2024/25 Taught Postgraduate Module Catalogue

BLGY5221M Practical Conservation with the National Trust

15 creditsClass Size: 29

Module manager: Dr Alastair Ward
Email: A.I.Ward@leeds.ac.uk

Taught: 1 Jan to 30 Jun View Timetable

Year running 2024/25

Co-requisites

BLGY5163M

Plant Identification

Module replaces

BLGY5131M Practical Conservation with the National Trust, 10c,

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 lecture that introduces the complexity of nature conservation in a practical setting, and a series of six 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.

- formulate, and present (1) a group management plan for one or more of the sites you visited (2) individual ‘vision statements’ – long term conceptual plans for the NT Wharfedale or Malham estates.

Learning outcomes
1. On completion of the module, students will be able to demonstrate knowledge of the practical and social complexities surrounding conservation work on large upland estates.

2. They will be able to follow Standard Operating Procedures to implement a range of conservation monitoring techniques and record data on standardised forms.

3. They will be able to demonstrate how monitoring data can be analysed and presented to inform conservation management decisions in one of the UK’s largest conservation charities.

4. They will be able to develop and present an evidence-based vision for a large upland estate.

Skills outcomes
- You will gain experience of group-work to complete set tasks, including giving group presentations.

- You will acquire a range of conservation-related skills that include practical management tasks, surveys, monitoring and evidence-based decision making. - You will work with professional conservationists and land managers.

Syllabus

- 1 lecture (introduction to practical nature conservation monitoring and management by National Trust staff)

- 6 full days of fieldwork on National Trust countryside estates 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
Lectures	1	2.00	2.00
Practicals	1	3.00	3.00
Class tests, exams and assessment	1	3.00	3.00
Fieldwork	6	8.00	48.00
Private study hours			94.00
Total Contact hours			56.00
Total hours (100hr per 10 credits)			150.00

Opportunities for Formative Feedback

- The majority of the module will take place during five-day intensive sessions. Feedback will therefore largely be on-the-spot assistance during fieldwork.

- Group oral presentations will be given on the last of these days and feedback given on the day or shortly thereafter. Feedback will be directly relevant to the written vision statement.

- The written vision statements will be marked and feedback given after the field component.

Methods of assessment

Coursework

Assessment type	Notes	% of formal assessment
Report	Landscape vision statement (2-3 pages)	70.00
Group Project	Group presentation (max. 20 minutes including questions)	30.00
Total percentage (Assessment Coursework)		100.00

Re-sit for the group oral presentation to the class will be an individual oral presentation to the staff.

Reading list

There is no reading list for this module

Last updated: 31/07/2024

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