Last week Year 5 went on a geography field trip to Malvern, to answer their topic question, “Why is Malvern Here?” They were very lucky with the weather and got amazing views from the top of British Camp, which helped them to begin to answer this tricky question.

Alongside looking at the topography, the class used compasses and maps to help them identify what they could see. They recorded and discussed the physical and human features they had found, and used these to make links with why people had wanted to live in Malvern both in the past (eg Iron Age Hillfort settlement-defensible position and good viewpoint, Malvern Priory – wanting to be close to the Monks who were great healers, Malvern Spring Water – Victorian health cure, flat fertile land below the hills – good for farming), and now (eg. good transport links, area of great beauty, good range of shops, restaurants and entertainments at hand, flat fertile land below the hills – good for farming).

The children compared Malvern with Pershore and felt that in many respects Pershore (although smaller) had some greater benefits in terms of being closer to major road networks and larger conurbations, like London and Birmingham.

Thank you to Mrs Brennan for organising and leading this amazing learning experience, and to Mrs Hill and Mrs Andrews for supporting the children’s learning. What a wonderful way to explore the geography of our local area, and spend some time wondering at, and appreciating the beauty of creation and how vital it is to work to look after and preserve such wonderful places: an important link to our Catholic Social Teaching aspect of ‘Stewardship’.