The Y6 quest to find the source
of the River Severn

Hard to imagine that this small stream can
flood towns and villages after heavy rainfall.
Pupils here are mapping the banks of the
stream in Carding Mill Valley, Shropshire.

Accurate measurements being taken by Y6 pupils

Not sure that Will is as pleased as Shannon!

Pupils had to make a sketch map of the stream
and add local geographical features to it

They also had to measure the flow of the stream using plastic balls and timing them. Staffordshire County Council's Coven "Outdoor Centre" ran the day for school with experienced staff.

Plastic balls are timed between the starting line and finishing post.
To make it a fair test it has to be repeated three times

Then lunch!

And more lunch!

Carding Mill Valley takes its name after this mill (now an apartment block). Carding is the process of separating fibres from sheep's' wool to enable people to knit or weave it to make cloth or garments.
This mill was one of the first in the UK to have a mechanical process, driven by a waterwheel; to achieve that.

We start the journey to the source of the River Severn after lunch and see a ford- a crossing point for cars going directly through the stream.

Some pupils asked the question about how the Carding Mill could work if there was little rainfall and the stream was as low as it was on our visit. i.e not enough water in the stream to turn the mill wheel.

They are sitting on the answer to their question - a reservoir bank.

The old reservoir is now a car park but there are clues to find that it was not always like that!

There are old pictures of Victorians swimming in this reservoir which is now a car park. They stored the water here and if there was no rain opened sluice gates to allow water to flow to the Carding Mill wheel.

Onwards and upwards to the source of the River
past heavily eroded river banks

We stop for a break at a "confluence" the joining point of two streams
The journey becomes harder, steeper and more rocky

We discover a waterfall

This is caused by two types of rock. Some hard and some soft. The soft rock wears away but the hard rock remains causing the waterfall.
The soft rock gives way and forms a bowl at the base of the waterfall.

The climb up becomes more tricky

Done it and we can now look down on the waterfall

Next stop the ancient "Winging Tree"
And didn't they whinge!

And that's it. That is the source of the River Severn!
No statue or commemorative plaque, just a boggy puddle.

At this point Mr Bain, from Coven outdoor Centre,
came into his element.

He asked the kids where "Tomato Sauce came from"

Answer: Tomatos!

"Where does salad cream come from?

Pupil answer: "Salad"!!!

"Where does HP Sauce come from?"

Pupil answer " The Houses of Parliament"

Mr Bain went on to pick a handful of brown mud from the river source and said, "You are wrong. HP stands for "Hillside Products"!
He squeezed the mud and water dripped out.

He continued: "HP sauce is made out of this water with herbs and spices added and it is thickened in the Aston factory in Birmingham and turned into brown sauce".

I almost believed him and checked the label of my
brown sauce bottle in the pantry at home.
No reference to "Hillside Products"!
A total and well meant "Porky Pie"!

The Y6 gang on the summit of the "Long Mynd" (Celtic language for "Long Hill") The descent was probably harder than the climb up.

Pupils accosted this walker as they liked the dog!

The Coven outdoor centre staff said
our pupils were a delight to take out.

Martin Tibbetts
Sunday, 16 October 2005