The following is an example of a 4-day small groups course at Rhyd-y-Creuau. Courses are set structures to ensure groups obtain the maximum opportunity to learn and develop their scientific skills. Session dates and times can be adjusted or changed due to unforeseen weather conditions.

Day 1

Arrive Midday

• Students greeted by staff.
• Welcome talk and centre tour.
• Pre-course meeting with staff and teachers.
• Allocation of wellies/waterproofs.

Afternoon and evening

• Lichens as biotic indicators of pollution
• An investigation to determine the air quality of the Bron Rhedyn woodland next to the busy artery road of the A470. Students will identify how nitrogen air pollution can affect delicate woodland ecosystems and what this could mean for nearby at risk human populations.
• Students will conduct a transect away from the road to identify and record the presence nitrogen tolerant and nitrogen sensitive lichens to calculate biotic indices. Students will be introduced to how they can control methods and sampling strategies as per AQA control requirements. Appropriate abiotic measurements will also be collected to support the study.
• Data will be collated and a Spearman’s Rank correlation Coefficient test will be used to assess any correlation along the transect.

Day 2

Morning

Freshwater sampling

• An investigation to establish the health of a freshwater ecosystem using invertebrate indicator species. Students will identify how human influence and physical landscape features contribute to pollution in local watercourses.
• Data will be collected on freshwater invertebrate abundance and used to calculate biotic indices. Students will be shown how to record abiotic variables such as pH, temperature and oxygen; and how they can support an investigation into an environmental factor with many possible variables.

Afternoon and evening

Soil Analysis

• Students will use a variety of practical skills to investigate soil characteristics in contrasting areas and/or changing environments in the local landscape.
• The investigation will assess how soil composition can determine the rate of infiltration in a soil profile. This will include techniques such as measuring infiltration rates, using soil triangles and sedimentation sieves to compare textures of different soils. Students could also have the opportunity to use soil ovens to measure the change during heating to estimate the percentage water, and during intense heating to estimate the organic matter composition of soil (Loss on Ignition).
• Students will evaluate the data collected and relate their findings to broader environmental contexts, such as soil management strategies and how humans can impact the health of soil.

Day 3

Morning and afternoon

Succession

• Morfa Aberffraw sand dunes contain some of the richest variety of flora and invertebrates in North Wales, but the sand dune has reached an overstabilised condition. The investigation assesses the diversity of these flora and fauna between the overstabilised section and the managed section, to determine if management strategies have been successful.
• Students will use systematic sampling along two transects to collect data on species abundance and distribution using; point frame sampling, open/closed quadrats, and sweep nets. Various abiotic factors such as wind speed, light, soil depth and humidity will also be recorded to assist the study.

Evening

Data Analysis

• Mann Whitney-U will be used in the analysis of data to inform conclusions.
• The context specific maintenance of plagioclimax habitats through human activity will be considered.

Day 4

Morning

The Carbon Cycle

• An investigation into the role of woodland in carbon storage and sequestration. Students will use a combination of fieldwork data and reference charts to calculate mean tree biomass and estimate carbon storage per hectare in a woodland.
• Students will relate their own data to the wider carbon cycle and the ways in which it is being affected by human activities.  They will consider the role woodland can play in sustainable management of the carbon cycle and how photosynthesis and carbon sequestration by trees can play a vital role in counteracting human activities which upset its natural equilibrium.

Depart at Midday

• Review of the course.
• Signposting further actions and opportunities with the the Field Studies Council and beyond.
• Final farewell from staff.