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Shrewsbury, Shropshire, United Kingdom
FSC Preston Montford has been an outdoor classroom since 1957 and is a Field Studies Council centre. We deliver curriculum related outdoor education by the experts; from pre-school to Masters level; for infants, school students, undergraduates and enquiring adults with an interest in the natural world. Courses for schools and individuals. A venue for others to use; with bed space for 130, catering facilities and 7 fully equipped teaching and meeting spaces.

Wednesday, August 23, 2017

Young Darwin Scholarship 2017



Young Darwin Scholarship
by Sophie Kitching and Adam McKay
For a week this summer, fourteen young people arrived at Preston Montford for a crash course about the Shropshire countryside. From all four corners of the UK, we had an eclectic variety of interests, ranging from moths and birds to generalists. What we had in common was a natural curiosity and a shared passion for the natural world, in all its shapes and forms, as Darwin did.

When we discovered that we’d been offered places on the scholarship, our squeals of excitement could surely be heard as far away as Shropshire. We were also all slightly apprehensive, of course: would everyone else be able to distinguish the 1,850 species of micro moth? Would they know the difference between a Sciurius vulgaris and Calluna vulgaris

Over the week, along with copious quantities of cake, we consumed a huge variety of knowledge (and a Harvestman!). We hiked across the beautiful myth-imbued landscape of the Stiperstones, canoed along the rather muddy River Severn, and sniffed mink poo on a stick – in case you were wondering, it smells as foul as you’d expect. There was a long list of highlights, including kingfishers on the river, a surprise encounter with a buzzard, a little egret and otters caught on the camera trap. It would be ignorant to not acknowledge the fact that we also saw great crested newts (don’t worry, we didn’t disturb them). When reflecting on the experience, we think of one word-  AWESOME!

As well as being great fun, we all learnt a huge amount over the week, over a wide variety of subject areas. We were fascinated to identify and study springtails in considerable depth, which was a first for many of us. We also gained an insight into botany, learning how to write floral formulae while munching on a surprisingly tasty sorrel leaf. Particularly compelling was learning to distinguish different species of bats from the frequency of their echolocation. Other mammal spots included bank voles, wood mice and a common shrew, all of which were caught using Longworth traps, and of which we were taught to identify the sex.

In essence, it was rewarding, fun, and provided a wealth of indispensable experience. Meeting and learning from inspiring experts was something very special, but equally important was the chance to meet and learn from other enthusiastic and knowledgeable young people our own age. 

If you’re interested in ecology, geography, biology, geology, conservation, zoology or the future-of-our-planet-ology, then you should definitely apply to come on the Young Darwin Scholarship programme. You never know, you might be the next Darwin!

Monday, August 21, 2017

The summer holidays are here!

The summer holidays are a particularly interesting time for us in the education team. Schools are enjoying their break, so our warm summer days are spent leading a variety of different groups to locations that we unfortunately only get to visit occasionally during the rest of the year.

Getting close to nature!
Summer 2017 has been a whirlwind of outings and sessions: Our Family Wildlife Safari group have just left (having spent the week hunting for the “Big 5” creatures in various tranquil and scenic locations all around Shropshire), the Young Darwin Scholarship group are in next week for an action packed residential and the Secret Hills walking holiday gets underway.

Last week we had a new group – the “Duke of Edinburgh’s Award Biodiversity and Conservation residential”. A group of 16/17 year olds who didn’t know each other came to FSC Preston Montford to learn more about biodiversity and conservation, and also to improve their social skills. The group spent the week getting to know each other, whilst we guided them around the county in a variety of tasks from surveying Darwin’s childhood garden to bracken bashing with the National Trust and a Spider identification workshop here at FSC Preston Montford. Keen photographers took part in a photo competition, with some brilliant results (see below!). Knowledge was built up and all left with new friends – a great week that will also help them complete their Gold DofE!








Three brilliant competition photos
Good times have been had by all, with many memories being made! The life of an FSC tutor is certainly a varied one!

We are looking forward to the return of our regular programme in September when the first of the next wave of school groups return to our door. If you are interested in exploring Shropshire with us next summer, then book yourself onto one of our summer courses – we’re certainly looking forward to them!

Jonathan Calcraft, Education Team

For more information about the courses offered at FSC Preston Montford please go to http://www.field-studies-council.org/centres/prestonmontford.aspx, alternatively please contact us on enquiries.pm@field-studies-council.org or telephone us on 01743 852040.