Proposal Outline.

As requested by Village Voices and Mr Arnold, Head Teacher of the above school, Dorset Wildlife Trust has offered to help the school undertake a stream study.

Serena Bower, DWT’s People and Wildlife Officer for the Dorchester area, visited the school for an initial assessment of the stream and to talk to Mr Arnold. The site needed a bit of tree and nettle clearance as well as an area fence to make it safe and accessible for a school group. The site clearance has taken place. The fence is still to be erected.

It was felt that a half morning (approximately 2 hours) four times a year would be sufficient for a guided study of the stream. This would enable a class to observe the changes of the stream though the year, as well as for a bigger picture year in, year out. This will help the community to monitor the stream on a longterm basis. It was decided that the class of 7 to 9-year-olds would be involved. Their acquired skills could then be transmitted to younger children as they pass upwards through the school.

The areas that will be recorded/studied will include:
- Stream contents and cleanliness. This will be mainly done through stream dipping. Creatures found in the water help to indicate levels of pollution.
- A vegetation survey. The stream banks are not hugely diverse in flora at present, but this may well change over time.
- Water turbidity (clearness), speed and depth. This will be recorded, taking into account previous and current weather conditions.
- Digital photographic evidence of the stream will be kept to show visual change through the seasons and the years,
- A map and an ongoing illustrated poster could be produced in follow up work. This will help show what has changed through the years and seasons. This fits well in with the National Curriculum requirements. Also, many other ways can be used to display and assess the stream and its surrounding habitats. Again, these are very relevant to the National Curriculum requirements as well as helping to nurture an interest, understanding and respect for the natural environment in the pupils.

The first visit is planned for early autumn this year (2003).

It is hoped that after a few sessions the teachers at Broadwindsor School will feel confident enough to conduct their own stream survey and so the school can become self-sufficient in this way.

Dorset Wildlife Trust are very pleased that the community has taken this step to further understand their natrural environment, to help manage it and involve young people who are the future of the community.
(July 2003)

For progress and pictures see next page