It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas!

Winter 2011

As the Centre becomes quieter at the end of the year we can take the opportunity to spruce up the Centre in time for our visitors next year! On going jobs at the moment are painting and deep cleaning. Education staff are updating resources for sessions and educational displays around the centre.

If you have followed any of the previous blog entries you may remember we have two tanks at centre with adult and juvenile British White Claw Crayfish as part of a project to boost numbers of our native species. They are going to get a new home in the new year. We have already had a new wood unit for the tanks to sit on delivered. In January we are expecting one large brand new tank. This tank will still be split into two with a larger part of the tank for the adults and a smaller part for the juveniles.

Every year the FSC has a staff conference where all centres get together with members of staff representing all departments including hospitality, catering, maintenance, office and education. This year the conference was held in South Wales at Margam Park. Talks included Sustainable Centres, Fair trade Products in our shops and catering, and 'What's New' a look at what centres have developed within their education department in the last year. It is a great opportunity for staff to get together and share ideas for all centres to develop next year.

All the staff at Malham Tarn would like to wish you a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!

Christmas Tree

Every year at Malham Tarn Field Centre we decorate some branches from the estate for our Christmas tree! This year was no exception, we have lovingly decorated our tree for the Christmas season! Our environmentally friendly version of our Christmas tree is a good way to use what is all around our estate, and we are never is short supply!

BBC Radio 4 hunt for the rare Malham Caddisfly

Back in July a crew from BBC Radio 4 stayed at Malham Tarn to find the elusive Malham Caddisfly. The Malham Sedge has not been seen for four years. Paul Evans joins a research project run by Ian Wallace on Malham Tarn to find out if this rare Caddisfly still exists.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/b013fjqs/The_Living_World_Malham_Caddisfly/

Crayfish Project Film

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-RYcm0a-uOg

This is a short film about the work being done by the Environment Agency and local ecological consultant, PBA Applied Ecology, in conjunction with the Yorkshire Dales National Park Authority to protect the native white-clawed crayfish in the rivers of the Yorkshire Dales National Park. The crayfish face two threats - the American signal crayfish and the crayfish plague that they carry. Work is being done to remove the American signal crayfish from the rivers, as well as breeding the white-clayed crayfish in captivity and releasing them into the wild. For more details, see http://www.yorkshiredales.org.uk/whiteclawedcrayfish.htm.

Peregrines at Malham Cove

Follow the link below to watch a short film by Joe Tuck about peregrines at Malham Cove.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eQQPhh7JmK4

Bats at Malham Tarn

Joe Tuck from the University of Leeds has created a series of short films focusing on wildlife in the Yorkshire Dales. Follow the link below to watch the short film on bats at Malham Tarn.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=STvnTRTfOR4

Walled Garden Update Winter 2011

This year has seen the best harvest the Walled Garden has ever had, since we started using it in 2008.

This year the groups that have planted vegetables in our garden have been, Moorfield Primary, Havelock Academy, St Mary's School, Lady Lane Park School, Bradford Girls Grammar, Framingham Earl, Yorkshire Dales Millennium Trust Volunteers and Rauceby Primary.

This November we have harvested 3.5kg of Swede, 7kg of Parsnips including a giant 0.5kg parsnip. These vegetables were used in the kitchen to feed our participants for the research seminar last weekend. Mashed Swede and Roast Beetroot and Parsnips were on the menu!

Total harvests 2011....
22kg of Carrots
7kg of Parsnips
2kg of Summer Sprouting Broccoli
1kg of Purple Sprouting Broccoli
6kg of Beetroot
1.5kg of Radishes
3.5kg of Swede

 

Research Seminar 2011 Review

Once again the Research seminar held every two years at Malham Tarn Field Centre has been a very successful event. Fifteen individual talks were held over the three day event. With many talks specifically focused on research that is happening in and around Malham Tarn Estate and also research from further a field.

Over 40 people attended the event over the three days including students from the local A level colleges of Giggleswick School and Settle College. The intent for the future is for more local students to be able to join in and listen to the different talks.

