2021/22 Taught Postgraduate Module Catalogue

BLGY5131M Practical Conservation with the National Trust

10 creditsClass Size: 32

Module manager: Dr Steve Compton
Email: s.g.a.compton@leeds.ac.uk

Taught: Semester 2 (Jan to Jun) View Timetable

Year running 2021/22

This module is not approved as an Elective

Module summary

Although academic research plays a fundamental role in UK nature conservation, the majority of management decisions are made based on data collected from assessments and surveys that are less intensive than rigorous scientific study. The National Trust, as one of the UK’s largest conservation bodies, has a wealth of experience in designing and implementing such monitoring to both maximise its use (locally and nationally) and to take into account pressures and conflicts arising from factors outside of ecology. This module contains a series of four full days of fieldwork on National Trust land in the Yorkshire Dales National Park to gain practical experience in one of a number of large-scale monitoring projects (eg grazing assessments of calcareous grassland on tenanted farms; habitat condition assessments; mapping pollution risk in the catchment for Malham Tarn National Nature Reserve).

Objectives

On completion of this module, students should be able to:
- describe the principles and practice of conservation monitoring and management within a professional conservation body;
- provide practical experience of nature conservation monitoring in a real-life context.

Learning outcomes
On completion of the module, students will be aware of the complexities and issues surrounding conservation work in a practical setting.

They will also have gained practical experience of employing conservation monitoring techniques to inform conservation management decisions in one of the UK’s largest conservation charities.

Skills outcomes
- You will gain experience in working in groups.
- You will acquire a range of conservation-related skills that include practical management tasks and survey and monitoring.
- You will work with professional conservationists and farmers.

Syllabus

- 4 days of fieldwork on National Trust countryside land learning and practising a number of management/monitoring methods, whilst discussing them and the broader issues of conservation management with Trust staff. This work will normally be carried out in small teams. The work will be carried out on the Malham and Upper Wharfedale estates of the National Trust in the Yorkshire Dales National Park.

Teaching methods

Delivery type	Number	Length hours	Student hours
Fieldwork	4	10.00	40.00
Private study hours			60.00
Total Contact hours			40.00
Total hours (100hr per 10 credits)			100.00

Opportunities for Formative Feedback

Feedback will be provided verbally during the fieldwork.

Methods of assessment

Coursework

Assessment type	Notes	% of formal assessment
Practical	Successful completion of all sessions (Pass/Fail)	100.00
Total percentage (Assessment Coursework)		100.00

Normally resits will be assessed by the same methodology as the first attempt, unless otherwise stated

Reading list

There is no reading list for this module

Last updated: 22/06/2021

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