Geography Southwest Newsbites March 2024

Written by John Davidson | Posted on the 28th March 2024

Geography Southwest March 2024 Newsbites

Welcome to the March 2024 Geography Southwest Newsbites! Spring is on its way and hopefully there will be some sunny weather for the Easter break. Do look at our selection of places to walk and places to visit in the South West for ideas of where to go. They feature excellent maps and fascinating geographical insights from Paul Berry.

The free Geography Southwest conference 2024 is on Monday 17 June at University of West of England. (UWE). Bookings open on Monday 1 April. Details of the programme are elsewhere on this website. SW Geography Conference 2024 - Geography South West

You can now book your place using this link.

SW Geography Teachers' Conference Tickets, Mon, Jun 17, 2024 at 10:00 AM | Eventbrite

We are delighted to announce that we are partnering with @OakNational to create lesson resources to support geography teachers across the country.

As we work with Oak’s curriculum leads to develop new lesson resources, a geography subject expert group, made up of teachers and other experts, will provide us with regular independent advice and feedback.

The curricula and lesson resources that we make will be free, adaptable and entirely optional for schools. Our first materials will be launched from Autumn 2024 with full curriculum packages available by Autumn 2025.

You can find out more about the work we will be doing with them here (https://www.thenational.academy/blog/introducing-our-new-curriculum-partners ).

Geography Events

The Geographical Association Annual Conference takes place from Thursday 4 April to Saturday 6 April 2024 at the University of Manchester Details of the programme are on the website with a comprehensive range of topical lectures, workshops and field trips. GA Annual Conference and Exhibition 2024 (geography.org.uk)

Look out for these four on-line courses provided by the GA after the Easter Holiday:

Wednesday 17 April to 13 June: (online) Quality secondary geography for non-specialists will provide key skills at secondary level for non-specialist teachers of geography, teaching assistants and those newly transitioning to the subject. Quality secondary geography for non-specialists

Wednesday 17 April to Wednesday 22 May: To 2025 and beyond: Sustainability, climate literacy and action for your school – Online. A series of six webinars focussing on the DfE requirement for sustainability and climate action plans in schools by 2025. The series will be accompanied by a toolkit. To 2025 and beyond: Sustainability, climate literacy and action for your school (geography.org.uk)

Thursday 18 April to 16 May: (online) Enhancing your geography subject leadership. This course will enable delegates to feel empowered to improve the quality of geography provision across their schools with valuable insights and practical strategies from our expert educators. Enhancing your geography subject leadership

Tuesday 30 April: (online) Improving geography fieldwork provision and outcomes. This course will explore how and why it's important to plan for progression in fieldwork enquiries by embedding it into the curriculum, and how this can improve outcomes. Improving geography fieldwork provision and outcomes

The Royal Geographical Society (RGS) programme of talks and events for teachers can be found on their website: Royal Geographical Society - Browse our events (rgs.org). Note that some events are in-person only and there are charges for certain events.

Wednesday 10 April 19.30 to 21.00: South Devon’s caves and their Ice-Age history. Professor Malcolm Hart. The Plymouth Athenaeum, Derry’s Cross, Plymouth, PL1 2SW. In person – Free. South Devon's caves and their Ice-Age history - RGS

Wednesday 17 April 19.000 to 20.30. Online lecture. Climate Change: will business save the planet and how will that happen. Professor Chris Higson Climate change: will business save the planet, and how will that happen? - RGS

Tuesday 23 April 1000 to 1600: Teach with GIS - getting started with ArcGIS. The latest in the series of popular day courses on GIS. Teach with GIS - getting started with ArcGIS (1) - RGS

FREE nature connection programme for schools in economically disadvantaged areas:

Generation Wild is a nature connection programme for schools in economically disadvantaged areas. Over 33,000 children have already taken part and your pupils could join them. At Slimbridge Wetland Centre, the project is open to any school with 25% or more pupils eligible for free school meals. Children follow the magical story of Ava the bird girl, a character who is brought to life during a visit to the wetland centre. They complete nature activities back at school and at home, receiving certificates and membership badges as they become ‘Guardians of the Wild’. The project includes a FREE school visit (including FREE transport) as well as FREE return visits enabling children to share the magic with their families.

We recommend planning ahead and booking for a time of year when you are delivering a relevant topic. This might include work on nature, the environment, animals, habitats, food chains, or migration. We have a few remaining spaces for this academic year and are now taking bookings for September onwards. Please note that priority will be given to new schools and returning schools that have demonstrated high levels of engagement previously.

Find out more at www.generationwild.org.uk

UCL Centre for Climate Change and Sustainability Education provide CPD for teachers. Teaching for Sustainable Futures They are asking for teachers to get their students from years 7, 8 and 9 to complete a survey on what they think about learning about climate change and sustainability. This will help inform their future professional development. Students can complete the survey in school and online. You can access further information about the survey, including instructions for teachers, here. To access the survey directly, click here. Please note that the survey will close on Friday 17th May at 5pm.

Is your department or school involved in an environmental project either in rural or urban areas. Somerset Wildlife Trust Home | Somerset Wildlife Trust has provided a Funding round-up ** with several opportunities for funding for projects in the West Country.

Grow Wild Youth Grants. Are you aged 14–25? Apply for a £500 Grow Wild grant to bring your nature project to life this summer! Applications open February 2024. Find out more.

Hinckley C Community Fund Open Grant. Up to £5000 for communities impacted by construction, to benefit community and wellbeing. Submit applications at any time. Find out more.

