Nettlecombe Court 2026: Ecology in Action

Our sixth form biologists enjoyed a wet but rewarding weekend at Nettlecombe Court over half-term in October 2026, completing the fieldwork component of their A Level course.

Located on the eastern edge of Exmoor National Park in Somerset, students were kitted out in waterproofs and got stuck into a range of practical ecological investigations, including grassland studies, mammal trapping and river sampling. These activities provided a valuable opportunity to put their classroom learning into practice and gain a deeper understanding of ecological processes. For example, the image above features a burrowing mayfly nymph, successfully identified by students as an indicator species. Its presence is a reliable sign of good water quality, demonstrating the health of the freshwater ecosystem in which it was found!

Although the weather presented a few challenges along the way, students showed great enthusiasm and determination throughout. They embraced the experience, worked together and demonstrated resilience, making the most of every opportunity to learn.