On Friday 24th September seven A2 Biology students and Mr Edwards went on a train to Preston Montford in Shropshire. The lugging of suitcases from train to train and up many flights of stairs was worth it when we finally made it. We were warmly welcomed by Angela who would be our teacher for the next 4 days.
On the first full day we went to Ashes Hollow where we did kick samples of the stream to find and identify the different invertebrates.
On Sunday we went to the Stiperstones, which is heather moorland, where we counted the abundance of other plant species as well as the ages of heather.
On Monday we went to Crosemere Lake to study hydroseral succession: we used a quadrant to measure the percentage of plants in a 50m2 area, so as to identify the changes in plant species as we moved away from the lake.
On Tuesday, our final day, we stayed on site and investigated the invertebrates in Preston Montford’s field pond and its different microhabitats. I’m sure Livy Wardle will remember it well, as she almost fell in when her wellie boot got stuck in the mud and filled with water!
After five days of hard work and being fed almost constantly with yummy food (especially the cakes!) we travelled back to Leamington Spa station, once again having to lug our very heavy suitcases.
Jodie Duffy, Y13