Barrow Sixth Form College students are taking part in a project to survey the natural heritage of Walney Channel in partnership with ArtGene.
They will team up with experts in ecology, archaeology and maritime history to explore the channel, its wildlife and understand the human history for the initiative starting on Monday (October 3).
Sixth Form lecturer and wildlife ecologist Jenny Holden-Wilde is working with Professor Candice Satchwell from the University of Central Lancashire on the project, which will also involve local schools.
Students on A Level biology, geography and history at the Rating Lane campus alongside those on the animal management programme the college runs in partnership with Myerscough College will have a chance to take part.
Jenny said: “Walney Channel is a rich source of history and this project aims to unearth the link between past human influence through the ironworks industry and its impact on the natural history.
“We’ve referred to this project as a ‘muddy adventure’ as it will involve pupils from local schools and our sixthformers getting a chance to look in the mud for interesting artefacts and mud dwelling creatures alongside a history expert.”
The college has also been working with Artgene and Rusland Horizons on the new exhibition ‘From the Land to the Sky’. Animal Management programme students have contributed to the artwork on display that illustrates landscape stories from our local communities.
Photo: Lecturer and wildlife ecologist Jenny Holden-Wilde with some of the Animal Management students at sixth form.