"The Eagles Nest", Mt Lozere, Cévennes, France.

Advanced level units at the Eagle's Nest

Below are detailed explanations of the Fieldwork core units available at the Eagles Nest and the subject link takes you to an explanation of references, study times and transport requirements.

Click here for a full index of units.

Discover Ltd. ­ Full day units

Visitor pressure: an investigation on Mont Lozere.
Mont Lozere is, at 1699 m, the highest mountain in the southern Massif Central. It also lies at the heart of the Cévennes National Park. Not surprisingly, it is a popular destination for many different kinds of tourist activity; walking, pony trekking, mountain bikeing and many others. Its popularity is increased by the fact that it is an easily accessible peak, crossed by a number of well marked tracks and paths. The impact caused by tourist activity is the focus of this unit particularly the footpath erosion caused by walkers. Students are encouraged not only to quantify this damage, but to assess wider environmental impacts as well as the success or otherwise of management techniques employed by the National Park authorities.
Ecosystem studies
It is the great ecological variety of the Cévennes which caused it to be designated a World Biosphere Reserve in 1984. This highly flexible unit includes an investigation of up to four very different ecosystems in a full day of fieldwork. Habitats ranging from peat bogs to woodlands, moorlands, pasture or scree slopes are all available within walking distance of the Centre. The nature and structure of each is measured accurately, and their functioning with regard to controlling factors is explored using a comparative approach. A wide range of fieldwork equipment and field techniques are used.
River processes: a case study of the River Souteyran.
Channel processes and land forms come under close scrutiny in this unit, as do river valley forms, land use patterns and human influence within the Souteyran catchment. Students are exposed to a number off important geographical techniques, both in the field and the classroom. The continuing link between natural hazards (in this case flooding as well as drought) and human lives and activities forms a background context to the entire study. Human management of the river channel is examined as an example of this link.
Agriculture in the Massif Central : a case study on Mont Lozere.
High altitude, a harsh and unreliable mountain climate, poor soil quality and rural outmigration characterise much of the Massif Central upland region of France. In this unit the problems associated with farming in this very marginal area are explored through farm visits, interviews with farmers and land capability surveys. A comparison between two contrasting farms is made in order to highlight the pivotal role of the farmer as decision™maker. N.B. this study may be undertaken simply as a half™day farm visit.
Florac and Le Pont de Montvert: a comparative study.
Florac, the sub™prefecture of Lozere, has a population of over 2000 people, whilst Pont de Montvert is a much smaller settlement at around 300. This unit allows comparison of their sites, situations, forms and functions. Service provision, catchment areas and tourist facilities are examined in order to establish the importance of the tourist industry to the continued development of these two rural settlements.
Geology and the environment.
The Massif Central forms one of the principal geological units of France. It is composed of three types of rock: igneous granites and lavas, metamorphic schists and gneiss and sedimentary limestones. The Eagles Nest is ideally situated for the study of all three rock types; a wide range of features and landscapes may be observed within a surprisingly small area. This unit contrasts these landscapes,, and compares the rocks in terms of colour, hardness etc. N.B. This unit can be undertaken as a theme running concurrently with other units through the week, rather than conducting it on a particular day.


Half™day units

The peat bog environments of Mont Lozere.
Plant communities are associated with and affected by a variety of controlling factors such as microclimate, soil, water supply, grazing animals or human influence. This unit measures the strength of these relationships with respect to one of the many peat bogs on the summit of Mont Lozere: fragile ecosystems which contain highly specialized and often rare species of plants.

