Geography Southwest Newsbites October 2023
The October Newsbites highlights events, new resources and news items for the autumn term.
Save the date! The 2024 Geography Southwest Conference will take place on Monday 17 June 2024 at the University of the West of England. (UWE). Full details of the programme and how to book will be published in March 2024.
New articles on Places to Visit and Places to Walk have been added to this website during September. Paul Berry’s inspirational descriptions and maps feature places like Bude, Dawlish Warren and Pentewan and provide ideas for half term and possible geography trips. New walks include Bude to Sandymouth Cove - fairly level walk exploring fascinating geology and the Bude Canal https://www.geographysouthwest.co.uk/visit-sw/places-to-walk/bude-to-sandymouth-cove/ and Pentewan – Historic Cornish port near St Austell with industrial heritage. https://www.geographysouthwest.co.uk/visit-sw/places-to-walk/pentewan-cornwall/
New places to visit include Millook on the north Cornwall Coast, with its amazing geological exposures where you can see probably the best examples of chevron folding in the UK - https://www.geographysouthwest.co.uk/visit-sw/places-to-visit/millook-haven-cornwall/
Elsewhere on this website, an article on the September 8th Morocco earthquake provides a summary of the causes and effects and some of the responses, aimed at GCSE and A level.
https://www.geographysouthwest.co.uk/?s=Morocco+earthquake
If you work in Devon or are visiting during half-term, check out the RGS Earth Photo exhibition at Haldon Forest Park, Bullers Hill, Kennford, Exeter, EX6 7XR. These stunning photos exhibited on a trail through the woods feature our planet, its inhabitants and the impacts of climate change and are on show from 30 October to 14 January.
Royal Geographical Society - Earth Photo: Haldon Forest Park (rgs.org)
Earth Photo exhibition at Haldon Forest Park | Forestry England
Geography events
UCL Centre for Climate Change and Sustainability Education presents An introduction to Artscaping: developing arts-in-nature in schools. Launching a toolkit, webinar and a research companion document showing how Artscaping, an established arts in nature programme, supports learning, mental health and wellbeing. Tuesday 10 Oct 2023 16:30 - 17:45 (on-line)
GlosGeog, the Geographical Association’s branch in Gloucestershire, has its first lecture for 2023-2024 on Wednesday 18 October from 11.00 to 12.30 at Sir Thomas Rich’s School, Gloucester. It is an in-person event with a live stream option.
A tale of two rivers – the water cycle and what affects catchment hydrology. Dr. Harry West, UWE
Please contact Emma Espley (emma.espley@gmail.com) to reserve a place/s. Do include the number of students and their year group/s, as well as the names of the teachers accompanying them.
Other GlosGeog events this term are:
Monday 13th November, from 1.30 pm to 3.00 pm. ‘Sinking Islands: Resisting Climate Change in the South Pacific’. Dr Liam Saddington, Teaching Associate in Human Geography in Department of Geography, University of Cambridge. In situ at Marling School, Stroud, Gloucestershire + live stream option.
Friday 17th November, 11.00 am to 12.30 pm and 2.30 pm to 4.00 pm. Exploring Personal Geographies: Decolonising and becoming an anti-racist learner, workshop with Iram Sammar, PhD (Geography and Education) student at King’s College London, and Education Consultant for Salaam Geographia, aimed at Year 9 students. Virtual from 11.00 am to 12.30 pm and a repeat in-situ at Cheltenham Ladies College, Gloucestershire, from 2.30 pm to 4.00 pm.
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.
Forthcoming RGS events include:
Educational Visits Coordinator Training (EVC) on Monday 21 November 2023. This full day course covers the important roles of the EVC including risk assessments. It is a national training course and transferable between employers. The course is accredited by the Outdoor Education Advisers’ Panel (OEAP) and training will make use of current government literature relating to school visits. Royal Geographical Society - Educational Visits Coordinator Training - 21 November 2023 (rgs.org)
GIS CPD RGS workshops led by ESRI UK: These courses have featured the potential of ArcGIS. The next course is at Newcastle University on Wednesday 25 October, 10.00am-4.00pm, Newcastle. Teach with GIS – getting started with ArcGIS Online at Newcastle University
Teaching with GIS – Getting started with ArcGIS online. Thursday 16 November 2023, 10.00am - 4.00pm at the RGS in London. Royal Geographical Society - Teach with GIS - getting started with ArcGIS online (rgs.org)
The RGS is running a series of six 2-hour online workshops on Maths for Teachers of A Level geography, starting on Thursday 19 October.
