Education Centre, Knocksink Wood: Secondary Schools Programme
One of the main aims of our Education Programme is to make students more aware of our natural environment and the conservation issues it faces. To this end, we offer ecology fieldwork sessions to secondary schools. All our leaving cert Ecology studies comply with the requirements of the curriculum. We also offer a day for Transition Year students a day called Looking After The Great Outdoors.
Please read the practicalities on How To Book when trying to plan your day.
Junior Cert. Woodland Ecology
Age Group: 1st, 2nd & 3rd Years
Time of the Year: March to October only
Why should only Leaving Cert students benefit from ecology fieldwork? This study involves:
- Examining habitats in general
- Studying a woodland in more detail
- Examining leaf litter & soil
- Surveying vegetation using the DAFOR scale
- A line transect
- Invertebrate sampling
- Finding mammal & bird tracks & signs
- Exploring food chains
- Conservation & National Park issues
Transition Year Biodiversity Study
Age Group: Transition Year
Time of the Year: March to October only
Ecology for Transition Year students, this study involves comparing the diversity of life in two habitats. At each habitat the students will examine the following:
- Soil pH & temperature
- A frequency vegetation survey
- Mammal & bird signs
- Invertebrates
- Conservation and National Park issues
Leaving Cert. Woodland Ecology
Age Group: 5th & 6th Years
Time of the Year: March to October only
Designed to suit the fieldwork requirement of the leaving certificate, this study in the woods of Glendalough involves:
- Mapping the study site
- Keying out 5 plant species
- A vegetation survey - both a frequency survey and a percentage cover survey.
- Sampling for invertebrates
- Keying out 5 invertebrate species
- Examining invertebrate lifestyles
- Examining mammal & bird tracks & signs
- Exploring competition & adaptation
- Recording climatic, edaphic, abiotic & biotic factors affecting the site
- Discussing food webs.
- Conservation & National Park issue
Transition Year
Looking After The Great Outdoors
Age Group: Transition Year
Time of the Year: Any
The aim of this day is to give TY students an insight into the value of the natural world and their role in preserving it.
The students are introduced to the history & nature of the reserve and also to the principles of Leave No Trace. Leave No Trace is a new outdoor ethics programme that has recently arrived in Ireland from the USA. Unlike the old Countryside Code, Leave No Trace does not consist of a series of do or don’t rules, but rather appeals to peoples’ own ethics to help look after their own surroundings. Leave No Trace concerns itself with ALL outdoor users, whether serious outdoor pursuits enthusiasts or people strolling in the woods.
A typical day involves:
- An introductory lecture about Knocksink Wood—why is it a nature reserve and what problems does it face?
- A walk around the wood with stops & activities to explore the seven principles of Leave No Trace
- A Leave No Trace quiz.