Any of the content related to Units 3.1 and 3.2 could be suitable for the fieldwork enquiry, and as such the studies below can be worked into a full investigation for Unit 3.3, or otherwise be used as case studies or examples throughout the specification. During fieldwork (and in the introductory session if applicable), students will be given opportunities to justify the choices being made, whether about locations, equipment, methodology or suitable data presentation, evaluate the process and findings, and suggest appropriate conclusions.
AQA |
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Theme |
Possible Locations |
Study Details |
Skills/Data Collected |
| Downstream changes (processes & landforms) | Caerfanell/ Tarell/ Honddu/ Olchon/ Monnow | Traditional river study, typically using three sites to investigate development of river channel characteristics and interaction of processes. Data collected can be used to calculate cross-sectional area, discharge and/or hydraulic radius. | Channel geometry |
| Sediment size & shape | |||
| Velocity | |||
| Gradient | |||
| Extreme weather, flood management | Hereford (Wye)/ Brecon (Usk) | Investigating the response to large-scale storm events, looking at flood management in either the Usk or Wye catchment. On the Usk, time is spent exploring the characteristics of the upper catchment, before visiting the flood defences in Brecon. For the Wye, because of scale, less time is spent on the river, instead focussing on the defence scheme and risk analysis in the town. | River work: Channel competence |
| Channel roughness | |||
| Infiltration (optional) | |||
| Flood defences: Impact assessment | |||
| Cost-benefit analysis | |||
| Flood risk & severity (optional) | |||
| Glacial landscapes: geomorphology, uses, climate change | Corries and/or hills in Brecon Beacons | A range of visits are possible, depending on time available and the required focus/approach. With a full day it is possible to climb to Cwm Llwch, arguably the finest corrie in the Brecon Beacons, to interpret the landforms and sediments there. Half day visits can be combined to make a full day, and include Craig Cerrig-gleisiad (a corrie that illustrates changes in landscape since the glacial maximum), Allt yr Esgair or Tor y Foel (viewpoints from which to discuss deposition, ice-wastage and the broader glaciated landscape). Human uses of the modern landscape can be discussed at any of the venues. | Field sketching |
| Map/aerial photo interpretation | |||
| Geomorphological mapping | |||
| Till fabric analysis (optional) | |||
| Coasts (& distinctive landscapes): geomorphology, processes, management, sustainabilty | Glamorgan Heritage Coast | Investigating processes, landforms and management on a high energy coastline, around the southernmost point in Wales. Mainly headland & bay, there are cliffs, caves, wave-cut platforms and notches, storm beaches, and opportunities to discuss the influence of geology, types of wave, refraction and long shore drift. Management approaches and their impacts are evaluated. If required this can be combined with a visit to Aberthaw/Breaksea Point to look at hard engineering and sediment accumulation on groynes. | Field sketching |
| Map/plan/aerial photo interpretation | |||
| Cost-benefit analysis | |||
| Impact assessment | |||
| Perception analysis | |||
| Beach profiling (including sediment size) | |||
| Ecosystems: sand dunes (threats?) | Crymlyn Burrows | Succession on sand dunes, looking at the components of the ecosystem: physical, biotic, climatic and edaphic. Linked to processes and formation, soil development, food webs, and nutrient cycling. Threats to the longevity of the dunes are discussed, and possible evidence sought. | Distribution and abundance of plant species |
| Transects | |||
| Gradient profile | |||
| Abiotic variables including wind speed, and soil moisture | |||
| Ecosystems: temperate woodland, management | Woodland(s) | Several temperate deciduous woodlands exist in the Brecon Beacons, allowing us to investigate their differences and similarities in terms of physical, biotic, climatic and edaphic factors. It is also possible to look at the effect of management strategies, such as exclusion, grazing or coppicing. | Distribution and abundance of plant species |
| Random sampling | |||
| Abiotic variables including light intensity, and soil moisture | |||
| Rural studies: continuum, migration, deprivation, sustainability | Villages | Throughout the National Park there are settlements that can be used to demonstrate the rural-urban continuum, the effects of migration (in- and out-), and inequality. Several are also subject to schemes that either aim to improve sustainability, regenerate or rebrand them, allowing us to assess their successfulness. Examples would include Talgarth (including a visit to the mill, part of the Village SOS scheme), Llangynidr, Talybont-on-Usk, Llanvihangel Crucorney or Llanthony. | Land-use mapping |