Maths for Teachers of A Level geography: teaching averages and variation. Thursday 19 October 2023, 4.00pm - 6.00pm
Maths for Teachers of A Level geography: the chi-squared test. Thursday 16 November 2023
4.00pm - 6.00pm
Other events relevant to Geography teaching and students are:
Poverty in Britain (panel discussion): Tuesday 24 October 2023, 7.00pm - 8.30pm, in-person and online. Royal Geographical Society - Poverty in Britain (rgs.org)
Facing the difficult truths of the climate emergency, Dr Caroline Hickman. Wednesday 8 November 2023, 6.00pm - 7.00pm. Free. In-person and online. Lecture theatre TC001, Francis Close Hall, Swindon Road, Cheltenham, Gloucestershire, GL50 4AZ
The popular study morning for teachers and their A level students is an in-person event in London on Wednesday 29 November 2023, 10.00am - 12.30pm. Three main topics will be covered - hazards, changing places and the carbon cycle. Royal Geographical Society - A Level study day – morning session (rgs.org)
The RGS also provide an extensive range of topical resources for school members. Royal Geographical Society - Resources for schools (rgs.org)
The Geographical Association offers courses designed to support teachers in classroom.
Quality secondary geography for non-specialists Online starting 29 September.
Other events for Autumn 2023 and Spring 2024 are on their website; Events & CPD - Geographical Association (geography.org.uk)
Geography resources
The Dorset Coast Forum held its annual conference in September and its website includes information on coastal projects from Lyme Regis to the Bournemouth/Poole area, including several coastal defence schemes. Check out their website for more information. Dorset Coast Forum – An independent strategic coastal partnership
The Royal Meteorological Society has new resources for teachers on its website. You can view a new animation on storm surges and see how a depression crosses the UK, both aimed at KS2 and KS3. MetLink - Royal Meteorological Society Teaching Resources
MetLink | Storm Surges - YouTube
UK Centre for Ecology & Hydrology (UKCEH) latest State of Nature report shows that there have been declines in the distribution of more than half (54%) of our flowering plant species, including heather and harebell, and 59% of bryophytes (mosses and liverworts) since 1970, while much-loved animals such as turtle dove, water vole and European eel also face an uncertain future. However, the latest data also show that, overall, freshwater invertebrates have been recovering, with species including dragonflies, mayflies, stoneflies and caddisflies showing an average increase in distribution of 64% since 1978. Overall this very comprehensive survey of the UK wildlife shows that around one in six species are at risk of becoming extinct in the UK. The report contains much useful data for teachers, and shows that climate change, intensive farming and fishing practices are significant causes of the decline, although habitat restoration, sustainable agricultural practices and mitigating climate change can help reverse the decline. Landmark report shows UK’s terrestrial wildlife is continuing to decline | UK Centre for Ecology & Hydrology (ceh.ac.uk)
The National Oceanography Centre latest news story is a worrying report on Arctic Sea ice. The research shows how over the last 40 years, the size of the Arctic sea ice has decreased by 79,000km2 per year on average, and comments on some of the possible effects of this on marine life, ocean temperatures and weather systems. Arctic sea ice continues to decline in response to climate change | National Oceanography Centre (noc.ac.uk)
The Environment Agency has a topical video on Exeter’s flood scheme showing why it was needed, its history and the most recent improvements completed in 2020. This 5 minute documentary film captures the engineering and technical challenges of Exeter’s flood alleviation scheme which uses the natural landscape to reduce flood risk, while at the same time conserving habitat for wildlife. Environment Agency’s Exeter flood defence scheme - YouTube
The Geographical Association has a wide range of resources on its website for geography teachers including the successful pack Exploring our Changing World, aimed at Key Stage 3.
