Scotland Studytrip: Biology activity

Loch Lomond and The Trossachs National Park

Names: Sanne van Leeuwen, Muktha Nathan, Emily Nagelkerke and Sterre
Heijmans

Biology teacher: Paola Diepeveen

Welcome to Loch Lomond and the Trossachs National Park! Today you are going
to discover the impressive nature Scotland has to offer.
Make groups of 4-5 persons. Your explorations have to be well documented in
the form of a walking route, that would take an average person around 15
minutes (1,5 km). This walking route should appeal to your age group.
The walking route should include:
 Background information on the National Park (±10 lines). See your
Scotland handout and the information signs in the park.
 A description of the abiotic factors of the park.
 A description of the biotic factors of the park.
 A detailed description of your route. Make pictures of the crossings and
scenery.
 Draw a simple map of your walking route. On your route, mark the places
where you find the following things:
o 5 plant species
o 5 animal/bird species
 Make questions or a puzzle about the park (and Scotland), which the
walkers need to solve during the walk. Mark the spots where the questions
need to be answered on the route.
 Include a legend.
You will be given 1,5 hours to lay out your route.
Finish your walking route at home by including your pictures and hand in the
route during the first Biology lesson after the May break.

BE SAFE, HAVE FUN AND BE RESPECTFUL TO THE ENVIRONMENT.

DO NOT LEAVE THE WALKING PATHS AND DO NOT DAMAGE THE NATURE.
Background info:
Loch Lomond is a lake that is located in the south of Scotland. Loch Lomond is
part of Loch Lomond and The Trossachs National Park. It is 39 km in length and
the area is 71 km2 . Loch Lomond and The Trossachs National Park together is
1865 km2 . This national park was the first of the two national parks established
by the Scottish Parliament in 2002. There are many towns and villages situated
in the park itself and many people live there, approximately 15,600 live in the
park. There are many villas and bungalows that people have built along the
roads of the National park.
When we went to Loch Lomond, there were two different types of factors.
Abiotic and biotic factors Biotic factors are actually all living things. You have
them in a national park more as enough. Examples are plants or trees. Also, if
we visit the park, we are also a biotic factor in the park, because we are also
living things. Abiotic things are the opposite of biotic things. They are not alive.
This are things like houses, or machines. I am going name a few abiotic factors
in the park now:
When we came in, there was a very big building with shops in there. The
building is an abiotic factor, but all the things they sell in this building, are also
abiotic factors, because clothes or souvenirs are not alive. I am also going to
name some biotic factors in the park. This were plants, which you saw enough
and this were also all the insects. There were also ducks in the water or in the
grass. This are also biotic factors.
Description of Walking Route:
Go over the bridge and go to the left.
Go up the stairs and go over the path to the left.
Go down and walk on the path again.
Follow the path over the bridge, on your right you should see a little house.
Go over the second bridge and go to the right.
Go straight ahead and go left to the weird bridge that has three ways to go.
Follow the sign ‘Loch view’ over the platform.
Go left after the platform you should see some picknick tables.
Head right over the little beach.
Walk through the fence and jump over the little river.
Walk straight ahead (don’t walk into the lake!)
Follow the road, don’t go to the houses on the left.
Go straight ahead at the blue house.
Go straight ahead at the end of the parking lot.
Go to the right at the fire-assembly point board.
Take a beautiful picture of the lake.
Walk along the shore.
Go left at the big tree you see and walk over the grass next to the castle.
Go to the road.
Head back via the same route as you came.
Walking route Questions/Quiz:
Drawing of the Walking Route: