer season. The £330 million scheme has made a new section of dual carriageway from Carland Cross near Indian Queens to Chiverton Cross. It will shorten journey times to West Cornwall, Redruth and Penzance and improve commuting links into local employment centres including Truro, Cambourne and Falmouth. With the new road section open, the A30 will be dual carriageway from the end of the M5 in Exeter all the way to West Cornwall near Hayle. A30 Cornwall: New dual carriageway set to open after closure - BBC News
More West Bay rockfall warnings: Major cliff falls continue to occur on the sandstone cliffs at West Bay on the Jurassic Coast near Bridport. Major cliffs falls at East Cliff occurred in December 2023, and January, March and April 2024. The area is popular with tourists who have been warned not to approach the base of the cliffs, and not to use sections of cliff top footpath that have been closed off. Recently, campers received warnings about the dangers of pitching their tents close to the cliff edge. The Jurassic Bridport Sands formation has major vertical joints and weaker beds. These focus wave erosion at high tides and during storms, and the cliff is honeycombed with caves. Parts are also undercut by wave cut notches. A detailed report on the history of erosion of the cliffs at West Bay, including effects of coastal engineering and featuring historic images can be found on this website. It includes images of recent rock falls. Bridport Sands, East Cliff, West Bay, Dorset - geology by Ian West (soton.ac.uk)
Britain’s top 25 most beautiful views include eight places in the South West. A recent poll placed St Ives Bay in Cornwall in second position, and Cheddar Gorge, Somerset and Mounts Bay, Cornwall in joint third position in a list of Britain’s top most beautiful views. 
The Jurassic Coast was voted fourth, and Durdle Door near Lulworth Cove was seventh. The Roman Baths in Bath and Stonehenge were joint eighth. Surveys rating local views or beauty spots could provide ideas and questions for sixth form students undertaking their NEAs. They could also be used as a basis for looking at local characteristics in the Changing Places topic.
Somerset beauty spot has one of Britain's top stunning views - Somerset Live
New Resources for teaching geography:
Planning your fieldwork to support A level NEAs or GCSE? The Field Studies Council (FSC) have a range of resources, ideas and support on their website, including different environments such as coasts, glaciation, water and carbon and places. They include possible questions, and examples of data presentation and analysis. UK School Trips | School Field Trips | Art & Nature Courses (field-studies-council.org)
Placemaking – Field Studies Council (field-studies-council.org)
Looking for inspiration for innovative geography trips? Flooglebinder are a travel company specialising in conservation and geography trips. Our Mission - Adventures that inspire change I Flooglebinder Their recent blog looks at sources of funding and grants to support students taking part in exploration and study trips abroad and contains a wealth of information about trusts and other organisations.
Looking for new resources for the next academic year? This is school provides digital teaching resources including videos, classroom materials and and teacher toolkits. They are currently offering a free trial for schools to look at their materials. Geography | This is School | Digital Teaching Resources
Teaching about woodland ecosystems and forest environments? Forestry England’s website has a wide range of resources including forest management, species, encouraging climate change resilience and habitats. They also provide ideas and guidance for teachers planning a fieldwork trip to a forest. Home | Forestry England
Teaching about the weather and climate change? The Royal Meteorological Society have updated and extended their award winning Teachers’ Guide for teachers new to teaching weather and climate in secondary schools. This is a very comprehensive package of free resources including PowerPoints, classroom activities and ideas. The coverage includes all topics relevant to specifications including weather measurement, UK climate, urban climates, deserts and tropical cyclones. MetLink - Royal Meteorological Society Weather and Climate: a Teachers' Guide
Teaching about Climate hazards? The Royal Meteorological Society have published a topical and detailed resource on Extreme Heat Fieldwork and adaptation. It has been developed by Rob Gamesby (Cool Geography) with the Royal Meteorological Society and the Field Studies Council for the National Festival of Fieldwork to involve the school site and its community. MetLink - Royal Meteorological Society Extreme Heat Fieldwork and Adaptation –
Looking for new topical resources? Check out the free RGS updates for teachers. The recent Sinking Cities looks at problems from different parts of the world and introduces the concept of sponge cities, and Fraying Ties considers how the UK Oil and Gas industry is changing and its effects on regional economies. Sinking Cities - RGS
Fraying Ties - The Changing Face of the UK Oil and Gas Industry - RGS
The GA also provide a range of topical resources and support materials, with many added in recent months, including several on climate change. Online Teaching Resources - Geographical Association (geography.org.uk) Flood management on the River Severn provides a wide range of support materials for non members and members. Flood management on the River Severn - Geographical Association (geography.org.uk) Note that you need to be a member of the GA to access certain resources.
Teaching about Natural Hazards and Volcanoes? Discover the World have a range of resources on active Volcanoes, including Iceland and the Bay of Naples. Classroom Resources | Discover the World Education (discover-the-world.com)
Icelandic Volcano Webcam: See the latest images of what is happening on the Reykanes peninsular. Vaktin: Eldgos er hafið - Vísir (visir.is)
Rayburn Tours provide a range of resources on their website focussing on Iceland and covering Volcanic activity, energy and climate change. The Iceland Series - Rayburn Tours
Forthcoming events for geography teachers:
Geographical Association: Being and Effective Geography Lead is on Monday 8 July. It is a full day, online course aimed at Secondary School teachers. Being an effective geography lead
Encourage your students to submit an entry to the GA’s Physical Geography Photo Competition, sponsored by the British Society for Geomorphology (BSG). The closing date is September 30th. Physical geography student photo competition - Geographical Association
Royal Geographical Society: The next ArcGIS course in the South West, Going Further with ArcGIS will be held at Exeter School, Devon, on Thursday 7 November. The course is for those who have already completed the Teach with GIS one-day CPD course and wish to further develop their knowledge and skills. Going further with ArcGIS at Exeter School - RGS
The following courses and presentations in September, to note in your diary.
Creativity in the Geography Curriculum: Twilight online course on Tuesday 17 September. Creativity in the geography curriculum - RGS
Top tips for teaching A level geography: Twilight online course on Wednesday 18 September. Top tips for teaching A Level geography - RGS
Using Digimaps for Schools for GIS: Free, In-person half day course, London. Wednesday 25 September. Using Digimap for Schools for GIS (rgs.org)
Building Confidence in Geographical Fieldwork: In-person day course at Juniper Hall, between Dorking and Leatherhead, Friday 27 September. Building confidence in geographical fieldwork - RGS
The Changing City - alternative uses of urban space: Online twilight lecture for School Members, particularly relevant to students studying the changing places topic. Free to members. School member lecture: the changing city - alternatives uses of urban space - RGS
Other RGS talks and events for teachers can be found on their website: Royal Geographical Society - Browse our events (rgs.org).
Field Studies Council (FSC): On Saturday 9 November, the FSC are hosting a research seminar day at Slapton Ley Field Studies Centre in South Devon. The day will include a series of short presentations on research being undertaken in the area. Slapton Ley Field Studies Council and National Nature Reserve are inviting proposals for 10-20 minute presentations to feature in this year's research seminar. If you wish to be involved, please contact Em at e.kendall@field-studies-council.org by 1st August 2024.