2020

Wildlife Training Workshops

Discover more about natural history and the varied wildlife and habitats of Bedfordshire, and Northamptonshire Booking form

£40 £115 £20 Students

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View our privacy policy at www.wildlifebcn.org/privacy I am happy to be contacted Introduction to Water Butterfly Lower Plants Beetle Families Identification and

Introduction to Water beetles are a great introduction Ecology to aquatic invertebrates, or recording Mosses and Around 60 species of butterfly live in in general, as the keys are fairly mature the UK and a diverse selection of them Liverworts and very useable. With roughly 281 can be seen on Wildlife Trust BCN species and 65 families/sub-families it reserves. A complex life cycle means Mosses and liverworts are beautiful may seem a little daunting, but some that many butterflies are extremely little plants which deserve close are easily identifiable in the field and sensitive to environmental change and examination. This course will help you we will work through these on the day. these species can act as important to appreciate their fine detail, and They are a fascinating group, many bio-indicators. Therefore, studying to use your observations to identify of which have specific feeding and butterflies can help us monitor natural different species. mating behaviours, with many being ecosystems and protect a wide array specialised predators. They are also of other animals and plants. We will use hand lenses for field great habitat indicators and can be identification and also spend time used to monitor the health of aquatic This workshop aims to provide examining a range of species with habitats. background information on the biology microscopes. Both beginners and and ecology of butterflies, and will improvers are welcome. This workshop is aimed at the also include a field trip where you will beginner, and using a new family learn to identify some of the species Date(s): Saturday 28 March 2020 identification guide and preserved yourself. The site visit will take place Timings: 10am – 4pm specimens, we will work through some at Totternhoe Quarry, one of only a Venue: Pitsford Water of the more easily identifiable families handful of sites in Bedfordshire where nature reserve and species. There will also be an the rare Duke of Burgundy butterfly Trainer(s): Rachel Carter opportunity to use microscopes and holds a strong population. keys to identify specimens caught during a field trip. Date(s): Saturday 16 May 2020 Timings: 10am – 4pm Date(s): Saturday 14 March 2020 Venue: Totternhoe Quarry Invertebrates Timings: 10am – 4pm Trainer(s): Andrew Bladon and Venue: Nene Wetlands Matt Hayes Introduction to Trainer(s): Kevin Rowley and Graham Warnes Hoverflies Only £60

This 2-day course is designed to help Introduction the novice understand how to identify to Invertebrates hoverflies. It will be taught using Introduction to preserved material supplied by the The day will introduce the diversity of tutors, although you are welcome to Solitary Bees invertebrates, and demonstrate how bring your own too. important they are for conservation Solitary bees are not only charismatic; and ecology. We will explore which The course will include a variety of they are also incredibly important kinds of invertebrate are most presentations in which it is hoped that pollinators. They are very diverse and important in which habitats, and how a broader understanding of hoverfly have fascinating life cycles. This course their lifestyles make the different taxonomy, ecology and biogeography will introduce you to solitary bees and groups useful for understanding are better understood. their ecology before teaching you to and monitoring nature reserves. You identify solitary bees to at least genus will see the sorts of features used in By the end of the course it is level. identifying species in different groups, anticipated that participants will be and point the way to studying any able to find their way through to the Date(s): Saturday 9 May 2020 chosen group in more detail. There will identity of many of the commoner Timings: 10am – 4pm be a summary of the range of books, hoverflies and to understand some of Venue: Cooper’s Hill keys and websites which are available, the more challenging characters that Trainer(s): Ryan Clark an overview of the ways to sample and can cause problems to the beginner. record invertebrates in the field, and a chance to practice ways of handling Date(s): Saturday 29 February 2020 and examining live invertebrates. Sunday 1 March 2020 Timings: 10am – 4pm (both days) The day will finish with the basics Venue: Ring Haw Field Station of photography for identification Trainer(s): Stuart Ball and purposes, maintaining and using a John Showers reference collection of specimens, and how to use a hand lens and a microscope.