Geography 11-14: Exploring our changing world Teacher's Resource (eBook - pdf download)
Geography News:
Storm Agnes causes damage in South West England
Storm Agnes, the first named storm of the 2023-2024 season, hit Cornwall and Devon on 27 September 2023, causes widespread disruption. High winds of over 50 mph, and 50 mm rainfall led to power cuts, coastal damage and erosion, train cancellations, dangerous driving conditions and local flooding. Penzance sea front was battered by high waves with some local damage. The Met Office had issued a Yellow weather warning, although damage in Ireland and Wales was more significant than the south west. Video footage of the storm hitting Penzance can be found here. Live updates as Storm Agnes batters Cornwall with 50mph winds and rain - Cornwall Live
September thunderstorms and flash floods affect Devon and Somerset
Torrential rain fell across the region on Sunday 17 September, causing significant problems in Devon and Somerset. A Met Office Amber warning was issued, with nearly a month’s rain falling in just one day. In Exeter, the main road into the city from the East was closed due to floodwater and stranded cars, and Exeter Airport terminal was flooded leading to cancellation of all flights. Roads in places as far afiend as Minehead and Stoke Canon near Exeter were like rivers with several centimetres of water pouring along them. Butlins, in Minehead had to close for 3 days due to flooding of facilities. Taunton had several local roads flooded disrupting traffic. Dawlish Water, in Dawlish, normally an attractive small stream through the town centre broke its banks and a wave of water flowed down the valley to the sea, coloured orange from all the eroded sediment from the catchment area. Many local businesses were affected by floodwater. The high rainfall was caused by several intense thunderstorms which followed a week of exceptionally warm weather. The Connecting the Culm project has a blog about the effects of the September 17 rainfall on the Culm catchment, including pictures of floodwater and sediment affecting roads. Rapid response catchments update - Connecting the Culm
Devon floods: Road underwater as Met Office warns downpours of half a month's rain - Mirror Online
Bristol Airport announces major expansion
Bristol Airport, the largest regional airport in the South West and the 8th largest in the UK has announced major investment plans with work starting in November 2023. A new public transport interchange hub costing £60m will be created. There will be 16 bays for the buses and coaches which link the airport to Bristol City Centre, Bristol Temple Meads Station and nearby cities including Bath, Exeter and Cardiff. There will also be new multi-storey carpark with 2000 spaces and improved reception and waiting areas. The work forms part of the airport’s plans to enable 12 million passengers a year to use the airport. Investment has also been secured to enable the major airport hotel alongside the terminal to expand its number of bedrooms. The new facilities will bring many new jobs to the local area. It is also hoped to increase the range of places served by the airport through more flights and encourage inbound tourism to the SW region.
Bristol Zoo gardens redevelopment announced.
The Bristol Zoo Gardens site in Clifton is being sold for residential development. Bristol Zoo was located in Clifton for 186 years, but closed in 2022 when the owners, Bristol Zoological Society started to develop a new 136 acre site on the edge of the city near the M5 motorway junction. Around 20% of the new residential homes will be affordable housing.
Dartmoor Peat restoration work at Cranmere Pool starts in autumn 2023.
An ambitious programme of Peatland restoration will be underway this autumn at the historic Cranmere Pool on Dartmoor’s northern moor where the Dartmoor tradition of letterboxing began. Human activity over hundreds of years including mining, tin-streaming, draining, peat extraction, burning, and military activity have damaged peatlands, – they’ve all left their mark. The Univresity of Exeter estimates that less than 1% of the Dartmoor’s blanket bogs are still actively forming peat. Blanket bogs and peatlands are very successful in storing carbon, and storing water which is then released slowly into the river systems. However, as the peatlands dry out, their carbon is released to the atmosphere, rapid runoff in storms occurs which also erodes the peat, and there is a loss of wildlife habitats. Cranmere Pool’s iconic stone letterbox was once in the centre of a blanket bog, but the bog and pool itself dried out several years ago, and the peat is breaking up and being eroded away. Work will focus on rewetting the peat by blocking up natural drainage pipes and creating peat bunds to slow runoff. It is hoped that in time the pool will be filled with water once again.
The South West Peatland partnership (SWPP) received £ 9 million of funding from Natural England’s Nature for Climate Peatland Grant scheme for work on a four year project in the South West including Dartmoor and Exmoor to restore natural peatlands. Additional funding is coming from South West Water, the Duchy of Cornwall, the National Trust, the Environment Agency and Cornwall Council, with support in kind coming from many other vital partners involved in the project. Staff working for the SWPP are employed by Dartmoor National Park, Exmoor National Park, South West Water, and the National Trust.
South West Peatland Partnership | Dartmoor
Peatland restoration works at Cranmere Pool — South West Peatland Partnership
Exeter’s Heritage Harbour festival promotes tourism
On 23 and 24 September 2023, Exeter’s latest Heritage Harbour Festival celebrated the golden age of sailing ships. The festival took place at the Piazza Terracina and City Basin at Exeter Quay. Several hundred people visited the festival over the two days including many visitors to the city. A key attraction of the festival was the arrival of the sailing barge Snark, a replica of a traditional coastal sailing barge which sailed up the Exeter Ship Canal, and the relaunch of the 110-year-old fishing boat Britannia after extensive restoration. Both ships will stay in the City Basin over the coming months, with the Snark becoming a winter restaurant. The festival was one of several events held at Exeter Quay this year to promote the attractions of Exeter’s maritime heritage, develop tourism and help local businesses by bringing visitors to the Heritage Harbour.
Preparations underway for festival celebrating Exeter’s maritime history - Exeter City Council News
