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Projects
Much of this page is aimed at projects in the New Forest. For other areas use a Google trawl for general ideas, or visit the website of the appropriate Wild Country Panel for specific ideas.
Projects are officially known as 'Aims'. In an ideal world, the aim comes first, and the route (and even the area) arise from it, after you've decided what evidence you need to collect during the journey in order to be able to complete the project.
You'll need to bear in mind the need for the project to provide you with something actually to do in your non-walking periods during the 6, 7 or 8 hours of 'planned activity': taking photos, sketching, recording data, making measurements, etc, as well as providing the means to produce a finished product without too much extra time being involved after the journey is all over.
A major choice is to decide on the medium of your presentation. Here is a non-exhaustive list.
Almost as important is choosing to whom you will present it: assessor, supervisor, trainer, person who you have consulted for expert background material, etc. Make sure you secure their agreement before announcing your choice to the assessor at the preliminary briefing.
Be aware that each member of the group will need to write a personal diary that records feelings, impressions, etc, and extends to about half a side for each day (although it need not necessarily be arranged in three separate sections). In the best spiral-bound presentations, the diary forms an appendix and has a few photos to liven it up. In other styles of presentation the diary can still be spiral bound, but forms a separate entity from the main project presentation.
Also be aware that the assessor may call for a plan of action: proformas for the collection of data, allocation of jobs, evidence of background research, clear targets for what is to be achieved during those route card periods you have set aside for project work, etc.
Here are a few ideas for the New Forest: some have been tried - with success ranging from fantastic to awful - and others haven't. Once you start thinking along these lines, dozens more will occur to you.
Nature-based ideas
Find out about the soil type in the area, obtain a wild flower guide and make of note of the flowers that you might see, having regard to soil type, flowering season and rarity. Perhaps consult with a NHS specialist to find out where is the best place to look. Put markers on those places on the map, and then try to construct a route that visits your sites, taking in a couple of the wild camp sites on the way.
As above, but for trees. Measure the soil pH in areas inhabited by different species of tree.
As above, but for birds, animals or reptiles. Soil type isn't relevant as such, but vegetation type might be. There are a Reptiliary and an Owl Sanctuary in the Forest that would be worth visiting for the first and last of this trio.
Landscape-based ideas
The good loo guide
Provision & use of car parks
Litter (though there's very little, and virtually no litter bins: people just take it out with them)
The water features of the New Forest
Bridges of the New Forest
The relation between place/building/street names and their location.
Art-based ideas
Do a sketchbook of a variety of locations, either drawn or painted
Create an artwork on a theme, using natural materials found in the Forest: bark, leaves, soil, stone, etc
Historically-based ideas
Something on the airfields established here in WWII
Something on charcoal burning
Something on the connection of the Forest with Royalty
Literature-based ideas
Videos, etc
Assistance with genuine research projects