The environmental impact of skiing.
Local and regional authorities have encouraged the development of downhill skiing in an attempt to bring some of the economic benefits associated with this huge growth industry to the Massif Central. Unfortunately, not all the ski areas have become commercially successful. In addition, unwelcome environmental impacts have been created e.g. gulleying. This unit uses the ski chalet du Mont Lozere as a case study for these issues. The visual and ecological impacts of the ski chalet development are assessed, and the attitudes of a cross section of people are included.
Coastal processes and sand dune systems on the Mediterranean.
Taking students through the unique landscape of the Camargue, this study is based on the dynamic but fragile dune and beach systems of the coastal zone of the Rhone delta. It includes a survey of colonization, competition and succession by plant communities within the dunes. Developments since the 1960s have had impacts on the dune system in particular, with noticeable results on dune morphology and ecology. Management strategies, both actual and hypothetical, are discussed and evaluated.
La Grande Motte and Aigues Mortes: perception of the built environment.
La Grande Motte is a 1960s resort development which contains a wide variety of tourist facilities housed within a modernist architectural setting. In contrast, Aigues Mortes is a walled medieval city, which served as both departure point for crusades and major trading port. It offers a very distinctive range of tourist facilities and caters to a quite different market. Comparisons are made between the built environments of the two towns, the services they provide and the numbers and origins of visitors.
Aigues Mortes: a study of functional change.
This unit encourages students to explore both the old and the new towns of Aigues Mortes and to assess architectural quality and land use in each part. The current sphere of influence of the town is measured and considered within its historical context. Evidence of functional change and of the towns historical role also forms part of the study.
Mende: a key settlement.
Mende is the prefecture and the most populous town in Lozere. This unit reveals urban structure, functional zoneing and concentration of facilities via a comprehensive land™use mapping exercise. Townscape perception scores are used along with questionnaires to contrast the impact of tourists on the town and their attitudes towards it. A number of environmental hazards are measured (e.g. noise) and management ideas for the town as a whole introduced.
St. Enimie: a tourist honeypot.
St. Enimie is a picturesque medieval settlement located deep within the fabulous Gorges du Tarn. In recent years it has been developed as one of the premier tourist "honeypots" of the Cévennes National Park. Students are required to map these developments as a springboard towards assessing the positive and negative impacts of tourists and tourism on the village. Finally, they work towards devising a management plan for the area which takes many of the conflicting interests into account.
Rural deprivation.
Quality of life in a remote rural area is evaluated using a composite Index. A range of indicators are used, including household amenities, services, and economic opportunities. Map skills are also employed as part of an overall "site evaluation" of a selection of local settlements. Students are encouraged to reflect on their own perception of what constitutes "deprivation".
The Pont du Gard - Managing Tourism.
The Pont du Gard is one of France's most famous national monuments and it attracts in excess of 1.2 million visitors per annum but management at the site is limited. This unit investigates visitor pressure and impact. Current site developments are evaluated and management issues drawn out. The concept of carrying capacity is introduced: students must decide if this is being exceeded. The unit concludes with the design of management strategies to alleviate the problems created by tourist pressure at the Pont du gard.
People Weather and Climate..
A study of weather and climate within a distinctive mountain environment. This unit offers a number of options or projects for students to follow. The first a study of microclimate within a conifer wood introduces the use of meteorological equipment. Longer term patterns and weather phenomena specific to the mountain zone are examined in the second option. The use of Information Technology is encouraged here. The final project focuses on the effects of weather and climate upon local people and those visiting the area.
Microclimates and land use in the Souteyran valley
It is possible to carry out a number of interesting investigations into microclimates at the Centre and in the valley examining the influence of buildings, woodland, low vegetation cover and aspect. These can be done as a cross-valley transect and then compared to the weather station at the Centre. This effectively isolates any natural daily variations and allows the study to focus on changes due to site location.
The study will enable an investigation to be carried out that examines the affect of climate on people and land use. Studying microclimates here will be different from the more standard urban area so it will be beneficial for examination purposes.
An investigation into a soil catena on Mont Lozère
This unit has been designed to enable the studying of the soil catena on Mont Lozère and relate the information gathered to present land use and land capability. There is also the potential to extend the study to include soil catenas from other area visited during the week, viz. limestone, schist, & coastal areas.
The soils studied in this unit are found at semi-natural sites as these are the ones most often available for study. This unit will concentrate on the field identification of soils, but it should be stressed that it is more important, in an educational context, to understand the processes operating within a soil.


