Year 8: Local environment enquiry

Aims

To be able to plan and design a local habitat for plants and animals

BriefIn this enquiry, you are a member of a team working for one of the Wildlife Trusts and have been given the task of improving a small nature reserve in Calderstones Park. Your design and plan must:

• improve facilities so that wildlife is protected and encouraged

• improve public access within the reserve• improve visitor facilities and help promote enjoyment and

understanding for the public.

The Heritage Lottery Fund has promised £25,000 towards the work, and a further £5000 has been collected from Wildlife Trust members. You therefore have a total of £30000 to spend.

Task 1: Plan

• Look carefully at the suggestions for improvement on the following slides.

• Use the suggestions table. Decide which suggested improvements you will use in your nature reserve and how much will be spent on each one. Complete the table with your list of suggestions including Advantages, Disadvantages and a final decision on whether it is to be used.

£200 pays for 10 red squirrel feeders

£100 will print 5000 wildlife trail leaflets

£2 will plant a tree or shrub. 1000 trees will turn an area into good woodland

£200 pays for 20 nest boxes fitted to trees

Suggestions for improvements

A medium sized hide for wildlife watching costs £5000

£5000 pays for 100 metres of boardwalk in muddy, less accessible areas.

Improvements to the visitor centre cost £5000 per room

£100 will fund a gate for disabled visitors

Suggestions tableImprovement Advantages Disadvantages Decision Cost (£)

Build a new visitor centre with 3 improved rooms.

More people will be able to visit

People will stay longer and spend more money

It will use up a lot of the money available for improvements

Improve the existing visitor centre instead £15,000

Total Add all the amounts up. The final sum must not exceed £30,000

Task 2: Costings

Add up the cost of all your improvements. It should come in below or equal to £30,000.

Task 3: Design

Make a large copy of the area.

On your copy add in the improvements you have decided upon in your Plan.

Task 4: Guide

Produce a leaflet using the template provided describing the new and improved wildlife habitat in Calderstones Park.

Make sure to use the subheadings on the template to help you.