Below is a complete list of all the talks given over the weekend. 

Research Seminar 2011

Looking Forward

The Seventh Malham Tarn Research Seminar

Friday 18^th – Sunday 20^th November 2011

In the last month Adrian Pickles has moved to the post of Head of Centre at Preston Montford Field Centre and I have moved into post here, coming from Juniper Hall Field Centre.  As a Yorkshireman, I am happy to have returned ‘home’.  I am pleased and excited that there are a number of promises of talks already and will be working on developing the programme further over the coming week.

The Malham Tarn Research Seminar is an important means of focusing ideas about the area around Malham Tarn and brings together the results of ongoing research and monitoring. This will enable participants to consider issues of landscape, ecology and heritage in the wider area and reflect on the opportunities for research and monitoring identified in the Malham Tarn National Nature Reserve Management Plan.

Two areas of special interest this year are the future hydrological management of the Tarn Moss peat cliff and identifying, recording, storing and using the potentially vast range of data about the area.

The exact programme will depend on the full range of speakers and presentations but the weekend will begin on Friday night with an informal get together over dinner, when the final programme will be available. Formal presentations would then start on Saturday morning running through the day. On Sunday there will be will the opportunity to make site visits and for a wider ranging discussion if this is needed, with departure after lunch.

Whether you are a new researcher or already established in the area it would be marvellous to see as many people as possible at the Seminar. 

If you are planning to come, please do give me a call on 01729-830331 or e-mail me on mike.mt@field-studies-council.org to discuss your presentation and the programme.   Please contact us if you need a registration form

If you have already responded please spread the word to anyone else who you think should be here. They, and you, can be sure of a warm welcome at Malham Tarn Field Centre for some or all of the proceedings.  If you are unable to attend but would like to contribute in some way or kept on the mailing list for future seminars please let me know.

Mike Cawthorn
Head of Centre

Research Seminar 2009

Good Luck to Adrian Pickles!!!

After 10 years at Malham Tarn Field Centre, Adrian Pickles our Head of Centre has left to a new position within the FSC. Adrian has taken the position as the new Head of Centre at the Preston Montford Field centre in Shropshire.

Adrian had first come to the Centre in the 1980s as part of a team researching groundwater and erosion rates and then later went on to work  as a Centre Assistant for 6 months.  For the seven years before joining the FSC he worked as Head of Science at Blessed Robert Johnson Catholic College in Telford. 

After a decade managing Malham Tarn Field Centre, Adrian has seen the centre through difficult times, during the outbreak of Foot and Mouth disease in 2001.  After this time, Adrian was key in developing operational systems for the centre to work more effectively. He has been a key part in developing relations with Universities and individuals to conduct vital and interesting research into the area. In this time the Centre has been awarded a Gold Safety Shield Award and been accredited with the Learning Outside the Classroom Badge. This has all been achieved with running a centre with a great atmosphere, as one of the large centres in the FSC portfolio.

We would like to wish Adrian all the best at his new centre and hope he comes back soon to visit! 

Bets on for the first snowfall!

As the time approaches when the UK gets darker and colder into the winter months, Malham Tarn staff eagerly (or some not so eagerly) await the first winter snowfall.

Bets are on for when the first snowfall will be.........

Make your guesses now and post a comment to this blog or on the Facebook group page
Malham Tarn Field Centre FSC.

New Head of Centre Mike Cawthorn

The staff at Malham Tarn Field Centre would like to welcome our new Head of Centre, Mike Cawthorn. Mike has recently taken over from Adrian Pickles after Adrian left to become the Head of Centre for Preston Montford Field Centre in Shropshire.

With a career in travel management, followed by further education as Head of Outdoor Education for Kendal College in the Lake District,  Mike joined the FSC in 2009 as Head of Centre at Juniper Hall, where he managed the continued growth and development of business activities with upgrading of accomodation and education provision.

Mike is an avid sailor and  keen skier, has 4 guitars, two dogs, and one son who currently works at Juniper Hall.

