
Two field trips in two days!
In this blog, second year BSc Geography student Stephanie Wraxter shares what she learned from two days of fieldwork.
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The second field trip was to Harlech Beach, where we gathered data to look at the characteristics of sand dunes. We collected: a profile of the area; vegetation data; microclimate data; and soil samples for lab work.
Most of this were tasks we had done before, but the microclimate data collection was new for us as we had to use new technology to measure the sunlight, wind and temperature. These are the main influencers on climate, no matter the scale.On this trip those of us who had been on the Llangollen trip were able to take the lead and help the rest of the team in their understanding of the methods we were using. This shows just one of the ways that university helps you develop your CV with skills like communication and teamwork. See, field trips are pretty useful, they’re more than just a fun day out!
Harlech felt like a completely different experience to Llangollen as we were by the sea and wading through long marram grass, compared with scrambling up rocky scree slopes and sitting over 400 meters above sea level. The highest we would have got on this second trip was maybe 30 meters, which just goes to show how varied landscapes can be and how they can change all within one country.We covered a wide range of research methods whilst in the field. This shows how much you can learn whilst participating in active learning such as field work. Taking students on field trips, whether locally, nationally or internationally, creates better engagement and stronger understanding. It allows us to develop a range of skills, from technical data collection techniques to teamwork and leadership.
Stephanie Raxter,
L5 Single Hons Geography student