School trip to the Peak District

26-28 April, 2007

Anyone heard of Yerba Mate? It’s an ingredient to an invigorating drink, discovered on a geography trip to the Peak District with a bunch of year 10’s.

Davo was based with the rivers team, who were taking measurements of rivers at different points in the peak district. At least that’s what they were doing when they weren’t covering themselves from head to toe in mud or staring in fascination and amazement at a herd of cows invading the river for a drink.

Fi helped out two other groups of students - both who were looking at the impact tourism is having on small villages and wheather they are likely to be able to cope in the future with growing numbers of visitors. Based in two rural market villages: Ashbourne & Bakewell, students had to take count of pedestrian and traffic numbers, analyse road and pavement congestion as well as asking locals their views on the state of their local area. Meanwhile Fi was able to enjoy browsing round the markets, enjoying the sunshine and eating good food!

Couldn’t be a Felsted school trip without some crazy shinanigans. It all began when one of the students copped a shoulder in the kidneys. It ended in a trip to the accident and emergency with a happy ending for everyone. It was complicated by the fact that the cricket world cup final was being played on the same day and that their were no TVs or radios that were broadcasting it where we were based. Neither was there adequate mobile phone reception to receive frequent updates from mates. So in after sitting in the minibus for periods on end listening to the only radio that could pick up the game, being able to watch the highlights in the a&e waiting room at the hospital was pretty sweet!