It is an exciting time for staff and guests as Mike joins the team and we would like the chance to welcome him to Malham Tarn.

Wildlife Wanders by BEES and the FSC photos

The wildlife wanders run over the summer with the FSC in conjunction with Bradford Environmental Education Service were very successful. Follow the link below to photos from the events.

http://www.bees-ymca.org.uk/image/tid/229

Rob Brydon and Steve Coogan in BBC's 'The Trip' at Malham Cove

During February 2010 The BBC filmed The Trip about a restaurant critic Steve Coogan & friend Rob Brydon visiting a selection of our best Northern Restaurants including L'enclume, The Inn at Whitewell, Hipping Hall, The Angel & The Devonshire Arms. Whilst in Malhamdale the pair visited Malham Cove, the limestone pavement, Malham Tarn and Gordale Scar.

September

With the return of schools back for the autumn term the centre has been busy again with mainly Geography and Biology A level groups with a few Key Stage 2 and 3 groups. Biology A level groups have been St Edwards, Horsforth, Challenge College, Erymsteds Grammar, King Edward & Queen Mary, Hall Cross, Buttershaws, St Peter's and Dixons Allerton.
Ackworth visited Malham for a day for KS3 Science, Parkside for their GCSE Controlled Assessment, and Lady Lane KS2 Day visit. The University of Cumbria brought their PGCE students and Skegness Grammar students studied for their A2 Geography course. The American School of London brought over 40 year 8 pupils on an Ecology week to the centre.


We have three new members of staff in the Domestic team, and the field centre would like to welcome Steve, Claire and Tom to the team.


Over the summer the education team have been developing new resources, which has included the use of an interactive voting system for students to answer questions with.


Over the next couple of months in the run up to christmas the centre will be fairly busy with many different groups.

Reggie the Crayfish

Malham Tarn has been the home to a tank of Crayfish for a couple of years. The native species of British White claw crayfish have been in decline since the introduction of the American Signal Crayfish. The American signal Crayfish which is larger, stronger and more aggressive than the British crayfish can carry a Plague, of which the British specie has no resistance. The tanks at the Field Centre are part of a country wide scheme set up in 2000 as there was worry about the future of the White Claw species.

Reggie was one of the first crayfish to be in the tanks at the field centre. He was a bright blue, which is the rare effect of genetic phenomenon. Crayfish need to shed their skin in order to grow, and it was at this point in Reggie's life on the 18th Sepetember when he had shed his skin that two other crayfish in the tank took advantage and attacked Reggie which led to his sad demise.

The photos show the exoskeleton he had shed just before his death and Reggie in his prime.

 

Wildlife Wanders by BEES (Bradford Environmental Education Service) In conjunction with the FSC

BEES (Bradford Environmental Education Service, part of Bradford YMCA) is running a series of guided walks within easy reach of the City. Each walk we will explore the plants and animals that make these areas interesting wildlife hotspots. We will explore links between geology and wildlife.

The events are aimed at anyone with an interest in wildlife – you might be a complete beginner and just starting to explore local wildlife or you may already be an experienced naturalist wanting to enhance your skills and enjoy the habitats in the company of others.

If you are interested in attending any of the sessions please contact BEES to book a place. We will meet at Bradford YMCA, Little Horton Lane. Minibus transport is available or you can meet us on the site at the start time.  We expect the sessions to last about 2 - 3 hours, but it is weather dependant.  Please come prepared.

·        Wednesday 31^st August – Woodland plants and animals

Northcliffe Woods, Cliffe Wood Ave, Bradford Road

Time: 5.30 – 7.30pm (or meet YMCA 5.00pm)

A look at the plants in the woodland habitat.

·        Saturday 3^rd September – Urban Wildlife

Brackenhill Urban Landscape Area, Westcroft Road, Great Horton, BD7

Time: 3.00 – 6.00pm (or meet YMCA 2.30pm)

Finding out about the flora and fauna on this urban site managed by BEES.

