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Local Studies
The Environment . Wroxham village on the River Bure is well-known as boat-hiring centre for holidays on the Norfolk rivers and broads. There are various wildlife reserves, the whole area virtually having the status of a national park. The low-lying Norfolk countryside is particularly beautiful and unspoilt. Not many miles from Wroxham is the coast with sandy beaches and salt marshes. There is much for the school children to experience, not least in outings by canoe on the river and walks along rural footpaths.Barely seven miles to the South-West lies the historic city of Norwich, with its famous Norman cathedral and castle, medieval walls and ancient buildings. Norwich has a fine theatre, which receives visits from major touring companies. The county of Norfolk is exceptionally rich in fine churches with lofty flint towers and with many stately homes, wildlife parks and other themed attractions.
The attention of children is invariably directed to events such as eclipses, comets, meteors and such-like. There is ongoing
interest in ecological subjects, and in coastal erosion and geology. Amber, various agates, carnelian, iron ore and interesting stones can be found on local beaches. Obviously, we are interested in moves to protect local species such as bitterns, barn owls and swallowtail butterflies, for which Norfolk is well known. Of topical interest are the rock pools at West Runton, as new formations have been uncovered by winter storms. These circles of flint date back to late glacial periods. The skeleton of a woolly mammoth was found under sand cliffs at West Runton.
Local farming. . The children are encouraged to show an interest in local agriculture. Wheat, barley, fodder maize,
sugar beet, oil-seed rape, potatoes and flax are commonly grown. There is not a lot of livestock, though beef and dairy herds are dotted about, as well as sizeable flocks of sheep and pigs kept in open sheds in fields. Poultry are mainly intensively kept in sheds! The children are taken to the Royal Norfolk Show about every three years. The school gardens are fertilized with bio-dynamic compost.
Local cultural life. The children at school here mainly live in Norwich or Norh-East Norfolk. However, it does not necessarily follow that they are familiar with Norwich history nor some of its fine sights and lesser known buildings. Periodically, the children are taken to the Cathedral, as well as to the Norman Castle. There have been extensive developments in the city in recent years, with a modern shopping mall, two new multiplex cinemas and other developments.
There are many local artists, who paint pictues of river and wildlife scenes, as well as other imaginative work. Above is an illustration by a former pupil in wax crayons of a cornfield after harvest with, as so typically, a church tower in view. Click on the picture to enlarge it. There is an old print shewn above of fishing smacks and a steam tug at Lowestoft. Below are reproductions of water-colours by a local artist, David Dane.
Of less immediate import to the school are the high tech businesses, the new IT centre, the university, new hospital and science park, the Sainsbury art gallery and such-like. London is less than two hours away by elecric train.
Click here for paintings of the Broads.
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