ABSTRAC r Thi.'i paper seeks to address assumptions on the effectiveness of fieldwork as a mode of leartiinfi in geography. This is approached from an intertiational perspective, both in review of available evidence, which demonstrates a need for rigorous research into the issue, and in providing preliminary findings oj research into the value of fieldwork from universities across three continents. Common themes ta emerge concern the effectiveness of fieldwork in terms of learning and understatuhng of the subject: providing first-hand experience of the real world, whichever pan of the world the students are in: .skills development (transferable and technical): und social benefits. The extent to which fieldwork develops tratisferahle skills depetids on the context in which the fieldwork is undertaken. The paper points to avenues of future research to he investigated to deepen our understanding of the role fieldwork plays in student learning and to address the question, 'how effective is fieldwork in improving learning?'
Abstract:Green spaces are an integral part of many university campuses. Universities with attractive green space areas often highlight these as attributes which contribute positively to the student experience and the image of the university. This study's survey of students at Liverpool Hope University reveals insights about students' perceptions and use of campus green spaces. The vast majority of students both use and appreciate green spaces, and consider them important for the image of the university and as an essential component of the campus environment. The aesthetic qualities of the campus and its design and management style, influence perceptions and use of its green spaces with formal, manicured gardens and lawns being much preferred over more naturalistic areas. We show that a university campus needs multiple forms of green spaces to satisfy the needs of a diversity of student users, and consider the implications for a university's green space development.
Summary1. Grazing mammals are often used to maintain and restore high conservation value plant communities, but the evidence base for management is lacking long-term studies. 2. We erected grazing exclosures in dune slacks to determine the impact of three different grazing regimes on the plant community: (1) rabbits and sheep excluded for 36 years, (2) continued rabbit grazing for 36 years and (3) rabbit grazing for 17 years followed by rabbit and sheep grazing for 19 years. We monitored plant community composition inside and outside the exclosures. 3. All of the plant communities changed over time, moving away from the original highvalue system and losing some characteristic species. Grazing slowed succession, reduced woody perennial cover and increased graminoid and forb cover and species diversity. The impact of adding sheep grazing to the existing rabbit grazing was additive at the functional group scale, but both complementary and additive (depending on the species) at the plant species scale. 4. Synthesis and applications. At the levels of grazing present in this study (2Á5 sheep ha À1 year À1 ), sheep had similar impacts on dune slack plant communities to rabbits, making them suitable for replacing or augmenting rabbit grazing for conservation management. At the intensity present in this study, long-term grazing can help to maintain a species-rich dune slack community but is not sufficient for successful restoration.
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