This beginner course presents a great opportunity to immerse yourself in the world of dragonflies and damselflies! You will be introduced to their fascinating life cycles before observing the different life stages in action out in the field.
The day will be rounded off by exploring how you can take your interest further and actively contribute to the conservation of this group of insects.
Tutor: Paul Richards
Paul Richards has nearly 40 years’ experience as a professional zoologist, curator, ecologist and recorder, specialising in invertebrates. He most recently worked in a research team looking at Heliconius butterfly wing scale development and mimicry evolution at the University of Sheffield, where he has previously researched urban invertebrate diversity, ecosystem services and bird reproduction. In recent years he was Ecological Monitoring Officer for Sheffield & Rotherham Wildlife Trust surveying anything from tree condition to dragonflies, harvest-mice, bluebells, hedgehogs and otters. He has also undertaken commercial field ecology, monitoring water voles, reptiles, newts, bats, badgers and birds . For the 25 years prior to that he was Senior Curator of Natural History at Museums Sheffield, managing the species elements of the Sheffield Biological Records Centre. Paul is Sorby Natural History Society recorder for Millipedes, Centipedes, Woodlice, Harvestmen, and Pseudoscorpions. His publications include the recently updated Field Studies Council guide to British Harvestmen and the new atlas of Dragonflies of the Sheffield area.Sorry this course booking is closed
