1. The programme order and content may
be changed if the weather or other factors dictate it.
2. Short notes will be provided for
each day's topic along with a key plan of destinations and some suggested
reading material. However, no background reading or research is required
beforehand.
3. Site visits will usually consist of
a drive followed by a walk of up to 1.5 miles on varied but firm ground. The
drive out and back will often pass features of special interest. Students will
be required to provide appropriate footwear and clothing.
4. The course will be led each day by
Ted Hiscocks from the North Wessex Downs Landscape Trust. He will be supported
by a range of guides/tutors with particular expertise in the topic or site.
5. Except on the first day the course
will start at 1.30 pm to maximise the time for site visits.
Day
1 - Introduction and History
Classroom - preliminaries; illustrated
overview of the North Wessex Downs Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty; first
intervention by mankind; archaeological activity.
Site visit to: Avebury
and the Neolithic henge monument which includes the world's largest stone
circle dating from 2,850 BC; Silbury Hill which is the largest prehistoric
mound in Europe; and the field of sarsen stones at Lockeridge (EH/RW)
Day
2 - Landscapes
Three of the AONB's six main landscape
types (River Valleys, Downs Plain and Scarp, and Woodland - the others are
Chalk Grassland, Arable Farmland, and Heathland).
Site visit to River
Kennet valley, Hungerford Common, and Savernake Forest which is more than 1,000
years old and was the site of the UK's largest ammunition dump during World War
2. Students will see other landscape types on other days (EH/HO)
Day 3 - Natural History
The natural history: the wide range of
flora and fauna; changes that are occurring at present; the initiatives being
taken to conserve and enhance.
Site
visit to Morgan's Hill Nature Reserve, a Site of Special Scientific
Interest managed by Wiltshire Wildlife Trust, and noted for its orchids,
butterflies and the quality of the chalk grassland and wildflowers (WWT/EH/NS)
Day
4 - Settlements and Linkages
The
establishment and growth of settlements; transport corridors; changes of
transport mode from road to canal, then to railway, and back to road.
Site visit to see
settlements and transport modes; then tour of Crofton Beam Engines which supply
water to the Kennet and Avon Canal and are the world's oldest such pumps in the
original engine house and still performing their original function (EH/MR)
Day
5 - Economy
The economy yesterday and today in
farm, village and town; changes in agriculture and diversification; impact and consequences
of World War 1 and 2; the rise of tourism.
Site
visit to Manor Farm, Wilton, and Wilton Windmill which is the only
working windmill in Wessex (PL/EH)
