By Mrs Swan (Head of Geography)

A glorious summer day on Wednesday saw Year 7 embark on their Geography fieldwork tour around Mid-Bedfordshire. Linking the region’s geology to its topography and land use was the main focus, beginning at Stewartby.

There, we delved into the history of this growing village and its once-thriving brickworks, which famously produced more bricks than anywhere else in the world.

Next, we visited the Forest Centre at Marston Moretaine, where students explored the sensory garden and nature reserve, enjoying a vibrant display of local biodiversity.

Our journey then took us to Ampthill, where students settled in the park on the Greensand Ridge to admire views across the clay vale. From there, they could pick out the Bedfordshire landscape - including the new incinerator at Rookery South and the distant glow of distribution centres on the outskirts of Bedford.

Sharpenhoe Clappers was our penultimate stop, where the shade of ancient beech woodland provided a welcome break at the top of the escarpment. A spot of forest bathing here proved a relaxing way to engage with the chalk landscape, which students also sketched to capture its distinctive features.

Finally, at Barton-le-Clay, students had the chance to cool off and reflect on the day’s learning in the spring, with the sunny weather adding to the enjoyment.

A particular highlight of the trip was seeing the site of the upcoming Universal Studios development at Kempston Hardwick, a timely reminder of how landscapes continue to evolve.

Back in the classroom, students will graph the data they collected, including traffic counts and environmental surveys, before completing an analysis of their findings. This will lead into a decision-making exercise, where they will debate whether or not the Universal Studios development should proceed, drawing on their fieldwork evidence to support their arguments.

A fantastic day of learning and discovery that truly brought the geography of Mid-Bedfordshire to life!

Harriet M (Year 7) commented: "I really enjoyed going around Bedfordshire and learning lots of new geography about the area. Barton Springs was my favourite it was very beautiful and the stepping stones were fun."

Abhinaya (Year 7) added: The geography fieldwork trip was a great experience. I enjoyed exploring all of the different landscapes in Bedfordshire. It was a great opportunity to look deeper into the everyday sights we don’t take much notice of and it made me think about how interesting geography can be if you are a little bit more curious. It also widened my understanding of physical geography and allowed me to use my connection making skills. I am glad I was able to visit all of these wonderful places."

View photos here.