North York Moors National Park
 

Learning Zone

Key stage 3 and upwards

 

Our staff may be able to visit you and present the following selection of activities in local schools, colleges, youth hostels, hotels and community centres etc. Please contact us to discuss your requirements.

AN INTRODUCTION TO THE NATIONAL PARK

Welcome to the ParkMoorland

This general introductory presentation introduces pupils to the concept of protected landscapes and describes the special qualities of the North York Moors National Park.  We explain the role of grouse shooting in the management and conservation of the moorland habitat and how human activities such as tourism affect the area. We then look at things which are threatening the Park's special qualities, including climate change and what actions people can take, collectively and individually, to help care for this special place.

Main curriculum links:

  • Geography – interactions between people and their environments, managing land sustainably.
  • Environmental Science / Environmental Studies - wildlife and landscape conservation, purposes of National Parks.
  • Leisure, travel and tourism courses - tourism destinations in the UK, major features of the NYMNP, impacts of tourism, sustainable tourism.

Every Child Matters: Increased awareness and understanding of local and global environmental issues, developing a sense of respect and care for the environment, making informed judgements on environmental issues.

Age Range: KS3 upwards (content adapted to suit age and ability of audience)

Duration: Quarter day (about an hour)

 

TOURISM

Impacts of Tourism in the National Park (KS3 and 4)

An indoor session combining a PowerPoint presentation and a discussion activity.  An introductory presentation outlines the concept and aims of UK National Parks and the major features that make the North York Moors an attractive tourist destination.  Statistics illustrating the numbers, types and activities of visitors are presented and we discuss the social, economic and environmental impacts of tourism in the Park.  The concept of 'sustainable tourism' is introduced with examples of how the Park Authority is working to alleviate problems caused by visitors and encourage sustainable tourism.  These ideas are then reinforced in a group discussion activity which demonstrates how visitors have choices and can influence the type of impacts they make on the environment, residents and other visitors.

Main curriculum links:

  • Leisure, Travel and Tourism Courses - tourism destinations in the UK, major features of UK National Parks, impacts of tourism, sustainable development.
  • Geography - interactions between people and their environment, advantages and disadvantages of tourism, managing landscapes sustainably.

Every Child Matters: Heightened awareness of the relationship between people and the environment, increased awareness of sustainable choices people can make.

Age Range: KS3 and 4 

Duration: Quarter day (about an hour and a half)

The National Park as a Visitor Attraction (AS/A2 level and above)

This PowerPoint presentation outlines the concept and aims of UK National Parks and the major features that make the North York Moors an important natural visitor attraction.  Slides illustrate the ownership, funding and operation of the National Park, together with how it is marketed and promoted and issues relating to health and safety of visitors and employees.  The concept of 'sustainable tourism' is introduced with examples of how the Park Authority is working with partners and stakeholders to manage visitor numbers, types of visitors and associated traffic management issues.  The aims of a new regional partnership to promote sustainable tourism are also explained with examples of current projects and initiatives.  The content of this talk can be tailored to meet your particular syllabus guidelines.

Main curriculum links:

  • Leisure, Travel and Tourism Courses - tourism destinations in the UK, major features of UK National Parks, impacts of tourism, sustainable development.
  • Geography - interactions between people and their environment, advantages and disadvantages of tourism, managing landscapes sustainably.

Every Child Matters: Heightened awareness of the relationship between people and the environment, increased awareness of sustainable choices people can make.

Age Range: AS/A2 and above 

Duration: Quarter day (about an hour and a half)

 

MANAGING A NATIONAL PARK SUSTAINABLY

How the National Park Authority Operates (including jobs and careers)

An indoor session involving an interactive group discussion and PowerPoint presentation.  Using images of National Park landscapes, pupils identify different countryside user groups, consider their needs and show how conflicting demands on an environment arise.  This demonstrates the need for some sort of authority to balance the needs of the different user groups.  A presentation then explains how the National Park Authority is structured and financed and how it operates, including information about the wide range of jobs involved, qualifications required and associated salaries in relation to local house prices.

Main curriculum links:

  • Geography - interactions between people and their environment, conflicting demands on an environment, managing environments sustainably.
  • Leisure, Travel and Tourism Courses - impacts of tourism, employment opportunities.
  • Environmental Science - wildlife and landscape conservation, purposes of national Parks.
  • Citizenship - balancing conflicting demands, where public money comes from and how it is spent.

