£200 Remaining fee for C7148 Conservation Ecology Field Course to Slapton.
Dates: March/April 2027 (dates TBC, see Canvas).
Email: ebe@sussex.ac.uk / C.Drees@sussex.ac.uk / fosem-info@sussex.ac.uk
Detailed Description
- Where: Slapton Ley Field Studies Centre, Devon
- When: March/April 2027 (dates TBC)
First-hand experience of a range of environments, habitats and species is essential for developing an understanding of the conservation issues that can face them. Slapton Ley is a National Nature Reserve within the South Devon Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty which provides access to a variety of ecologically vulnerable habitats that makes it ideal for learning about conservation ecology. During the course of the week, we will visit four National Nature Reserves, one National Park (Dartmoor), a Heritage Coast and several Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSIs); these will include different types of woodland, heathland, grassland, sand dune and coastal shingle habitats. In each case, you will learn why the sites are important for biodiversity, how they are managed for conservation and the challenges faced in preserving them. On the last day, you will carry out a fully professional ecological survey of one particular site. This will provide you with experience of one of the most typical tasks that a professional ecologist would need to carry out if they worked in the conservation field. The module assessment will combine reports of the daily fieldwork exercises with a write-up of the ecological survey.
Important requirements to be aware of, please read carefully before selecting this field course:
We do quite a lot of walking on this field course, so students need to have basic fitness to be able to walk up to 4km on some days. We will have long days in the field followed by some evening work indoors. Some flexibility for engagement in all activities can be provided when necessary (e.g. pre-existing medical conditions).
Students will be sharing rooms and toilet facilities for the duration of the field course, so space for social dispersion will be limited.
** FULL PAYMENT OF THIS FEE MUST BE MADE AT LEAST 1 WEEK PRIOR TO DEPARTURE.**
Email: ebe@sussex.ac.uk / C.Drees@sussex.ac.uk / fosem-info@sussex.ac.uk
