GEOGRAPHY TRIP TO KEW GARDENS
The Second Form enjoyed a day trip to Kew Gardens in which they learnt about the ecosystems of tropical rainforests, a core topic in Second Form Geography.
My group started the day with a nature walk around the gardens. We firstly went to the Hive, which was a massive metal structure with sounds projecting the buzzing of the bees and lights which illuminated it in the dark. After this, the weather decided to interfere with what had been a perfect start to the day by pouring down with rain. It tried its hardest to ruin the mood, but we still found a way to go on an 18-metre-high tree-top walk where we could see the whole park, and draw a picture of the beautiful surroundings.
After lunch, my group was taught more about the geographical locations of rainforests and what uses they have for us. Next, we took samples of the humidity, the air and soil temperature, the light, and the moisture in the soil from outside, and then compared them to the tropical rainforest climate that they had indoors at Kew. We quickly realised that the soil in the greenhouse was far more moist, there was much higher humidity, and that the temperature was much higher too.
Finally, whilst we were inside the tropical greenhouse, we studied some of its plants, for example the coffee plant from Ethiopia. Coffee plants are actually a cause for deforestation, as people cut down the trees to provide room for coffee plantations. Overall, it was a very insightful trip, and we did not let the persistent rain ruin our experience!
Jack - Second Form
The trip was a fun-filled and exciting if a little damp day. We started off in the tropical rainforest greenhouse learning about the difference between England's climate and a typical rainforest's climate, why we can't grow plants from the rainforest in England, and the problems that the rainforest is facing as a result of harmful human activity. After lunch we enjoyed a walk round the whole park where we learnt to do field drawings, went on the tree-top walk, and explored the temperate biome greenhouse.
Thomas - Second Form
It was a very insightful trip, and we did not let the persistent rain ruin the experience!
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