BEES: Bradford Environmental Education Service.                

YMCA, Little Horton Lane, Bradford, BD5 0JG

Tel: 01274 513102 / 07970 621732 (mobile)

www.bees-ymca.org.uk          Email: bees@bradfordymca.org.uk

Facebook Group

Our Facebook group is a great way to contact us at the Field Centre. You can post pictures and comments to the group, and join the group!

 

Walled Garden

The Walled Garden at Malham Tarn was left derelict for many years until 2008, at which time the Field Centre and National Trust have overhauled the whole garden and started planting crops of vegetables again. 

The overall area of garden is split into two with a wild habitat garden with large fruit trees as one half and the other half is a large vegetable plot. Both have gone from strength to strength each year. We have numerous visitor to the Field Centre who take part in conservation activities. One of the main things that the students do is to look after our part of the Walled Garden. Tasks have included path laying, path clearing, vegetable planting, bird feeder making, weeding, and habitat construction.

Jane Tomlinson's Walk for All in the Yorkshire Dales!

On Sunday over 2000 people have registered to take part in the Jane Tomlinson Walk for All, Yorkshire Dales Walking Festival. With 4 walks varying in length from 26 miles to 4 miles, the inaugural walk is fully booked. 

By pulling on their walking boots, many participants will be fundraising for one of the following event partner charities. Macmillan Cancer Support, NSPCC, Yorkshire Wildlife Trust, Pendleside Hospice, Parkinsons UK, Epilepsy Action, Heart Research, East Lancashire Hospice, Martin House Hospice, Yorkshire Cancer Research, and The Jane Tomlinson Appeal.

Malham Tarn Field Centre will be a refreshment stop for 650 people taking part in the 26 mile walk and the people on the 4.5 mile Walk and Wheel route.

Good luck to everyone on their walks!

If you want to volunteer to support the participants on the day there is still time, contact

Email volunteer@runforall.com for more details.

BBC Radio 4 Limestone Pavement Show

Listen to the recent broadcast on Limestone Pavement from the Three peaks area of the Yorkshire Dales. 

http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b007qyz3

BBC Chase rare Caddisfly

The team from the BBC Radio 4 show, The Living World stayed at the centre at the start of July to find a rare Caddisfly found at Malham Tarn. The show is a Natural history programme which aims to broadcast the best, most intimate encounters with British wildlife.

The incredibly rare Caddisfly which only has a Latin name Aqrypnia Crassicornis, is a flightless. In the UK it has only ever been found at Malham Tarn, however can be found in other countries like Mongolia, Estonia and Finland. The team of 3 stayed at the centre for 2 nights to hunt for the elusive Caddisfly. 

To see how the team got on with their hunt kisten to the show. It is due to be broadcast on BBC Radio 4 August 21st at 06.35am, however it will also be available soon after for broadcast on the BBC i-player. 

Yorkshire Naturalist Union 150th Anniversary

On the 29th July to 1st August Yorkshire Naturalists Union met at Malham Tarn to celebrate 150 years of recording and conservation in Yorkshire. Around 40 people came to stay for either the day or for the whole weekend, so they could look around the Malham Tarn area. If it swam, flew, grew or died, it was counted and identified. The group set off during the day in many smaller groups to investigate things in their own field of interest.  The weekend was a great success and many of the group have promised to come back soon. Congratulations to the YNU on their Anniversary and wish them many more years of success.

If you would like to use Malham Tarn Field Centre as a venue please contact the office on 01729 830 331 or enquiries.mt@field-studies-council.org

Swallows and Malham Tarn

For the past few years Swallows have nested in North Wing building over one of the main entrances. This year once again the parents have laid eggs and four have hatched into young. The babies hatched a couple of weeks ago and are doing very well. The mother and father have been bringing food back to the young regularly and the chicks have grown very fast.

End of June to mid July

At the end of the exam period, centre has become very busy again with 24 groups visiting centre since June 18th. We have had a mixture of A level and Primary groups at centre for mainly residential trips with a few day visits.