Morrisons Foundation. The Foundation supports registered charities, particular smaller charities, making a positive difference in local communities. Grants are available for up to £10,000 for capital spend or direct project delivery. Find out more.

Neighbourhood Planning Grants. Neighbourhood plans give local people a say in the development of their area, including the importance of space for people and nature. Financial support and expertise is available if you are creating a neighbourhood plan. Find out more.

Lush Charity Pot Grant. Distributed to groups working in the areas of Animal Protection, Environment and Human Rights £100, up to a maximum of £10,000 per project/application. Applications accepted at any time. Find out more.

Voltalia Solar Farms Community Fund for Yeovil Area. The fund is open to applications from local groups within 4km of the site. Grants of up to £5000 to projects that improve the social and environmental wellbeing of the local area. Application deadline 6 May 2024. Find out more.

ChangeX Fund. Helping to build thriving and sustainable communities in the UK, you can apply for start-up funding under themes such as Freshwater Watch and Open orchard. Find out more.

Southern Co-op Greener Neighbourhoods Local Fund. If you are a charity or local good cause hoping to build a Greener Neighbourhood for your community, then you can apply for a Greener donation of £500 through your local Southern Co-op Retail store or Funeralcare branch. Find out more.

For tips on how to apply for funding, have a read of pages 12-15 of our Community Action Pack, available for download here (hard copies also available).

**Please ensure you check the relevant website in full before applying, details can change at short notice. Somerset Wildlife Trust are not responsible for the content or quality of any external links and cannot provide individual support for your application.

Somerset Wildlife Trust also have a range of events in April aimed at both students and adults. Events | Somerset Wildlife Trust

Geography Resources

Teaching about the weather? The Royal Meteorological Association have new resources on their website. MetLink - Royal Meteorological Society Teaching Resources Do also check out their climate change concept curriculum planning tool. MetLink - Royal Meteorological Society Climate Change Concept Association Tool - There is also a useful GCSE style question on seasonal carbon dioxide cycles which although aimed at science, has relevant information for geography at both GCSE and A level. MetLink - Royal Meteorological Society Carbon Dioxide - Seasonal Cycles -

Teaching about the water cycle and floods? Look at the latest post about the Oxford Flood Alleviation Scheme, which is very relevant following recent flooding in the Thames Valley. Feb/March 2024 Oxford newsletter (environment-agency.gov.uk)

Teaching about Coasts or visiting the Isle of Purbeck? Check out the post about the plans for flood defence in Swanage. Swanage Town Coastal Protection Scheme | Dorset Coast Have Your Say

Teaching about Iceland? Rayburn Tours have produced a short introductory video to Iceland with very enthusiastic participants which would be appropriate for an introductory lesson looking at physical and human geography in Iceland. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cKPHowSJ2bU&t=5s

Teaching about ecosystems and hedgerow habitats? The UK Centre for Hydrology and Ecology has produced a very detailed map of England’s hedgerows, showing for the first time the full extent of this valuable habitat. High-tech aerial mapping reveals England’s hedgerow landscape | UK Centre for Ecology & Hydrology (ceh.ac.uk) It is also possible to download the data which could be used as part of a NEA. The site also has links to other resources including a podcast on the importance of hedgerow ecosystems. Counting the Earth (audioboom.com)

Teaching about climate change, marine ecosystems and the oceans? The National Oceanography Centre has posted two new stories relevant to geography teacher. European summer weather may be predictable months to years in advance | National Oceanography Centre (noc.ac.uk) shows how Europe’s summer weather is affected by melting ice and how data can help predict future weather patterns. Under the Surface | National Oceanography Centre (noc.ac.uk) provides links to resources on what is happening below the waves, from marine hazards to plastic pollution.

Devon Wildlife Trust have on their website a good news story about the revival of the Atlantic Blue Fin tuna in English waters. There is also discussion of the issue of whether fishing of this species should be allowed. Return of Atlantic bluefin tuna - a story of hope? | Devon Wildlife Trust

South West Geography in the News

The World’s oldest fossilised forest discovered near Minehead. A fossilised forest dating from 390 million years ago has been discovered in the Devonian sandstone cliffs of North Devon and Somerset near Minehead. The exciting discoveries followed research at Cambridge and Cardiff University. These are the oldest known fossilised trees in the world. https://www.somersetcountygazette.co.uk/news/24176348.earths-oldest-fossilised-forest-found-near-butlins-minehead/

https://www.sci.news/paleontology/calamophyton-fossil-forest-12748.html

Follow the Gruffalo this Easter at Haldon Forest: A sculpture of the Gruffalo can be found in Haldon Forest Park South Devon, and you can follow a Gruffalo orienteering course by purchasing a map for £ 1.50. https://www.forestryengland.uk/haldon-forest-park/gruffalo-sculpture-haldon-forest-park#:~:text=If%20you%20venture%20into%20the,directly%20from%20the%20car%20park.

https://www.forestryengland.uk/haldon-forest-park/gruffalo-orienteering-haldon-forest-park

Seaton coastal defences plans announced. The Seaton Hole Beach Management Scheme will protect areas to the west of Seaton including 41 houses from coastal erosion and reduce the risk of damage from high waves and erosion in the town centre. https://eastdevon.gov.uk/news/2024/03/upgraded-coastal-defences-for-seaton-one-step-closer/

https://seatonmatters.org/2024/01/26/seaton-works-to-slow-coastal-erosion-will-start-in-2025/

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