The Biology Sixth Form students recently enjoyed two exciting visits to enhance their studies to Leeson House and Marwell Zoo. The accounts were written by the Biology Subject Ambassadors:
Kelly C’s Leeson House reflection:
My time at Lesson House was an incredible and enlightening experience. Over the three days, we took part in a variety of fieldwork activities, from sampling outdoor to doing calculations of biodiversity. The trip had gave us the opportunity to apply classroom knowledge to the real-world environments. Whether it was wading deep into the river, walking along the coastline with my classmates, counting woodlice, plants and periwinkles in different places, or sampling through patches of stinging plants; all I would say is that every moment was both educational and memorable.
Although the sampling work could be physically tiring, it gave me deeper understanding about how the ecological principles we’ve studied in class such as succession had applied to real life. Other than that, it gave all of us a brilliant chance to strengthen the bond between our class—both student or teachers, and help us develop our teamwork skills in a natural setting. Overall, the trip was not only scientifically insightful, but also full of laughter, shared effort, and of course—important lessons, like never forgetting to wear sun cream!
Caldia C’s Marwell Trip reflection:
During our school trip to Marwell Zoo, we attended an educational talk on conservation and species classification. It was truly captivating. I gained a deeper understanding of how different zoos collaborate using studbooks to maintain species populations across Europe. I also realized that managing a zoo is far more complex than I had imagined. We were put into groups to run our own simulated zoos—based on real European examples—which gave us first-hand insight into the challenges involved. I completely agreed with the speaker’s description of zoo management as “organized chaos.” For instance, we had to manage the zebra population across Europe using the studbook, while also ensuring that other species, such as the clouded leopard, remained at sustainable levels within our zoo’s capacity. We also learned how to classify organisms into different species, which proved to be another challenge. It was especially difficult to distinguish between black bears and brown bears, as their coat colors can be similar throughout the year. We were taught that the most reliable way to classify them is by examining the location where they were found and by noting specific physical traits, such as ear shape and size.
One of the highlights of the trip that completely blew me away was seeing the snow leopard. It has always been my favourite animal, and seeing one up close at Marwell was an unforgettable experience. The way it moved—so silently and powerfully—felt almost unreal. It’s quite upsetting that such a magnificent creature is endangered, but I’m truly grateful that zoos like Marwell are making a real effort to conserve them.
Thanks go to the Biology staff who organised and accompanied the visits.
