A LEVEL ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENTISTS BRING LEARNING TO LIFE AT THE CRANEDALE CENTRE
13.04.2026HNC’s A Level Environmental Science students have recently returned from a three-day residential trip to the Cranedale Centre in Malton, North Yorkshire, where they had the opportunity to bring the lessons learned in the classroom to life through a range of hands-on fieldwork across the North Yorkshire moors.
Students studying Environmental Science explore a wide range of topics, from agricultural eco systems to conservation to biodiversity. Fieldwork forms an essential part of the course, allowing students to put their knowledge to the test beyond the classroom and develop work-based skills that will support their progression beyond the College. In a recent trip to the Cranedale Centre – a residential field studies centre – the College’s Environmental Science students took part in a number of hands-on experiences which saw them develop knowledge that directly links to the curriculum.
Day one saw the group explore ‘agricultural energetics’ – the study of energy input and output in farming systems – visiting a livestock and agricultural farm, meeting the farmers and exploring how the animals are raised, the process of selective breeding and discovering more about the challenges faced in farming communities, from soil erosion to pest control. Fieldwork this day included calculating and evaluating the efficiency of energy transfer between the tropic levels at the farm, and working out the feed conversion ratio. On day two, the group visited the town of Pocklington to explore the levels of freshwater pollution. Following a workshop in which students determined their sampling strategy, quadrat size and kick sample time, the group headed out to collect samples from sites up and downstream of a waste water treatment plant with the aim of measuring a range of data including temperature, oxygen, nitrates and pH levels. On the final day, students enjoyed a special lecture on chalkland succession, and after lunch, visited Wharram Quarry, where the group measured samples of soil and vegetation to assess temperature and humidity.
Emma Reeves, Faculty Lead Maths and Science shares more “A Level Environmental Science is a course that prepares students for a wide variety of careers including ecology, renewable energy, agriculture, marine biology, local and national government, transport design, town planning and conservation… and more! Fieldwork is an important part of that preparation, and in our recent trip to Cranedale, our Environmental Scientists put the skills they’ve developed in the classroom to the test. This is an experience that directly links to the curriculum, especially topics such as agricultural eco systems, conservation, biodiversity and research methodology. I was incredibly impressed by the group, as this was an intense experience that saw them work night and day to collect the samples and data they needed to complete their fieldwork”.
You can view a gallery of images from the trip below.
New Hey Road, Huddersfield, HD3 4GL
