Year 13 Geography trip 02/05/08

On Friday 2nd May the Year 13 Geography students were treated to an inspiring trip around the Norfolk coast. After meeting at school the students were divided into two groups, one of which went with Mr Taylor, who drove the minibus with speed and surprisingly skill; and the other with Mr Georgiou, who was clearly dressed to impress.
First stop was Blakeney, were the breathtaking spit really summed up the reason why most students had wanted to study Geography A-level. ‘Nature at its most breathtaking’, one keen student enthused.
Buoyed by the sight of Blakeney spit, we Geographers set out to Salthouse, where Mr Taylor regaled students with stories of his youth. Some students were also shocked at the revelation that the artificially maintained dune at Salthouse was composed of pebbles AND cobbles. Who’d of thunk it? Such a discovery lingered in the minds of the students until we reached our next destination.
The trip to Overstrand allowed the students to gaze with wonder at the various sea defences that have been constructed on the beach. It was widely appreciated that were it not for these defences, Overstrand may not be in its current state. Such a loss would be a disaster not only for the inhabitants of Overstrand, but for Geographers worldwide.
The highlight of the trip for many was the lunchtime visit to a Fish and Chip shop. Waiting to be served provided an ideal platform for banter between the students after the physical and mental exertions of Overstrand. Happisburgh and Sea Palling provided a poignant aspect to the trip as the students mourned the possible passing of these two great seaside towns to the sea, as proposed by Government recently. ‘A travesty of epic proportions unmatched by anything in the modern day era of seaside town development’ is what one unamused student remarked whilst surveying the unrelenting might of the waves upon the beach of Happisburgh.
On the return trip to school, there was time for the students to mull over what they had witnessed during the day. The confined nature of the minibus allowed a forum of opinion to develop. ‘It allows one to fully understand how our planet is fundamentally changing’ one student commented on coastal processes. ‘Whilst it is exciting for use to try and reduce these changes, the thought that nature may be simply to powerful for us to stop is terrifying’ a fellow student mused.
After arriving back, Mr Georgiou delivered a typically charismatic debriefing which tied up the day perfectly.
A hearty congratulation to the Geography department for setting up such a trip. Hip hip hooray!