Minsthorpe Community College, Titus Salt, Batley Girls, Kirkham Grammar, Quegs, Acrington and Adcote, Rugby School, Sale Grammar, KESH Academy, Highfields School, Ecclesbourne School all visited to start their A2 Biology course ready for next year. Claire's Court and Bexley Grammar also started their A2 Geography course.


Dixons Allerton, Tauheedul Girls, Gateways School and Ripon Grammar studied rivers and tourism as topics for their GCSE controlled assessment.


Primary School groups who took part in a variety of activities around the centre where Cracoe and Rhylstone brought their whole school of both KS1 and KS2 pupils. Giggleswick Primary, Rauceby Primary and Meanwood Primary all brought their KS2 students. They took part in a variety of activities including woods, ponds, rivers, team games and conservation activities.


Newcastle School for Boys brought Yr 7 students to take part in adventure activities and learn about the rocks and scenery of the area. Framingham Earl from Norfolk took part in their Discovery award for their John Muir course. Finally St Aiden's did a Freshwater day for their Environmental Science A level.

The weather has been fairly nice with some days reaching temperatures of 24 degrees, which has been good for all the fieldwork.

We have had Emily Cooke a work experience student from Upper Wharfdale School at the centre for two weeks. Emily has taken part in many aspects of centre life, from helping in  the kitchen and cleaning some of the rooms in centre to experiencing fieldwork data collection for A level Geography and Biology.


There are some changes to education staff at the Tarn. Liz Earley our trainee tutor has been promoted to Tutor at the Snowdonia Centre Rhyd-y-Creau. We would like to wish her all the best in her new role. Jennie Richardson will be a new trainee tutor at the centre. Jennie has spent time recently teaching at our Derrygonnelly centre in Northern Ireland, we would like to welcome Jennie to the team at Malham.

How many members of staff do you need to evict a vole?

As part of the courses that we run at Malham Tarn Field Centre we trap small mammals using Longworth traps. They are set overnight in woodland around the centre, and staff and students go to check them in the morning. The traps used give the creatures food and a warm safe bed for the night away from predators, so they are not harmed. Species normally caught are Wood Mice and Bank Voles.


However to our surprise we found a lonely vole in the common room today. We managed to catch the vole and release him into woodlands out of the house. The only possible way the vole could have got into the centre would be via a window. Being set in the middle of woodlands in a National Trust Estate in a National Park does mean we sometimes have some interesting visitors.

National Trust Orchid House

After many months of redevelopment the National Trust have opened the Orchid House. The building on the Pennine Way behind the Field Centre buildings has undergone extensive structural and decorating work. The Orchid House was officially opened on Thursday June 9th. The facility is to be used as a classroom and event room by the National Trust. However the building now offers toilet facilities for people walking the Pennine Way and Information Boards for the area. Previously the nearest toilets to the Tarn were in Malham Village. This will now be very welcome for the thousands of people who walk along this path every year.

June so far...

With many A level and GCSE students studying for their exams we have been busy with younger groups and University groups. Staff from the centre have taught two Open University groups as part of their Environmental Science in the Field course. Leeds and Aberdeen have also run self taught residential visits to the centre. The students undertook many different interesting projects when they were here involving catching and releasing small mammals, catching and tagging birds and bat surveys.

Heatherton House, Westholme Middle School, Priestly College, Lomond School, Queen Anne's School, Cheadle and Marple College and Cardinal Langley High School have all visited centre.

May and June have been fairly wet months, probably to make up for the near drought conditions of April. Fishing is still going well with many fishermen being sucessful.


The centre is constantly updating fixtures and fittings and we have recently made the staff common room a bit more comfortable. If you are visiting soon, we hope you enjoy it!