| Landscape Character Assessment | |||
| Amenity Survey | |||
| Environmental Quality Survey | |||
| Residential Quality Survey | |||
| Questionnaires | |||
| Interviews/talks with stakeholders | |||
| Food: changing agriculture, intensive/ conventional/ organic | Local farm(s) | Sustainable food futures, looking at local farming systems including low input/organic farming and change over time. Involves one or more farm visits, with opportunities to interview the farmer(s). | Mapping |
| Map/aerial photo interpretation | |||
| Interviews | |||
| Impact assessment | |||
| Urban studies – transects: inequality, quality of life, land-use | Cardiff/ Hereford/ Brecon/ Abergavenny | Urban quality of life/environment investigations can be undertaken in many of the region’s towns and cities, with an approach appropriate to scale (i.e. full transects in small towns, district/ward comparisons in the larger settlements). Measurements of environmental and residential quality can be paired with retail development, movement patterns, land values, sphere of influence and/or cultural variables. | Land-use mapping |
| Traffic & pedestrian censuses | |||
| Shopping Area Survey | |||
| Environmental Quality Survey | |||
| Residential Quality Survey | |||
| Questionnaires | |||
| Urban studies – regeneration/ development * | Cardiff/ Hereford/ Abergavenny | Cardiff Bay is a flagship regeneration project that turned former docklands into a “world class development”. Subsequently, the town centre has also been regenerated. Hereford has recently undergone redevelopment of its former cattle market, now a mix of retail and other leisure. All three developments offer an opportunity to assess the need for and success of the scheme, as well as the broader impacts. Abergavenny is currently awaiting the redevelopment of its cattle market site and may offer a useful comparison. | Land-use mapping |
| Traffic & pedestrian censuses | |||
| Shopping Area Survey | |||
| Environmental Quality Survey | |||
| Residential Quality Survey | |||
| Questionnaires | |||
| Upland/lowland river comparison * | TBC | A comparison of the features of upland and lowland streams with simple measurements of the key variables. In development, more details to follow. | Field sketching |
| Map/aerial photo interpretation | |||
| Channel variables: speed, width depth, roughness | |||
| Coasts: management, sustainability * | Porthcawl | A range of management techniques have been, and are, in use in Porthcawl. This study evaluates the approaches used, and their effects of coastal processes. There is also scope for investigating coastal development. | TBC |
| Distinctive Landscapes: sandstone & tourist management * | Brecon Beacons National Park | The distinctive landscape of the Brecon Beacons owes much to the characteristics of the Old Red Sandstone bedrock, and processes operating over millions of years. The landscape has an impact on local economic activity, especially tourism, which needs careful management in order to achieve sustainability. This study looks at a key attraction of the Park, and how visitor impacts are managed. | Footpath survey |
| Environmental Quality Survey | |||
| Landscape Character Assessment | |||
| Energy: fossil vs renewables, (exploration?) * | Ffos-y-fran/ wind/ microhydro/ tidal/ solar farm | An investigation of the energy mix in the region (fossil fuels, micro hydro, wind, tidal, solar), with visits to a range of energy producers (at least 2), to understand some of the issues concerned with exploiting the resources, and the conflicts that result. There may be scope for looking into fracking and other alternatives in South Wales. | Landscape Character Assessment |
| Environmental Quality Survey | |||
| Interviews with stakeholders | |||
| Reservoirs: impacts * | Elan Valley/ Llandegfedd | Looking at reservoir creation and water transfers in Wales in terms of: reasons for the location of the scheme, impacts and conflicts. | TBC |
| Water quality * | Ebbw Fawr/ Llynfi | Using biotic and chemical measures to assess the water quality of a river with a history of pollution, looking at possible sources. | BMWP scoring |
| Chemical analyses of water (O2 content etc.) | |||
| Urban studies – globalisation: cause-effect, post-industrial economy, regeneration * | Ebbw Vale/ Blaenafon | Investigating the effect of globalisation and deindustrialisation in the coalfield. In Blaenafon tourism has a major role in its regeneration, while Ebbw Vale is undergoing regeneration of much of its infrastructure. Measuring the impact in terms of environmental quality and socio-economic indicators. | Land-use mapping |
| Traffic & pedestrian censuses | |||
| Shopping Area Survey | |||
| Environmental Quality Survey | |||
| Residential Quality Survey | |||
| Questionnaires |
* please note, these studies (in full or in part) are in development, and details will be finalised as and when necessary.
Field Studies in the Brecon Beacons 