Secondary Education

The environment at Harehope Quarry is ideally suited to delivering aspects of the geography and science curriculum, although there are obvious links to other areas of the curriculum including education for sustainable development and citizenship.

Geography

Enquiry-based learning can be used for the study of a number geographical themes at Harehope Quarry and in the surrounding area.

Many of the themes can be adapted for various levels from Key Stage 3 through to A-level and developed to suit the needs of individual schools. The following themes can be covered:

  • Rivers: Looking at river processes, landforms and flooding in the upper course.
  • Limestone and limestone extraction: Looking at some of the features of limestone, the environmental impact of limestone quarrying and using Harehope quarry as an example of quarry reclamation.
  • Rural settlement studies: Looking at settlement location, function and distribution and goods and services. (This will require the use of transport during the day).
  • Hydrology: Comparison of the hydrology of 2 contrasting river catchments and the impact of landuse on flood management. (This will require the use of transport during the day).
  • Ecosystems: This may include looking at energy flow in a freshwater environment, succession or nature reserve management.
  • Agriculture: This may use Harehope Quarry as base to study a local farm and look at sustainable land management.

Science

Enquiry-based learning can be used for the study of a number scientific themes at Harehope Quarry.

Many of the themes can be adapted for various levels from Key Stage 3 through to A-level and developed to suit the needs of individual schools. The following themes can be covered:

  • Freshwater habitats: Looking at diversity of life, adaptations and food chains, webs and pyramids of numbers.
  • Limestone and limestone extraction: Looking at some of the features of limestone, the environmental impact of limestone quarrying and using Harehope Quarry as an example of quarry reclamation.

We are currently developing further ecology and environmental study days.

In addition the solar challenge and sustainable lifestyles days outlines in the 'Primary Education' section also work well at Key Stages 3 and 4 and can help in the delivery of the 'Sustainable Schools Framework'.

Latest News

Working for a Future in Frosterley
08th Jun 2010
The Harehope Quarry Project have been awarded funding to 'kick start' a project in Frosterley to look at how Frosterley can become more sustainable in the light of climate change and peak oil. We are starting the project with a number of film showings at Frosterley Village Hall. These will include 'The Inconvenient Truth' and 'In Transition' on 17 June 2010, from 8.00pm and 'The Age of Stupid' on 24 June 2010, from 8.00pm. These will be be followed by an intial meeting on the 30 June 2010 to explain the project and encourage people to get involved.
The Great Rock Tour
17th Dec 2009
On yet another wet and windy Sunday in November, an intrepid group of children and adults set out to experience the "Great Rock Tour". The group, the North Pennines Rock Detective Club from Harehope Quarry, set out in two minibuses bravely driven by Weardale Community Transport! One minibus went west, whilst the other headed east. The two groups went in search of rocks, which are typical of the North Pennines. A small rock sample was taken from each site within the North Pennines Geopark and will be sent to a Geopark in southern France. The Reserve Geologique de Haute-Provence will be sent the rock samples, which will be incorporated into their "Children of the Earth" monument containing rock samples from around the world.
The Last Wilderness
20th Aug 2009
10th-12th September 2009, 7pm Harehope Quarry, Frosterley The Last Wilderness is a new site-specific creation from Changeling Productions, the theatre company known for creating unique work in unusual places throughout the UK and Europe. The Last Wilderness is the dramatic story of Thomas Allman, a North Pennines hill farmer, faced with the biggest decision of his life. Should he sell his farm to the mysterious stranger who apparently offers him the answer to all his problems? Haunted by the failures and betrayals of the past and his hopes for the future Thomas finds himself journeying to The Last Wilderness, a place where he must face up to who he is and what he is. Performances will take place over three evenings in the beautiful surroundings of Harehope Quarry in Frosterley, an eco-project that explores sustainable living, where the world-famous Frosterley Marble was originally quarried.

Next Events

North Pennines Rock Detectives club: Harsh environments
25th Sep 2010
10.30am – 1.00pm. Come and find out what plants and animals can tolerate living with lead on the Hudeshope Beck in Middleton-in-Teesdale. Contact for details.
Volunteer day
09th Oct 2010
10.00am – 4.00pm. Join our regular volunteering event. Tasks will include the continued work on the eco-classroom and nature reserve management. Refreshments and a light lunch are provided so if you intend to come please let us know so we have an idea of numbers.
Halloween fun!
31st Oct 2010
4.00pm – 6.00pm. Come and help us celebrate the end of summer and the onset of the long dark nights of winter. A mixture of Halloween, Celtic New Year and a bonfire thrown in! Adults £4.50, Children £2.50, Families £9.00. Drop-in.