Head's Newsletter 11 December 20209

Biology Field Studies

Spanning six days in October and November 2020, A-Level Biology students took part in a series of Field Studies trips to Bushy Park. For such a well known and frequently visited park, it was fascinating to see how much hidden nature there was within it. Each cohort spent three days on site with the Field Studies Council tutors, where the final aim was to design and carry out an independent investigation into some aspect of Ecology. We had a masterclass in several major ecological experimental techniques, such as laying transects within a sample space, using quadrats and pond dipping (arguably the best one!). We used dichotomous keys to identify previously unfamiliar species, which formed some of the memorable moments in the trip. We were exposed to many different pieces of technical equipment, which enhanced the experience and allowed all A-Level Biologists to collect valid sets of data for their investigations. The Field trip proved to be a great experience and completely changed my perception of Ecology; it was exciting to be able to combine my knowledge from the classroom with a real life practical application. Sophia Year 13