Biology "A" level units
(developed by St. Bede's school, East Sussex)

Quantitative ecology: factors affecting plant distribution.
Pastureland is used to investigate the importance of a range of abiotic factors to the distribution of plant species. Techniques include quadrat surveying and sampling design. The unit includes an assessment of the evils of silage in relation to the organically™fertilized farmland around the Centre.
Public pressure: national parks and conservation.
The work of the Cévennes National Park is assessed in a visit to the park headquarters in Florac. The nearby Gorges du Tarn and Gorges de la Jonte, where the Griffon vulture has been recently introduced, are also included. A study of the ecology of the limestone plateau forms an optional "extra". It is sometimes possible to arrange an evening talk by the Park Ranger (in French!).
Environmental conflict in the Camargue.
Departs early morning for the fascinating Rhone delta region. Highlights of the trip include the Etang de Vaccares nature reserve, the Natural Regional Park visitor centre and, of course, the Mediterranean coast at Stes. Marie de la Mer.
Freshwater habitats and peat bogs.
Wellington boots are recommended for these two half™day units! The mornings work involves a study of the relationship between water quality and freshwater ecology in a local stream. The importance of natural factors (stream flow) and human influence (sewage) is considered. In the afternoon, the focus switches to one of the many peat bogs on the summit of Mont Lozere: ecosystems which contain highly specialized and often rare species of plants.
(designed by Benenden School)
Trophic Levels, Life Cycles and Food Webs
This unit is designed to find out about feeding inter-relationships between aquatic organisms in a stream ecosystem. It looks at biological food chains, food webs and trophic levels. Fieldwork techniques used include kick sampling, stratified sampling along a transect, plant and freshwater invertebrate identification, flow rate measurements. Analysis methods are suggested.
A Comparison of Grassland and Woodland Ecosystems
To compare and contrast grassland and woodland plant and animal communities using a range of abiotic and biotic factors. Fieldwork techniques used include stratified sampling along a belt transect, field sketch, invertebrate study, plant and invertebrate identification, and abiotic measurements including: pH, light intensity, soil and air temperatures, soil texture, infiltration rate. Analysis methods are suggested.
Impact of Skiing and Trampling on Plant Species Diversity
To investigate the effects of skiing and trampling on vegetation cover on Mont Lozere and to investigate the adaptations of particular plant species to trampling. Fieldwork techniques used include systematic sampling using a belt transect, plant identification, measurement of gradient and infiltration. Analysis methods are suggested and include a role-play exercise.

Work units for Key Stage 4

Discover fieldwork at the Eagles Nest. This booklet contains a range of fieldwork tasks developed at the Eagle's Nest. Each unit has been designed to meet the needs of G.C.S.E. students, by providing a relevant and stimulating study of the local environment. (These may also be expanded into either A/S or "A" level units). Topics covered include
  • slopes,
  • limestone,
  • tourism,
  • microclimates,
  • rivers,
  • settlements,
  • hill slopes,
  • farms and
  • land use.

    Work units for Key Stage 3
    Each of these units investigates an issue or characteristic of the local area in a way which challenges younger students and allows them to develop an understanding of this remote region; its landscape, people and culture. Six booklets are available:
    Discover Mont Lozere:
    An investigation into the many "secrets" of Mont Lozere; its peat bogs and other ecosystems and the impact of humans upon them.
    Buildings in the Cévennes National Park:
    Students visit settlements in the three geological zones of the National Park. In each, they explore the style of architecture and the use of local materials.
    Draille Trail:
    A picturesque walk along a draille (drove road) provides an insight into the history of transhumance in the Cevennes.
    Visitez Florac:
    An investigation into the site and history of Florac, an attractive and locally important settlement.
    Mas Camargue ™ Farming History on Lozere:
    Mas Camargue is a National Park visitor centre housed in a fifteenth century farmhouse. A circular walk through its grounds explores the farming history of the area.
    Mas Camargue ™ Natural History:
    Students investigate the nature of some of the dominant species around the National Park visitor centre.