BWARS member Steven Falk's much anticipated Field Guide to Bees of Great Britain and Ireland has been published.  This is the first extensive guide to all the British and Irish bee species since Edward Saunder's 1896 tome - The Hymenoptera Aculeata of the British Islands. The new field guide is 432 pages, with keys, species accounts and many photographs of nearly every species. In addition there are many illustrations by renowned insect illustrator Richard Lewington.

Updates and corrections for the book are being listed on Steven Falk's photostream… Read more

Ian Tew has been hard at work adding another big batch of around 300 images of many species. Do browse the gallery and enjoy these new species images.

A Combined indoor and field meeting at the University of Sussex for both experts and those wishing to extend their entomological interests. Ideal for students.

A series of short introductory talks on several insect groups will include comments on taxonomy, identification and collecting techniques. Participants will then have the opportunity to collect specimens on the campus and in Stanmer Park, and then process and identify their material in the lab under expert guidance.

Please book with Dr Alan Stewart (a.j.a.stewart[at]… Read more

BWARS is affiliated to The British Entomological and Natural History Society and the BENHS meeting at Oxford University Museum is open to members and non-members alike. As well as a short AGM, there is a wide range of subjects covered in the talks and presentations - from Forensic Entomology to Steven Falk talking about his new Bee Book

Speakers include Gavin Broad (NHML), Simon Leather (Harper Adams), Allessandro Giusti and Alberto Zilli (NHML)

Timings: 10.00 -17.00

Venue: Oxford University Museum of Natural History, Parks Road, OXFORD, OX1 3PW

… Read more

Day workshop run by Norfolk and Norwich Naturalists’ Society.

Tutor:Nick Owens.

Venue: Sheringham Park, Norfolk. 10.30 – 3.30.

Cost £15.

To book email Nick Owens - owensnw7[at]gmail.com

Location: Rye Harbour, East Sussex
Course Leader: Dr Nikki Gammans

Indoor and outdoor sessions looking at bumblebee identification, ecology, behaviour, lifecycle and conservation. We will also discuss gardening for bumblebees and other insect pollinators. No previous knowledge required.

Booking essential. More details HERE

Join BBCT's Conservation Officer, Katy Malone for a guided walk, as part of the North Coast 500 Wildlife Festival, to find some of the numerous colourful bumblebees in the county and learn about their fascinating lives. Will we find the rare great yellow bumblebee? Join us in the search! No booking required.

Venue: Castlehill Heritage Centre, Harbour Road, Castletown, Caithness, KW14 8TG

Time: 2pm – 3.30pm

Have you ever wondered where bumblebees live, why there are fewer than there used to be, and what you can do to help them? As part of the North Coast 500 Wildlife Festival, this one day Beginners' workshop will give you an introduction to the ecology and identification of bumblebees. We’ll hear presentations in the morning at Castlehill, followed by an afternoon site visit around the beautiful gardens and heritage flagstone trail. The course will be useful for anyone wishing to find out about bumblebees and improve their identification skills.

Venue… Read more

This Residential workshop on plant-pollinator monitoring (led by Damien Hicks, Graham Stone and Pierre Ouverard) will focus on taxonomic identification, robust field survey and inference, and floral assay for pollen and nectar. We will cater for all levels of experience and all are welcome. Please feel free to use our growing image collection of UK flower visitor specimens at https://www.flickr.com/photos/132220632@N04/sets/

RESIDENT (SOLE OCCUPANCY): £325 RESIDENT (SHARED ROOM): £295 NON-RESIDENT: £225

Location:  Millport

Times: 17:00 - 16:00… Read more

Bees, hoverflies and other pollinating insects play an enormously important role in natural habitats and agricultural systems alike. Some pollinators are known to be declining, and their conservation is a cause for concern. This course (led by Martin Harvey) introduces the insects that play a role in pollination, helping you to recognise them, understand how they interact with flowering plants, and find out how to play your part in conserving them.

Location:  Epping Forest 

Level: Intermediate

NON-RESIDENT: £42

This course runs from 09… Read more