Date(s): Sunday 17 May 2020 Timings: 10am – 4pm Venue: Old Sulehay nature reserve

© Brian Eversham Trainer(s): Brian Eversham

More information on wildlife training workshops can be found at www.wildlifebcn.org Introduction Introduction to Invertebrates to Spiders Grasshoppers and Bushcrickets Identification of The aim of this workshop is to Flatworms and familiarise participants with the 34 The 20 or so local species are almost Leeches different spider families found in all easy to identify and, by the end the UK, highlighting distinguishing of the course, people should be characteristics observable in the field. Much of the invertebrate fauna of able to recognise all of them by Following an indoor session, there will freshwaters consists of the arthropods sight and many by sound. Ideal be opportunities for fieldwork and – shrimps, spiders and insects – but insects for monitoring they help to demonstration of collection techniques there are many groups of large indicate several aspects of vegetation out on the nature reserve at Cooper’s invertebrates, with their origins in the structure and management. They Hill. earliest years of life on Earth, which are an important part of the fauna of are also a major component of life in calcareous grassland, heathland and Date(s): Sunday 14 June 2020 freshwaters. This includes flatworms open, early successional habitats. Timings: 10am – 4pm and leeches. Venue: Cooper’s Hill Date(s): Sunday 19 July 2020 Trainer(s): Lawrence Bee This course will instruct, predominantly Timings: 10am – 4pm with practical work, on techniques Venue: Totternhoe Quarry and the use of standard guides to Trainer(s): Brian Eversham identify these primitive and interesting groups to family and species level, concentrating on triclad flatworms, and leeches. Participants will have access to an extensive collection of reference specimens as well as live material to identify.

Date(s): Saturday 30 May 2020 Timings: 10am – 4pm Venue:

Trainer(s): Richard Chadd and © Chris Maguire Alex Pickwell Taking Solitary Bee Introduction to Identification Further

Ground Beetles This workshop is for people who have already had a go at identifying solitary The ground beetles (Carabidae) are an bees, maybe by attending the earlier ideal group for the beginner to get to © Brian Eversham workshop. The focus of this session will know, with around 350 species (about be to practice using microscopes to as diverse as birds in Britain). There identify solitary bees to species level are very good ‘habitat indicators’ in and submit records. Solitary almost all habitats, from mountain-tops to sea-shores, and they are readily Wasps Date(s): Sunday 5 July 2020 sampled, both by pitfall trapping and Timings: 10am – 4pm by direct searching. With practice, This workshop will give participants Venue: Lings local nature reserve almost all species can be identified an introduction to the ecology and Trainer(s): Ryan Clark alive, in the field, with a hand lens. identification of solitary wasps.

The workshop will show participants Presentations will cover the how to recognise a ground beetle, Introducing the identification and ecology of some and to place species in main groups. Dragonfly of the more commonly encountered It will provide background in studying genera. Time will be spent on and identifying ground beetles, and Specifically designed for the beginner, site catching and identifying live interpreting the results of surveys. this very popular course includes insects and studying their habitat dragonfly biology, life cycle, ecology requirements. By the end of the workshop, and simple identification of common participants should be able to identify adult dragonflies, a video, plus There will also be the opportunity the most important genera of ground dependent on the weather a field tour to examine prepared specimens and beetles accurately using keys and a of dragonfly habitats on site. explore some of the literature and microscope, and will be able to use PLEASE BOOK THROUGH THE resources available to help to take your keys to identify to species level. BRITISH DRAGONFLY SOCIETY. learning further.

Date(s): Sunday 31 May 2020 Date(s): Saturday 4 July 2020 Date(s): Saturday 8 August 2020 Timings: 10am – 4pm Timings: 10am – 5pm Timings: 10am – 4pm Venue: Old Sulehay nature reserve Venue: Venue: Old Sulehay nature reserve Trainer(s): Brian Eversham Trainer(s): Stuart Irons Trainer(s): Rebecca Cartwright

