Stuart Roberts has added a a new map  showing the results of the 2014 monitoring project for Bombus hypnorum. This includes 3,290 lines of data. 224 new dots have been added to the map in 2014, which represents a more than a 20% increase over 2013.

Gayton Village Hall, Gayton, Staffs. ST18 0HL led by Ron Rock. Cost £10 per head. 11.00-14.00
Learn to identify garden Bumblebees in this three hour course. There will be follow up field meetings in May and August.
To book your place at this event contact Ron Rock ronrock@phonecoop.coop

A one day intermediate course held at RSPB Dungeness led by Nikki Gammans (The short-haired bumblebee reintroduction project) Cost £18 per head. 10:30-3pm
For further information (booking and parking details) click here

A one day beginners course held at RSPB Dungeness led by Nikki Gammans (The short-haired bumblebee reintroduction project) Cost £18 per head. 10:30-3pm
For further information (booking and parking details) click here

An advanced level residential FSC course at Preston Montford Field Centre with tutor Paul Lee

This invertebrate identification course is designed to help students develop higher level skills in the identification of invertebrate species. Sampling techniques will be discussed but the main emphasis will be on the collection, preparation, identification and curation of invertebrate specimens. Participants will be expected to select a suitable taxonomic group in which they will start to specialize by building up a reference collection of specimens.

For further… Read more

A residential FSC course at Preston Montford Field Centre with tutor Ian Cheeseborough

Open to everyone

Solitary Bees are the focus of this weekend identification course. Emphasis will be placed on field identification but there will be ample opportunity to study and identify prepared specimens using entomological keys and microscopes. Time will be spent in the field over the weekend to enable bees to be caught and identified before release. Presentations will be given to explain ecology and conservation as well as a general introduction to the other insects that… Read more

A one day FSC course at Preston Montford Field Centre with tutor Ian Cheeseborough

Open to everyone

This bumblebee identification day course will be field based. At the end of the course everyone should be able to confidently identify some of the commonly encountered species in the wider countryside and have an understanding of their ecology and conservation.

For further information (including costs and booking details) click … Read more

A residential FSC course at Rhyd-y-creuau Field Centre with tutor Ian Cheeseborough

The aim of the course is to introduce participants to the ecology of bumblebees and solitary bees. Emphasis will be placed on field identification where possible, with discussion of habitat and foraging requirements. There will be ample opportunity to study and identify prepared specimens using microscopes and entomological keys. Most bumblebees can be confidently identified in the field using one or more of the excellent guides available. Solitary bees on the other hand are a lot more numerous, so… Read more

An FSC intermediate one day course at Preston Montford Field Centre with tutor Ian Cheeseborough

This is an Invertebrate Challenge legacy event for 2015. Only brief details are currently available. You can book now, but please revisit the site to get further details and a course brochure soon.

This will be a field day led by Ian Cheeseborough at a top Shropshire site for hymenoptera, examining the bees… Read more

An FSC intermediate one day course at Preston Montford Field Centre with tutor Ian Cheeseborough

This is an Invertebrate Challenge legacy event for 2015. Only brief details are currently available. You can book now, but please revisit the site to get further details and a course brochure soon.

This will be a field day led by Ian Cheeseborough at a top Shropshire site for hymenoptera, examining the bees… Read more