May

After the Easter Break centre has been  very busy again with many groups over May. With exams taking place in schools we have had many visits day and residential from Key Stage 1 and 2 groups. Moorlands, Lady Lane Park, Settle Primary, Giggleswick Primary, St Nicholas,  were involved in sessions like rivers, rocks, soils and pond dipping. Whilst St Mary's School from Colchester completed their Discovery Award for their John Muir Award course and returned to school eager to set up and find Geocaches around their home area. They also presented back to the school and their parents everything they learned from exploring the Malhamdale area.

Other groups to visit have been John Lyon's School, Cokethorpe, Hull Collegiate and Archbishop Sentamu studying geography as part of their Year 9 and 10 studies.

Malham Tarn in JLS film

If you read our post from April you may remember JLS shot a short film sequence at Malham Tarn at the end of March. The footage that they shot was used in their film 'Eyes Wide Open.' Their film was in cinemas UK wide for just one day on the 3rd June. Did you manage to see Malham Tarn, when the group played football at the side of the lake?

Bluetits

At Malham Tarn Field Centre we have nestboxes and batboxes around the buildings. This year we have had a pair of Bluetits that have nested and laid 7 eggs. Two hatched yesterday on May 19th and the third hatched today on May 20th. They have been named Louis, Sky and Tess by St Mary's School from Colchester, who were here as part of their John Muir Award Course. Check back to find out how many more have hatched.

April

With Easter being late in the year the start of April was busy whilst late in April during the main Easter holiday time it has been quieter. Groups that visited in April were Turnford , Cheshunt, Macmillan Academy, Gosford Hill, Friends School, St Aiden’s School, Archbishop Isley,  King David’s High School, Havelock Academy, Burnley College and Wakefield Girls.

Whilst centre has been fairly quiet it has been possible for many jobs to be done to spruce up centre including painting, and new furnishings.

Fishing season has started as from May the 1^st, with many bookings already in the diary for the coming season. The Tarn has also featured in The Trout and Salmon Magazine, the article describes the great quality of fishing that can be expected here.

The weather has been amazing up at the centre as well as the rest of the country, we have had in total 205.4 hours of sunshine in April which is almost double the average of 120.3hrs. April 27^th was the sunniest day with 13.1 hours of sunshine, whilst the hottest day was the 21^st with a top temperature of 18.9⁰C

An ITV documentary called ‘The Dales’ filmed recently around the area is currently being aired. The programme is a follow up to the popular show from last year called ‘The Lakes.’ The TV crew follow local farmers and people for a 12 part documentary where Adrian Edmondson returns to the county where he was born.

Malham Tarn Field Centre Video

End of March

March has been a very busy month for groups at the centre. Since the last update, Bishop Milner, Cheltenham College, South Craven School, Oundle, Roundhay School, Albyn School, Oasis Academy and Benton Park School have all visited the centre to study for their AS Geography exams. Other groups such as Belvedere, Sandbach School, Burnley College, and Cardinal Langley have been to the centre for part of their A level Biology or Environmental Science course.

Moorfields High brought a Key Stage 2 group for a residential visit towards their John Muir Award. The award is developed to help students ‘Discover, Explore Conserve and Share.’ Carlton Primary brought their Year 3 and 4 pupils for a day visit to explore Malham and find out about, rocks, soils and settlements.

JLS at Malham Tarn

On Sunday 13^th March the UK’s most popular boyband JLS made an appearance at the Tarn. They were filming a sequence for their upcoming tour starting at the end of May this year.

The band appeared with a coach on the East Drive of the Tarn. The sequence filmed to be shown during the concert, was a story that the band were travelling to their next tour location around the UK when their bus broke down at the Tarn, the guys got out of the tour bus and started to play football.

A couple of local young fans who were in the area at the right time got to meet the band who were happy to have photos taken with the group. 

March so far

The start of March has brought many visiting groups to the centre. Recently Presdales School, Sir Thomas Wharton School and Robert Pattinson College have all brought A Level geographers.  Norton Knatchbull School and Fakenham College brought joint groups for A Level Environmental Science and Geography, travelling from Kent and Norfolk respectively.