More information on wildlife training workshops can be found at www.wildlifebcn.org Introduction to Introduction Botany Umbellifers to Wildflower Cow-parsley on road verges, or Identification Introduction to Tree hogweed and wild carrot in meadows, Do you want to know how to tell the Identification are very familiar, but the umbellifers difference between a speedwell and a have a reputation for being ‘difficult’, A workshop to identify common sandwort? Or to know what the parts because they all look alike (at least native broadleaved deciduous and (if are that make up a flower? Learn to when crowded together in illustrated found) exotic trees in winter whilst use identification keys and about the floras!). In fact, the members of this on a nature reserve. We will use characteristics of plants that are used distinctive family are readily separated key characters such as bud colour to tell them apart. on closer examination, even without and shape, bark types and overall ripe fruits. By the end of the day growth form to separate oak from Date(s): Saturday 11 July 2020 you should be able to identify all the field maple, sycamore from ash, hazel Timings: 10am - 4pm common species in our area. The from sallow and apple from elm. The Venue: Trumpington Meadows group contains several useful indicator shape and size of trees and their Trainer: Matt Jackson species, especially in wetland habitats growth rates are varied as a result of and grassland, so are helpful in their particular family history and the assessing habitats. environmental conditions they have adapted to. The types of trees, their Date(s): Saturday 20 June 2020 characteristics and their associations Timings: 10am – 4pm are all key components of many of Venue: Ramsey Heights/ our local habitats, so knowing which Woodwalton Fen trees are which will help you to better Trainer(s): Neil Crossman understand your local nature reserve.

Date(s): Saturday 25 January 2020 Grasses I – a beginner’s Timings: 10am – 4pm Venue: Cambourne introduction Trainer(s): Matt Hamilton Grasses are among the most important flowering plants, ubiquitous in almost all habitats. Their structure, co-evolved Vegetative with grazing animals, adapts them well Grasses to mowing as well as grazing, so they dominate pastureland and meadows. Ecologists, reserve managers and field They can be daunting to start with, botanists cannot always do their site as they look so different from other assessments when every species is in wildflowers. The day will explain the perfect condition – flowers, fruit and structure of grasses, including their leaves all present. If you are recording beautiful if subtle flowers, and help a quadrat, or trying to see whether you identify common grasses in the management is having the desired field using a hand lens. A short guide effect, you will need to identify every to recognising the most distinctive species and estimate their abundance. species, and keys to flowering and Especially in grasslands, but actually vegetative features will be used. in most habitats, recognising grasses without their flower heads can be © Brian Eversham Date(s): Sunday 21 June 2020 vital. Though apparently daunting Timings: 10am – 4pm at first, distinguishing the most Venue: Cambourne important grasses in leaf is relatively Introduction to Trainer(s): Brian Eversham straightforward given a few field- Aquatic Plants marks to look for. This course will provide a framework for identifying Grasses II – practicing During this workshop you will learn the commonest grasses in the grass identification how to identify plants commonly found region by vegetative features alone. in ponds and rivers. The focus will be Beginning with a description of these For people who have already had a go on submerged and floating vegetation features (and a detailed handout at identifying grasses, perhaps having which are found in the water and are for later use), the course will focus attended Grasses I, this day will use not always apparent at first sight. on field identification of grasses at the same identification guides and Survey techniques, including the use a local site – testing the approach give participants more time to practise of a grapnel, will be demonstrated in practically through field exercises. The using keys, and learning to recognise the field. By the end the workshop you course should equip the participants grasses outside. A little more attention should become familiar with some of to identify most grasses that they will be given to vegetative, non- the pondweeds and other common encounter at whatever growth stage flowering features, so participants can aquatic plants. they happen to be! begin to identify grasses at any time of year. Date(s): Sunday 12 July 2020 Date(s): Sunday 26 April 2020 Timings: 10am – 4pm Sunday 28 June 2020 Timings: 10am – 4pm Date(s): Venue: Priory Country Park 10am – 4pm Venue: Timings: Trainer(s): Nathalie Hueber and Cambourne Trainer(s): Owen Mountford Venue: John Wakely Trainer(s): Brian Eversham

