Wycombe Abbey Pupils visit Durrell Conservation Trust in Jersey
12 June 2024 - Academic
15 UIII pupils travelled to Jersey to learn about conservation from expert zoologists. The girls listened to talks from the zookeepers about their specialist animals and gave fascinating insights into how they are cared for and why they are endangered as a species. The orangutans were delighted to show off, swinging around their enclosure at speed, whilst the eldest giant tortoise, at 191 years old, was happy to be admired at a more leisurely pace. The afternoon was spent at the beach, where pupils bravely enjoyed the waves before devouring some of the much-anticipated Jersey ice-cream, made with milk from the distinctive Jersey cows.
Over the following days, at the Discovery Centre, the pupils were immersed in a scientific learning experience. They were trained in scientific animal survey techniques, equipping them with the skills to conduct their own studies in small groups on a species of their choice. The culmination of their learning journey was the production of a research poster and a brief presentation on their findings.
Jersey, with its rich history, offered a unique learning opportunity. During their visit to the war tunnels, the pupils learnt about the occupation of the Channel Islands during the Second World War. The tunnels, adorned with artefacts from that time, brought to life the poignant stories of individuals and their fates, adding a cultural dimension to the trip.
In full costume, ‘Sir Walter Raleigh’ led the tour of Gorey Castle and told a truly captivating story about events that happened there. Animated and engaged, pupils participated in discussions and had a lesson on basic sword fighting techniques.
‘I had lots of fun on this trip to Jersey, even though I was a bit nervous since this was the first time I have flown without my parents. I enjoyed going to the zoo, seeing all the different animals, learning about how they became endangered, and what we can do to help them. I found all the animals fascinating (especially the lemurs) and watching how they work together as a community was very interesting. I also really enjoyed our trip to the war tunnels and seeing the harsh conditions in which people had to survive. I found the part about how they had to dig tunnels underground, with the risk of all the rock from above falling on their head, quite scary.’ – UIII Pupil
‘I think that Jersey was the best trip that I have even been on. I loved all the free time we were given and the teachers were amazing. It’s a shame we can’t go again in LIV! I think that the best activity that we did was when we went swimming on the beach, despite the cold it was so much fun.’ – UIII Pupil
Mrs Sue Buxton
Director of STEM
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