Department collaborates with Sylva Foundation to produce new forestry fieldwork resources for secondary school geography classes

Nicola Warren-Lee (Lead Tutor for Geography PGCE) and students from the department’s PGCE have been involved in developing new resources to help increase the teaching and learning of British forestry amongst secondary school‐aged people in England.

Working in partnership with the Sylva Foundation, Blenheim Estate and Forestry Commission England the resources have been produced as part of a five year fieldwork project aiming to increase engagement with forestry in the school curriculum and ultimately increase the number of young people choosing career pathways in forestry.

The Fieldwork in the Forest project has involved considering the purpose of fieldwork in the secondary geography curriculum more widely, including planning ideas for fieldwork, and experiencing and trialling fieldwork techniques on site (at Combe Mill in Oxfordshire).

The resources produced include a set of downloadable fieldwork methodology sheets setting out how contrasting forests or woodlands can be sampled and surveyed, as well as case studies and health and safety guidance. A film which aims to inspire geography teachers and their pupils to carry out practical fieldwork in their locality has also been produced.

You can find all of the resources and further information about the project here.

Discover more about the department’s PGCE geography here.