More information on wildlife training workshops can be found at www.wildlifebcn.org Willows, Sallow Introduction to Botany and Osiers Amphibians Heaths and their Willows are our most important family The workshop will cover the of wetland trees and shrubs. Often identification, life histories and habitats Wildflowers considered a difficult group, a single of our native amphibians and surveying day is sufficient to become familiar for the protected great crested newt Heaths are amongst the most with the principle species and common including health and safety and threatened habitats in lowland hybrids in our area. legislation. England. Treatment with lime and with fertilisers has eliminated heathland By looking first at samples, a simple- Participants will gain experience in from counties such as Cambridgeshire, to-use key to the local species should assessing habitats and surveying for though the significant areas of enable participants to identify most great crested newts on this former Greensand in Bedfordshire allow species quickly and easily. brickyard. fragments to remain. Studying these habitats has a double benefit, not only Date(s): Sunday 6 September 2020 Date(s): Saturday 18 April 2020 does one learn about some of the Timings: 10am – 4pm Timings: 3.30pm - 10pm most special sites in our region but one Venue: Cambourne Venue: Ramsey Heights learns the basic building blocks of the Trainer(s): Brian Eversham Trainer(s): Helen and Terry Moore heaths and moors that are so extensive in the north and west of Britain. Mammal Tracks By visiting Cooper’s Hill, Ampthill, we will be introduced to the key Vertebrates and Signs plant species of lowland heaths and investigate the way that heaths have This workshop will highlight the sorts developed in relation to climate, soils Introduction of mammal tracks and signs that you and management. Complementary might come across when out in the indoor sessions will describe the to Raptors countryside. ‘Tracks’ could include ecological context of lowland heaths in those of the larger mammals like England. Raptors are a fascinating group badgers, foxes, otters and deer, but will of birds and the is fast hopefully include the smaller mammals becoming a great place to see them, Date(s): Saturday 1 August 2020 like hedgehogs and water voles – all especially in winter. Timings: 10am – 4pm may depend on the weather. ‘Signs’ Venue: Cooper’s Hill can be a very wide variety of things, This is a beginner’s guide to learn more Trainer(s): Owen Mountford including droppings, hair, fur, feeding about where and when to see them, signs (like holes in nuts and gnawed and how to identify them, perched and fir cones and tree bark) and ‘homes’ in flight. including badger setts and water vole burrows. Date(s): Saturday 18 January 2020 Timings: 11am - 5pm Date(s): Saturday 25 April 2020 Venue: Corney’s Barn, Great Fen Timings: 10am - 4pm Trainer(s): Henry Stanier Venue: Trainer(s): Peter Pilbeam

Introduction to Wetland Birds Warbler Only £30 Identification This workshop will concentrate on birds which use wetland environments. This workshop aims at helping The indoor session will detail the way participants to identify our warblers by in which birds have adapted to wetland voice and plumage. It will start with an habitats and how this has determined indoor session where we will listen to their shapes and behaviour. warbler songs and look at key features of warblers, to be followed by a walk Most of the day will be spent in the testing our skills in the field. This field at Summer Leys looking at the workshop is open for beginners and birds and how they use this beautiful those who want to improve existing nature reserve. identification skills alike.

Date(s): Saturday 22 February 2020 Date(s): Saturday 25 April 2020 Timings: 12pm – 6pm Timings: 7am - 12pm Venue: Summer Leys nature reserve Venue: Paxton Pits Trainer(s): Richard Chandler Trainer(s): Tony Fulford © Brian Eversham

More information on wildlife training workshops can be found at www.wildlifebcn.org Vertebrates Introduction to Woodland Bird Identification and Bird Song

This workshop will include visual and aural identification, plus an exploration of the niches each species occupies within the woodland, focusing on feeding, nesting and behaviour. The day will start with an indoor presentation followed by a field trip © Martha Cowell around the reserve.

Date(s): Saturday 2 May 2020 Small Mammals – Mammal Bone Timings: 10am – 4pm Venue: Pitsford Water nature reserve identification Identification Trainer(s): Paul Gosling and surveying Discover the fascinating works of osteology and learn how to identify a Capture and identification of small wide range of skulls and bones from mammals will be demonstrated in this British animals. Bat Sonogram workshop along with a range of related aspects of work on small mammals. Analysis Only £25 Concentrating on mammals but also The evening session will be used to introducing birds, reptiles, amphibians set a variety of small mammal traps Listening to bats on detectors is a skill and fish, this indoor workshop draws and the early start is to see what’s which needs lots of experience to be extensively on actual specimens to been caught overnight – the welfare able to positively identify an individual highlight the most useful identification of any trapped animal is of paramount to species level, especially as they only features allowing you to confidently importance. There will be a session on stay in range for a few moments. identify the most common bones likely British mammals in general, methods to be found whilst enjoying the British of study (including owl pellet analysis) Using a recording device with the bat countryside, in either owl pellets or and on small mammal surveying. detector means that the calls can be predator droppings. reviewed after the event and a greater Date(s)/Time(s): level of accuracy obtained when Saturday 17 October 2020 Saturday 26 September 2020 Date(s): identifying what bat species made the 10am – 4pm 5pm - 7.30pm Timings: call. Variations in call type, between Cardington Sunday 27 September 2020 Venue: species, are easily seen and help to Trainer(s): Richard Lawrence explain what you hear when using a 8am - 1pm bat detector. Venue: Paxton Pits Trainer(s): Peter Pilbeam The training workshop will look at the range of species found in our area and have examples of the different software to view sonograms produced by recordings from a library file. Technological advances in the last 5 years have also brought visual analysis to the field and this is extremely useful when dealing with multiple species and call types.

