Set on the outskirts of Snowdonia between the mountains and the coast , Blue Peris is ideally suited to offer a wide variety of sites for use in geography fieldwork, both GCSE and A Level.

The centre sleeps 40 students and six adults, with a separate facility for up to ten students. Groups of any size can be catered for (spaces available). Centre staff are available to assist with the running of the course. An activity day / half day can be catered for on request to break up the fieldwork opportunities.

The following represent some ideas of studies that can be accomplished in the local area, although many others are possible to arrange.

Rivers

Study a river from its mountain source to the sea. Look at cross sections, velocity, discharge, bedload characteristics and distribution.

Glaciation

North Wales has some of the best ancient glacial features in the country. Look at cwm's, aretes, moraines, rouche mountonees, hanging valleys, u shaped valleys, moraine, erratics, and pyramidal peaks. This can be best achieved within the corporation of a mountain walk to see the features up close. A member of Blue Peris staff will accompany this day.

Coastal Landforms

The coast of Anglesey offers a great opportunity to study the coastline. A study can be done on waves, shore material and long shore drift. Coastal erosion on headlands, coastal formations, including spits and bars. Sand dune transects and colonisation. Coastal land use and resort development.

Tourism / Honeypots / Visitor Impact

This can be carried out on the coast, in the mountains or at one of the many tourist attractions in the area. Questionnaires can be used to discover the origin of visitors. Surveys used to look at visitor distribution in relation to honeypot theory etc. A visitor impact survey can be made in a town, the start of a popular walk or the summit of Snowdon for example. The possibilities are numerous in this area.

Power

HEP The Dinorwic HEP station is one of the fastest responding power station in the world. The guided tour and information centre can offer a deeper insight into the world of water power and how it works. The trip also takes you underground to look at the construction and turbines in motion. This incurrs an additional cost per person.

WIND There are many wind farms on Anglesey which can be viewed from a distance, however there are no visitor centres attached to these yet.

NUCLEAR Transfynydd power station has a visitor centre which can be used with the group to look at another source of power. This will incurr an additional cost per person

National Park Issues, Parking, Erosion and Conservation

Snowdonia National Park suffers from the effects of being very popular, thus there are many erosion and conservation issues involved in the area. There are many organisations involved in its protection including the National Trust, Welsh Countryside Commission, National Park, RSPB etc. All these bodies are working together to conserve the area whilst maintaining access for people to use. One of the National Park wardens can be booked to talk about some of the conflicting problems in the area. Footpath erosion and new path construction can be observed (there is a possibility for some active participation in conservation work if requested here), a look at the problems of parking and the new proposed park and ride scheme in the National Park.

Industrial Change, Llanberis Slate / Tourism

The town was an old slate quarrying settlement which can be seen from looking around you. With the decline of the slate industry other uses for the area were found and today tourism is the mainstay of the town. From here the train departs for Snowdon, the Welsh slate museum is sited as is the visitor centre for Dinorwic HEP station to name a few. An evaluation of the past and present land use can be made within this trip.

The above represents a few ideas that can be studied in the area, although there are countless other topics that you may decide to use that we have not mentioned. Many of the days can offer a combination of more than one study, for example a Llanberis day could look at industrial change, tourism and HEP. A coastal day could incorporate all the coastal landform section as well as some visitor impacts and surveys, and a look at wind power. Whilst a trip up Snowdon is a great way to look at glaciation, visitor impact, transport and the honeypot theory.

All courses are adapted to suit the needs of the visiting staff and pupils. Centre staff are available to assist in the choice of sites, identification of species and fieldwork investigations. All classroom based preparation and use of the results will be done by the teachers from the schools visiting the centre to ensure that all subjects are relevant to the pupils.

Blue Peris has a range of fieldwork equipment available for use (see enclosed list), you may wish to bring some additional equipment from your school to supplement this. The centre has one computer for student use and a digital camera for each group. 17 seater minibuses are available for use when at the centre. Teachers should ideally be drivers although non drivers can be accommodated.

Courses at Blue Peris include personal accident insurance for pupils and staff and do not require any further County Council approval.

Please feel free to contact the centre if you have any queries.