On Monday 24^th October 2022 Miss. M. Dykes-Swindell, Ms. Z. Adams and Mr. O. Hearn took a group of pupils in Year 9 on a geography trip to The National Showcaves Centre for Wales located in the Brecon Beacons National Park. 

The pupils have been studying ‘The physical world’ in their geography lessons during the autumn term with an emphasis on rivers.  The pupils examined how the groundwater flow of the river Llynfell has travelled through limestone and formed a series of underground cave systems. 

The pupils examined cave formations in Dan-yr-Ogof cave including stalactites, stalagmites, and columns, which caused much excitement within the group.  The pupils demonstrated most interest in the famous ‘Rasher of Bacon’, the heavenly ‘Angel’ and the ‘Alabaster Pillar’.  Pupils were sprayed by the waterfalls in Cathedral Cave as the water cascaded into the caverns.  The final cave visit was in Bone Cave, which was dark, damp and narrow in places, so safety helmets were worn, and torches used to light the way.  After the cave visit, the group visited the dinosaur park, which includes 220 life-sized dinosaur models. 

The trip ended with a visit to the Shire horse centre and Mr. Morgan’s farm where some pupils had their first interaction with sheep, goats, Shetland ponies and llamas.