Many of FSC’s customers who cannot join us for their planned courses have taken the time to express concern for staff and support for FSC. It’s good to know that they plan to be back as soon as they can. Here are just a few of the kind comments that have come in. If you receive one, please do send it to [email protected].
‘Thank you for your email. Yes, we are gutted to not be with you this year, to say the least. But we will be back next year. We are all working from home of course but many of us at the school are also involved in various covid-related activities, be it our doctors working at the Nightingale, or us scientists volunteering to help out with the testing. The wildlife is flourishing here in London as well, I was sitting on the sofa working on my laptop yesterday afternoon when I suddenly saw a fox, standing next to the sofa…I was quite surprised, we live on the second floor but leave the front door slightly ajar when we are home so the cat can come and go as she pleases. So the fox came through the front door, walked upstairs and into our lounge. Even though we were both at home. When I started shouting (mainly of surprise) it calmly turned around and trotted back down the stairs and out again. So the absence of people and traffic seems to have some quite remarkable effects on wildlife even in London. Anyway, please give our best wishes, and our apologies, to everyone at the centre, stay well and stay safe in these extraordinary times. We will be back.’
‘Thank you for your email. We too are bitterly disappointed that we are not able to run the field course this year. All teaching and assessment is now being delivered online, but it is no substitute for being outside and getting our hands dirty, so it really is a massive learning opportunity lost for these students. Fingers crossed things get back to normal soon and we can return with renewed vigour next year.’
‘We were very disappointed that we had to cancel our field course – it is usually the highlight of the final year for our students! It is great to hear that the wildlife is blooming. I am working from home in Leicester, but even here it is noticeable that animals are beginning to appear in larger numbers than usual. We have plenty of insect, birds, and the odd fox in our garden. It seems strange that spring is charging forward when the rest of us feel a bit stuck at home. Best wishes for the rest of the season – we will be back next year!’
‘I wish you and the other lovely people at Rhyd-y-creuau the best of fortune during this difficult time. I am sorry not to be able to visit this May, but I am hugely looking forward to seeing you in May 2021, if that turns out to be possible.’
‘We are acutely aware that this crisis must be placing a huge strain on everyone including not-for-profits, and we have in mind to donate funds in lieu of courses that are now being cancelled. We have had so much pleasure from FSC courses, we dearly want to support you going forward.’
‘My best wishes to you all. FSC is an extremely important organisation and I get great enjoyment from it. I hope you weather the storm’
‘You must be having a very difficult time at the moment, and I’m grateful that you are able to offer several possible options… I would like to accept a credit on my account towards any FSC course in 2021.’
‘We are really sorry we couldn’t make it too! It’s the highlight of our school calendar! Yes we would like to re-book for the A level week (Monday-Friday) residential course ideally for early November or even October.’
‘Thanks so much. We were so very sorry that we couldn’t come. I will pass on those links to my teachers. And we will be in touch as soon as we know when we can book again.’
‘Thank you for your email. These look excellent, especially as we haven’t been able to do our places fieldwork with year 12. I have signed up for the Investigating Place one and have encouraged our students to do the same.’
‘Many thanks for your email and the information on the live lessons which look really good.’