Oswestry School Bellan House

Out & About
Year 7 at Blencathra
IT IS WITH a fair amount of sadness that I write this
report. The year 7 field trip to Blencathra Centre has
become somewhat of an institution, as this year was its
seventeenth anniversary. Although I did not start it off—it
actually started the year before I came—it has become an
important part of the Trinity term for me. As a measure of
its popularity several year 8 pupils have asked if they could
sneak along again and even pupils in year 5 have been
known to say they were looking forward to going.
Since the beginning various changes have taken place.
Initially there used to be a bivouac out one night in a field
at the end of Thirlmere, having paddled there by open canoe.
Then one year, owing to foot-and-mouth restrictions, a lot
of the activities had to be altered and instead of a mountain
hike we walked along the eastern shore of Derwent Water
and caught the launch back. We also looked at the flood
defences in Keswick, as we could not go up the
Glenderaterra Valley to study the river.
However, gradually the course as it is now came into
being, and there have been very few changes since about
2002. It now suits us very well.
Over the years pupils have gone canoeing on
Bassenthwaite Lake, Thirlmere and three different venues
on Derwent Water, but every time they have enjoyed getting
as wet as possible! Catbells has been climbed many times
and some pupils have been rewarded with a lovely sunny
view of the surrounding fells and lake, unlike this year when
the wind and rain made it difficult to stand up on the
summit.
I’m sure the trip will continue to be popular and
enjoyable under the leadership of Mrs Lentink, and pupils
will continue to be amazed at the grizzly goings on in the
pond where food chains can be witnessed in action!
M Hart
52 The Oswestrian