This residential course incorporates everything you need to know to be able to accurately identify and record slugs to species.
With a mix of classroom presentations, laboratory-based sessions, and field-based activities our expert tutor will guide you through the lifestyles, ecology, and morphology of UK slugs. Attendees will be provided with detailed information on sampling equipment and techniques with practical hands-on opportunities to collect live specimens.
Attendees will use preserved specimens from our tutor’s teaching collection for identification to species-level using microscopes and identification keys; and our tutor will demonstrate best-practices for curation of a reference collection.
Information on slugs, submitting records and connecting with schemes, societies and groups will also be provided.
- Certificate upon course completion.
- Access to microscopes, specimen collection, lab equipment, field equipment and identification resources.
- Tuition from tutor specialising in slugs.
- Please email [email protected] if you have any questions.
- Please note that this course will involve using specimens that have been killed and preserved.
By the end of this course, you will:
- have a grounding in Britain’s slug classification and ecology
- be able to use external (morphological) features for specimen identification
- have used various collecting techniques for a variety of habitats and species
- gain practical experience using field guides and identification keys to determine specimens accurately to species-level
- gain practical experience observing invertebrate ID features using a microscope
- know how to curate your own personal reference collection
- be given guidance on how to take your interest further and contribute associated recording schemes
Tutor: Imogen Cavadino
Imogen Cavadino first became interested in slugs and snails during a taxonomy and identification module during her masters at university. A chance question and encounter with a national expert led to her completing a one-year TCV Natural Talent traineeship on “Non-marine molluscs” at Amgueddfa Cymru – National Museum Wales in Cardiff. This included sampling terrestrial and aquatic molluscs across South East Wales, identifying material to species level and adding them to the museum’s permanent collections.
Imogen is now working on a PhD on understanding slugs and snail species diversity and ecology in gardens with the Royal Horticultural Society, Newcastle University and Centre for Ecology and Hydrology. As part of her PhD, she is leading the RHS Cellar Slug Survey, collecting data on three large patterned species of slug found in British gardens to understand recent changes in distributions. She is also an ordinary committee member for the Conchological Society of Britain and Ireland, and acts as a verifier for terrestrial mollusc records on iRecord. She is a keen advocate for this often unloved and overlooked fascinating group of terrestrial invertebrates.
Course Fees
Resident (Sole Occupancy) £50.00
Course fees are subsidised by the fSCBioLinks project. Accommodation, meals and all course-related materials are included. If attendees who have booked together require a shared room please contact the centre to arrange this.
Please note that bathrooms may be shared and we are unable to guarantee en-suite bathrooms for any bookings.
Waiting List
If the course is full and you would like to be added to the waiting list, please email us at [email protected]g and let us know the name, date and location of the course you'd like to be added to the waiting list for.
What's Included
-
Expert Tuition -
Free Wi-Fi -
Full Board Accommodation -
Hot and Cold Drinks
- Certificate upon course completion.
- Access to microscopes, specimen collection, lab equipment, field equipment and identification resources.
- Tuition from tutors specialising in terrestrial invertebrates.
- Please email [email protected] if you have any questions.
- Please note that this course will involve using specimens that have been killed and preserved.
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 Preston Montford
FSC Preston Montford, Montford Bridge, Shrewsbury SY4 1DX
Direct enquiries: 01743 852040 (Mon-Fri, 9am–5pm)
- By Road: From the A5, take the roundabout exit signposted to Mid-Wales and Welshpool (A458). One mile along this road, turn right onto B4473, we are located on the left after approx ½ mile.
- By Bus or Train: Shrewsbury stations.
What to bring
- Notebook and pencil
- Appropriate clothing and footwear for outdoor activity
- Your own copy of FSC AIDGAP Slugs of Britain and Ireland if you have it (so that you can make notes)
- Hand lens (if you have one)
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.
Check-in & Check-out
- Check-in on the first day will be between 16:00 and 18:00 - if you need a later check-in, please contact the centre to notify them in advance
- Check-out on the final day will be at 09:30. We will arrange somewhere secure to store your luggage for the remainder of the day.
Sorry this course has ended