Every Child Matters: Understanding the needs of others, an awareness of different career paths, encouraging pupils to think about their career aspirations.

Age Range: KS3 upwards (content adapted to suit age and ability of audience)

Duration: Quarter day (about an hour)

Sustainable Development Case Studies in a National Park (KS3 upwards)

An indoor session involving a PowerPoint presentation and an interactive decision making activity.  An introductory presentation introduces the concept of National Parks, the special qualities of the North York Moors, threats to these special qualities and the concept of managing environments sustainably.  We then look at how the National Park Authority is financed and how decisions are made with regard to how the money is spent.  Working in small groups, pupils are then provided with a 'budget' and information about a selection of current sustainable development project ideas relating to conservation and recreation in the park.  Their task is to discuss the benefits of each project with regard to the environment, local communities and visitors, decide which project should be given priority and present their opinions to the rest of the class.

Main curriculum links:

  • Geography - interactions between people and their environments, sustainable development.
  • Citizenship - advocacy and representation, where public money comes from and how it is spent.
  • Environmental Science / Studies - Land resources - conservation and protection of landscapes.

Every Child Matters: Increased understanding of environmental issues, making informed judgements, listening to others, decision making.

Age Range: KS3 upwards

Duration: Quarter day (about an hour and a half)

Renewable Energy and Planning Issues in a National Park (KS3 and 4)

This interactive, indoor session considers the conflict between conserving the National Park landscape and promoting renewable energy from wind turbines.  Pupils are divided into two groups and deliver pre-prepared presentations themselves.  The first introduces the North York Moors National Park and its special qualities.  The second introduces the concept of climate change, its likely effects on this protected landscape and ways in which we can all help to reduce carbon emissions.  The planning policies of the National Park Authority are explained and the pupils are then presented with 3 scenarios for wind turbine developments within the National Park.  They work in groups to decide which, if any, of the scenarios should be allowed in this protected area and if so, why.  Each group then reports back to the whole class explaining their decisions.

Main curriculum links:

  • Geography - environmental interaction and sustainable development, interactions between people and their environments.
  • Citizenship - advocacy and representation.
  • Environmental Studies - renewable energy resources, sustainable development.

Every Child Matters: Heightened awareness of the relationship between people and the environment, able to make informed judgements, decision making.

Age Range: Year 9 and above (age 13 - 16)

Duration: Quarter day (an hour and a half)

Renewable Energy and Planning Issues in a National Park (A level)

This interactive, indoor session considers the conflict between conserving the National Park landscape and promoting renewable energy from wind turbines.  A PowerPoint presentation first explains some of the likely effects of climate change in the North York Moors.  Government policy to reduce carbon emissions is discussed together with the requirement to increase electricity generation from renewable resources.  The national, regional and local planning policies regarding renewable energy and how these might impact on the National Park are outlined and form the basis for a group discussion.  Students are then divided into small groups and are presented with fact cards outlining 3 different wind turbine developments proposals within the National park.  Using an information pack containing all the relevant planning policies the students discuss which, if any, of the proposed developments should be recommended for planning approval.  The small groups then present back to each other and explain their recommendations.

Main curriculum links:

  • A level geography - local responses to global climate change, renewable energy, rural planning policies, managing protected landscapes.
  • A level environmental studies - likely consequences of global climate change, renewable energy resources.

Every Child Matters: Awareness of government policies regarding energy, making informed judgements and decisions.

Age Range: 16 plus

Duration: Quarter day (up to an hour and a half)

 

CONSERVATION AND BIODIVERSITY

Conservation and Biodiversity in the North York Moors (KS4 upwards)

This PowerPoint presentation gives a brief introduction to the concept and purposes of National Parks and describes the key habitats and wildlife that make this area special. We explain how the moorland is managed, the effects of government policies and what our national and international conservation designations mean.  The Park's Biodiversity Action Plan is introduced with examples of current conservation projects, including how the Park Park Authority works with farmers and landowners to promote landscape and wildlife conservation as well as the local economy.  The presentation also highlights some of the threats posed to the National Park, particularly that of climate change, and how the Park Authority is working to alleviate these threats. 

Main curriculum links:

  • Locations and aims of UK National Parks, managing an environment sustainably, and management techniques, conservation designations, biodiversity.
  • Citizenship – concept of sustainable development.

Age Range: Year 10 (Age 14) upwards

Duration: Quarter day – about an hour.