Down by the River

This year, our 11s Geography pupils in Harrodian Upper Prep have spent several weeks studying how rivers are formed and how they change along their course from the source towards the mouth. On 4th June, Harrodian 11s pupils got their first opportunity to apply their new knowledge of rivers to real life when they embarked on a day-long excursion to Juniper Hall Field Studies Council’s centre near Dorking, organised by the Geography department.

The subject of their study was the River Tillingbourne, a river which rises in the Surrey Hills, close to Juniper Hall. After introducing the river and the day’s activities, Juniper Hall’s staff led the group on a trip to two separate sites on the river’s upper and middle courses.

Pupils learnt how to measure the width, depth and velocity of the River Tillingbourne; to compare the river’s changing characteristics as it flows through the North Downs; and to see real examples of geographical features they had learned about in class, such as meanders and oxbow lakes.

The trip proved to be a both productive and thoroughly enjoyable day for pupils, teachers and the parents who kindly came along to support.