Education and Research

The coast is a valuable resource for education and study. Several land managers welcome school and college visits and can provide staff and learning materials.

Individual study is also generally welcome. Students, researchers and the general public can all have free access to the Sefton Coast Information Centre.

On the following pages you will find:

• Information about educational activities on the Sefton Coast
• Specific information for 'A' level and undergraduate study
• A guide to the Sefton Coast Information Centre
• Sefton Coast Research Newsletter and list of research topics
• Work experience opportunities
• Summaries of recent and current research projects
• Links to other useful sites

Educational Activities

The National Trust offer an education service at the Formby Property. Contact Sue Green on 01704 874949 for further information.

The University of Liverpool Continuing Education Centre offers courses in sand dune ecology and related biological topics. The University will be holding four courses based at Ainsdale Discovery Centre. For further detail of the courses click here.

Educational Resources

• Sands of Time
  A special website has been developed in conjunction with Liverpool Hope University Collage and English Nature to support A Level studies.

  The site www.sandsoftime.hope.ac.uk provides information on the sand dunes of the Sefton Coast, how the coast has changed in the past, what is happening today and some possible future conditions.

• Wildfowl and Wetlands Trust
  The Wildlfowl and Wetlands Trust has developed an online educational resource, www.wwtlearn.org.uk It includes downloadable lesson plans, data sets, Factfiles and images about water, wetlands and wetland life. It is designed for KS 1-3 teachers, linked to the English National Curriculum.

• Environment Agency
  This resource covers topics including beach litter, flooding and climate change. Animations, games and downloadable info sheets make for a very useful site. http://www.environment-agency.gov.uk/kids/?lang=_e

• The Mersey Forest
  The 'Tree House' contains fun games and downloads to help ychildren learn about the forest and its inhabitants.

• RSPB
  The RSPB has developed an educational resource with downloadable notes and datasets for teachers and students. There is also a section dedicated to young people with lots of information, ideas and competitions.

Sefton Coast Information Centre

It is maintained by the Coast and Countryside Service and can be visited by appointment. Access is free but charges are levied for photocopying, map printing and time spent on enquiries.

The information centre serves coastal partners, researcherrs, students, and the general public. Some items may be borrowed on a seven day loan basis.

Contact the Coast and Countryside Service on 01704 570173 for more information

Research on the Sefton Coast

A second research seminar 'Waves of Change' was held at Liverpool Hope University College on 15 June 2000.

For individual study it is essential to contact the relevant land owners and land managers to check access and security arrangements. The map of land ownership can help you contact the relevant organisation.

The range of research projects is not confined to physical or biological fieldwork. Coastal managers are keen to support studies on archaeology, history, social and human geography.