The "River Swale: Managed or Meandering?" was a one day Geography field work investigation produced for the Key Stage 2 students of the Swaledale Primary Schools in the Yorkshire Dales National Park, at Arkengarthdale, Reeth and Gunnerside.

The activity has been developed as part of the YDNPA involvement in the River Swale Regeneration Project.

This field work enquiry for schools, set out to raise awareness of the project in a way which was meaningful to children, based on real issues in their locality and relevant to the National Curriculum. The enquiry was structured around a question of genuine concern to the project, "Should the River Swale be managed, or left to meander?"

To help children to decide on their view, activities involved:

• the Swaledale landscape in the National Park (landscape and land use)
• river and catchment management
• river wildlife
• business in Reeth village