Oakham biologists and pupils studying Environmental Systems and Societies (ESS) recently visited the Game and Wildlife Conservation Trust’s ‘Allerton Project’ in Loddington, Leicestershire.
The Allerton Project’s aims are to research the effects of different farming methods on wildlife and the environment, and the pupils were able to learn about their investigations and results.
The pupils enjoyed presentations on all aspects of game and wildlife management, and saw the award-winning ecologically built visitor centre, with its rainwater flush toilets, haybale walls, solar power and sheep wool insulation.
Head of Biology, Mrs Patricia Ingles, said, “This visit was both interesting and informative and good preparation for their upcoming internal assessments.”
Pupils returned to the centre a few days later and carried out fieldwork, including studying tillage regimes, crop rotations, hedgerow and woodland management, beetle banks, seed crops, and field margins. They also measured changes in flora and fauna.
