Location
London: Bushy Park
Duration
1 day
Date
Tue 07, June 2022 10:00 - 16:00
Level
Open to all
Tutor
Mike Fox
Price
£0.00
Course details

This day is all about learning and improving your ant ID skills using a stereo microscope and identification key. It is free to attend (though booking is essential) so that we can ensure you get access to a microscope. You don’t need any experience of using microscopes, identification keys, or specimen preparation –  we will provide instruction in all of these.

A range of people come on these days, they are perfect for beginners to practice their ID skills but those more experienced also come along to meet up, work on collections and make use of our resources. They’re a great way to meet other recorders and learn new skills. An FSC BioLinks project staff member and our expert ant tutor will also be on-hand to provide support and guidance (please note: you’ll have access to our tea and coffee making facilities but please bring your own lunch and any other refreshments you may require!).

We encourage volunteers to also bring their own specimens to work on. We will also be focusing on the following tasks:

  • Sorting and/or identifying ant samples from our Ant Field Recorder Day
  • Carding, pointing and setting specimens that have been identified by other volunteers
  • Helping us produce our ant teaching collection and educational collection resources

What do I get?

    • Access to our entomological library
    • Access to a stereomicroscope
    • A chance to meet fellow like-minded people from a range of different disciplines
    • Practical entomological experience
    • Support and guidance from a member of the FSC BioLinks project team and our expert ant tutor

It’s free to join in, however, you must be at least 18 years of age and study space is limited so booking is essential.

It’s also worth emailing us at [email protected] if you require a particular resource to ensure we have it beforehand!   

You’ll have access to our tea and coffee making facilities but please bring your own lunch and any other refreshments you may require!

Please note that Volunteer ID Days will involve using specimens that have been killed and preserved.

Tutor: Mike Fox

Mike Fox is the ant record manager for the Bees, Wasps and Ants Recording Society (BWARS). He has studied ants for many years and is a national expert in identifying the 60 odd different British species of ants. He verifies ant records for the online naturalists' recording website iRecord. He writes regularly for the BWARS newsletter and has been published in the peer reviewed BENHS journal.

Covid Measures

In order to keep our customers and staff safe we ask that anyone attending our centres:

  • wears a face covering when in shared indoor space (unless exempt).
  • maintains social distancing.
  • cleans their hands regularly.
  • takes a Covid-19 test before they arrive.

Example Timetable
  • Please arrive in time for the course to start promptly at 10:00 am.
  • Refreshments will be available from 9.45 am.
  • Access will end at 4:00 pm.

What's Included
  • Expert Tuition
  • Hot and Cold Drinks
  • Access to our entomological library
  • Access to a stereomicroscope
  • A chance to meet fellow minded people from a range of different disciplines
  • Practical entomological experience
  • Support and guidance from a member of the FSC BioLinks project team

Bursaries and Subsidies

FSC BioLinks

FSC BioLinks is an exciting project for FSC in the South East and West Midlands, bringing together existing volunteers with skills in biological recording and identification, and new volunteers.

This project provides subsidised training courses, learning opportunities and digital tools focussed on invertebrate identification for anyone involved or interested in biological recording, to build and strengthen the community.

Invertebrates provide us with many useful ecosystem services, like pollination and decomposition, which we cannot survive without but their numbers are declining. Few people know how to identify or record invertebrates meaning there is a lack of data

We are delighted to have been awarded a grant of £1.23 million from the National Lottery Heritage Fund for this project.

Before You Attend

Getting to FSC London: Bushy Park

Information on getting to the site can be found here.

When you arrive at The Stockyard gate you may need to call the centre to open the gate. You can reach the staff on site on 020 8941 4398.

What to bring

  • Notebook and pencil
  • Lunch
  • Any study materials including specimens and relevant literature you may have

Please note that this day will involve using specimens that have been killed and preserved.

There will be a member of staff with first aid training and access to a first aid kit on site. If you have special medical requirements please let us know as soon as possible so we can plan the course.

Sorry this course has ended