On 10th September 19 A-Level Biologists and 12 Human biologists set off for The Wash Study Centre at Gibraltar Point Nature Reserve in Skegness for their field study course.
As part of the A2 syllabus both groups learned about sand dune succession with the help of Lincolnshire Wildlife Trust’s Education Officer, Hannah, and a ‘dead seal’ (aka Alex).

Following 2 hours on the beach pupils were able to differentiate between Sea Couch Grass, Marram Grass and other sand dune species.  They also measured soil porosity, wind speeed and changes in the height of the sand dunes.  Combining all this knowledge allowed pupils to build up a picture of the succession and underlying causes of the changes in species from young to old sand dunes. 

On the 11th September the Biologists returned to investigate plant adaptations and distribution on the salt marsh.  A brief tasting of ‘poor man’s asparagus’ ensued before pupils began using point quadrats to identify differences in the distribution of plants on the upper, middle and lower marsh.