Ecological consultants are a key user of this technology for emergence surveys and long term monitoring, but it also has its place with the amateur conservationist who wants to further their experience of bat identification.

Date(s): Friday 8 May 2020 Timings: 7pm - 10.30pm Venue: Trainer(s): Aidan Matthews © Margaret Holland © Margaret

More information on wildlife training workshops can be found at www.wildlifebcn.org Practical Skills Habitat Management

Trail Cameras The Answer Lies Meadow Ecology for Wildlife in the Soil and Conservation

Whether you are using trail cameras This workshop is an introduction to The workshop will focus on the (camera traps) on a nature reserve soils with particular emphasis on how ecology and conservation of floodplain or in your back garden, they are different soil properties influence the meadows and will include site visits to an invaluable tool in revealing the plants and crops they support. We two meadows in Northamptonshire. presence and behaviour of your local will consider the components and The indoor session will look at wildlife. Do you know which one to factors that make soils different from the ecology, management and purchase? Do you know how to set it one another, whether it is parent conservation of floodplain meadows up, how to position it, and what to do material/texture, structure, hydrology, as well as botanical and hydrological with the resulting photographs and/or climate, etc. The workshop will be monitoring techniques. The afternoon video clips? This 2-day workshop will held at Wimpole Home Farm and site visit will look at both a SSSI help you to get the best from your trail will start with an indoor session on meadow and existing meadow. The camera. basic soil science relevant to local site visits will cover survey techniques, soils, before having a farm walk to see botanical ID skills and comparisons of Date(s)/time(s): how soils change over the estate and differing management and restoration Saturday 8 August 2020 how organic cropping and wildlife techniques. 2pm - 5pm conservation have been integrated into Sunday 9 August 2020 the Estate’s management. Date(s): Saturday 27 June 2020 10am - 1pm Timings: 10am – 4pm Venue: Corney’s Barn, Great Fen Date(s): Sunday 15 March 2020 Venue: Titchmarsh nature reserve/ Trainer(s): Henry Stanier Timings: 10am – 4pm Aldwincle meadows Venue: Wimpole Home Farm Trainer(s): Matt Johnson Trainer(s): Ian Bradley

Basic Ecology Skills BES 1 - Species and BES 2 – Habitat Habitats (including Management and habitat classification) Monitoring

This workshop combines an The Trust puts much effort into grazing, introduction to the basic ecology of mowing, coppicing and other activities species and their populations, with a – why? How do we decide what to do? description and classification of the What are the underlying principles? main habitats in our three counties. It will look at the factors which control The day will concentrate on the individual species distributions, underlying ecological processes in and how species may be used as managing habitat, and the basic ‘indicators’, to evaluate and monitor features of the major habitat types habitats. – heathland, grassland, wetland and woodland. The second part of the day is a brief introduction to the main habitat types The last part of the day will explain the in the three counties, and how they role of monitoring in conservation, and can be classified. We will also look at which plants and animals to record in how size, location and surrounding which habitats. landscape affects the value and the management of a habitat for wildlife. Date(s): Sunday 20 September 2020 Timings: 10am – 4pm Date(s): Sunday 16 August 2020 Venue: Cambourne Timings: 10am – 4pm Trainer(s): Brian Eversham Venue: Cambourne

© Tom Marshall © Tom Trainer(s): Brian Eversham

More information on wildlife training workshops can be found at www.wildlifebcn.org

Front cover photo: Moss taken by Zsuzsanna Bird