Stream Project Geography

Meanwood Valley Urban Farm 2

Stream Project Geography

You will need

Work boards

Worksheets

Measuring sticks

Oranges for measuring speed

Rulers

Nets

White trays

Aim

To introduce and develop field sketching techniques

To look at and gather evidence of human influences on landscape

To look at and gather evidence of physical processes on a river valley

The project starts in Meanwood Park by the mill stones in the beck Further stops are made along the stream at the Farm and at the industrial estate

Sketches are made and the children are asked to look for evidence of how the uses of the beck and the surrounding area might have changed since the industrial revolution.

Park Site

Evidence for past uses

The beck was used to power mills by using water wheels. Evidence: The millstones in the beck indicate that there was a mill nearby, goyts, sluices, etc.

Present use

The park is now used for leisure. Evidence: mown grass, playground, paths going through the park and picnic benches.

Farm Site

Past use

The farm used to be a refuse site and had a huge chimney attached to the incinerator. The fields around the farm were used for agriculture. Evidence: the cases in the epicentre contain many Victorian bottles and jars that have been found on site. There are old photographs of the chimney and surrounding pasture and farmland.

Present

The farm is still used for agriculture, but it is also used for leisure. Evidence: Farm animals and crops for agriculture, the café, Epicentre and signs for leisure

Buslingthorpe site

Past use.

The site was used for industrial purposes, essentially mills. First a paper mill and then dye works, tanneries and cloth mills. Evidence: many of the old mill buildings are still there.

Present use

The area is still used for warehouses and offices now. One of the old mills has been converted into student flats

Measuring streams

The pupils measure the depth, speed and sediment size of the stream on a meander. They should find that on the outside of the meander, the stream flows fastest, has the largest particle sizes and is the deepest part of the meander. This is because the fast flowing water washes away the smaller particles; leaving the larger ones and deepening this part of the stream

They also sample the stream for invertebrates, which indicates how polluted the stream is.

They are then shown maps of their walk along Meanwood Beck in 1833 and 1933, and asked to note the changes of land use, such as farming to residential and industrial