Geology, wildlife, and climate action: a student-led journey

As we celebrate Earth Day (22 April) and reflect on the importance of protecting our planet’s natural resources, we look back at an inspiring event that brought students from France and the UK together at Dover Castle for the Schools Climate ExChange.

These students took part in hands-on activities exploring geology, biodiversity, and history. Through these, they discovered how landscapes like the Cross-Channel Geopark connect people across borders and time. Their experiences show why protecting these environments for future generations is more important than ever.

On Friday 28 February 2025, the Cross-Channel Geopark welcomed students from both sides of the Channel to take part in the Schools Climate ExChange programme. This event, held with support from English Heritage at Dover Castle, welcomed pupils from Le Wast Primary, St Peter’s CoE Primary, and The Beacon Folkestone for a unique cross-border learning experience.

Building on the success of the October 2024 event at Hardelot Castle, the geopark team was delighted to invite the same group to a UK Geosite. Dover Castle, set on a high chalk ridge, offered the perfect location for this exchange. Students admired views across the sea and learned about the Megaflood—an ancient natural event that helped shape the region’s geography.

The French students travelled through the Channel Tunnel, moving through the chalk marl layer, before joining their UK peers. The crisp, clear weather offered sweeping views of the White Cliffs of Dover, the River Dour valley, and the Kent Downs—highlighting why this landscape has been strategically important throughout history.

Inside the Keep, students took part in a carousel of activities in mixed groups. These activities deepened their understanding of the geological, biological, and cultural heritage of the Cross-Channel region.

Exploring the past to shape the future

Rose from the English Heritage team guided students through the ‘Under Siege’ exhibition-showing how Dover Castle withstood two major sieges and played a key role in resisting Prince Louis of France in 1216. Students explored what life was like for soldiers during the Napoleonic Wars and handled historic artefacts.

Katie and Jenny from the Kent Wildlife Trust helped the students to learn more about the Chough—a rare bird with a close link to chalk grasslands. Recently reintroduced to the Dover Castle site, the Chough’s red beak, acrobatic flight, and distinctive call stood out among the local corvids.

Idolrich Theatre Rotto, a theatre company from East Sussex, brought the Cretaceous period (the chalk formation period) to life with their shadow puppetry workshop, Volcano Island. As part of the climate education activities at Dover Castle, students explored prehistoric forests and creatures through interactive storytelling. Afterwards, they created their own chalk-age puppets and world using puppets, music, and creative play.

As a fitting end to the day, some students descended into the Secret Wartime Tunnels, carved into the chalk beneath Dover Castle. This experience gave them a tangible connection between geology, history, and the importance of preserving our shared heritage.

A huge thanks to all the staff at Dover Castle, Eurotunnel Le Shuttle, the teaching staff at participating schools, and the Cross-Channel Geopark team for making this event a resounding success.

This project is supported by the National Lottery Heritage Fund and the players of the National Lottery. Their generous funding helps bring learning experiences like this to life, fostering connections between young people and the landscapes that shape our shared heritage.

This project is also supported by the Straits Committee, a cooperation body that brings together local authorities from Belgium, the United Kingdom, the Netherlands, and France, bordering the Strait of Dover.