At the centre we have freshwater display tanks in which we have had many species including trout, crayfish, mussels and other freshwater invertebrates.  Our two adult White Clawed Crayfish, Reggie and Claudia, went on an outing to Giggleswick School, as part of a careers talk given by local firm PBA Applied Ecology to inspire young people to look at a future in the environmental sector.  There is still so much that is not yet understood about our world - for instance, why is Reggie a startling blue colour?

As part of the second recruitment programme by the FSC to find new trainee tutors for all centres, we would like to welcome Cian Gill to the team as a member of the education department at Malham Tarn. Cian will be training and working at Malham Tarn over the next few months until a permanent position comes up at another FSC centre.

The Spring Newsletter is complete and all schools on our database will be receiving it over the next few weeks.

Summary of 2010 by Adrian Pickles (Head of Centre)

This is my tenth year as Head of Malham Tarn Field Centre and whilst I am getting the hang of things, there is always something new to learn and someone else to learn from. 2010 began and ended with snow and ice affecting everything that we did. Living and working on Malham Moor presents a number of challenges when the weather is cold and I should say thank you to the many people who helped us out particularly in the first three months of the year. The Tarn froze for 80 days in what was probably the coldest winter since 1982. Winter was followed by a cold and dry spring with less than 12 cm of rain between April and June. The moor stopped looking like Siberia in March and started to look like the Sahara in May- the grass didn’t seem to start growing until June; full details will, as usual be available in the 2011 Wildlife and Weather Report.

Malham Tarn Boat House on Tv!

In Autumn last year Channel Four filmed an episode of 'The Secret Supper Club' in the West Boat House on the shore of the Tarn. Using the kitchen up at centre to prepare food for the programme, they then set up a dinner party in the Boat House for three members of staff and local food producers.

The show is due to be aired on Channel Four, Saturday 19th Feb at 3.50pm.

Key Stage 2 Open Evening

On March 17^th from 5.30-8.30pm, Malham Tarn will open it’s doors to teachers and educators involved in Key Stage 2 teaching. The centre has many courses suitable for residential and day visits for this age group and we welcome you to have a look around the centre, meet the team of tutors and discuss the needs of your group over tea and cake!

To express an interest or for more information about this event tel; 01729 830 331

or email: enquiries.mt@field-studies-council.org

February 11th 2011

Since our last update the centre has been busy with a wide range of visitors.

Most recent groups to the centre include, St Hild’s from Hartlepool Year 9 students who took part in geography and team building sessions. King David High School from Manchester stayed for two nights to study geography for their A level exams. St Ambrose Barlow School from Liverpool walked from the Centre to Malham village collecting data on tourism in a National Park for their GCSE controlled assessment.

Malham Tarn Centre has had a spring clean for the visitors in the year ahead. Classrooms have been painted and displays around the centre have been created.

On the weekend of the 5^th-6^th Feb Malham hosted the Field Studies Council Executives meeting. The board of Trustees of the Charity and Heads of all the FSC Centres met to review the past twelve months. The event was highly successful and demonstrated the versatility of the centre and staff.

The Annual Malham Tarn Wildlife Weather Report 2010 is near completion and will be ready to download or purchase soon. Check back for the release date.

January 2011

2011 so far… January has been a quiet month at the centre for groups although due to the snow in December, three groups who were unable to get here have visited and completed their courses in the new school term. Snow once again made travel interesting for the first week back, however since then the weather has turned milder and the Tarn has thawed completely for the first time in nearly 2 months.

King’s Academy from Middlesbrough visited to do their GCSE Geography Controlled Assessment on tourism in the Malhamdale area. The Dark Peak Runners, an adult running group, also used the centre as a base for their annual meet.

Education staff have taken part in FSC wide training for science and geography, including reviews of the GCSE Geography Controlled Assessment and developing Key Stage 4 Science Courses.  It also equipped us to deliver the latest national survey from Opal, The Climate survey, to be launched in Spring of this year.

The centre is currently undergoing a full spring clean and painting of our classrooms is underway ready for the next students arriving at the beginning of February.