Local Recorders Conference – Worcestershire

Programme and confirmed speakers

Talks

SmartRivers Monitoring in the Severn Catchment – using citizen scientists to monitor water quality. Alice Deans and Dewi Roberts, Severn Rivers Trust. Find out how citizen scientists can help bridge the gap in data collection and provide invaluable evidence to help protect our rivers. We will take a look at the nationwide citizen science scheme using river invertebrates as indicators of river health and specifically look at the monitoring being carried out in the Severn catchment.

Identification – why bother?  40 years of the AIDGAP field guide project. Dr Rebecca Farley-Brown, Field Studies Council. Successful identification is fundamental to survey work and biological recording - if we can't name it we can't protect it. Yet the teaching of taxonomy and identification skills in schools and universities has declined drastically over the last 40 years. In response to this the FSC started the AIDGAP project developing field guides.

My Journey from Nosy Naturalist to Biological Recorder. Jean Young, Worcestershire Recorders. Jean will talk about how the BioLinks project and being a member of the Worcestershire Recorders has boosted her skills. She is keen to encourage everyone to make biological records and hopes to show everyone can make a contribution regardless of level of expertise or willingness to take specimens.

The conservation of the endangered white-clawed crayfish. Caroline Savage, Environment Agency and Keith Falconer, Malvern Hills Crayfish Group. Britain has only one native species of white clawed crayfish and they are an important part of river ecosystems. They were once widespread across Britain and Europe, but populations have declined so much that they are now classified as endangered. This talk will explain what crayfish are, how they are threatened and recent local actions that have been taken to protect them.

Supporting B-Lines in Worcestershire & Shropshire. Rachel Richards, Buglife. This talk will cover why pollinators need our help, what B-Lines are and how they work and what we can all contribute to filling in the B-Lines in our local area.

West Midlands Worms – What we’ve learned and what’s next. Keiron Derek Brown, Earthworm Society of Britain. The National Earthworm Recording Scheme relies on the efforts of a small number of dedicated recorders. Working with the BioLinks project, the Earthworm Society of Britain has launched a structured training programme to train up and motivate new recorders. Keiron will report on what was achieved through 5 years of BioLinks and what’s next for earthworm recording.

Biodiversity Training with the Field Studies Council – plans afoot for 2023 including invertebrate training opportunities. Evangeline Berryman-Bevans, Field Studies Council. The FSC Eco-Skills team will provide an overview of training opportunities for 2023.

Take Ten to Protect Pollinators - Flower Insect Timed Counts and the Pollinator Monitoring Scheme. Richard Dawson. FIT Counts are part of the National PoMS scheme that allow anyone, anywhere to take part in monitoring and protecting pollinators. In this talk pollinator surveyor and entomologist Richard Dawson will introduce the FIT Count protocol and how to get involved in this fantastic citizen science scheme. Suitable for all ages, experiences and abilities. Learn about your local pollinator community and how you can get involved monitoring and protecting these vital and overlooked elements of the environment, learn how to use the Pollinator Monitoring Scheme Flower Insect-Timed Count protocol (FIT Count)* and become part of local and national conservation action. For more info and to download the FIT Count app: ukpoms.org.uk.

Harvestmen of the West Midlands. Meg Skinner, Harvestman Recording Scheme. An insight into harvestmen of the region including distribution changes, recording and new species to look out for.

Stalls

Watkins and Doncaster. Entomological equipment including containers, pots and tubes, lenses, butterfly nets, sweep nets, pooters and more. Cash or card.

Field Studies Council. Field Studies Council is one of the UK’s leading publishers of wildlife identification guides, with authoritative guides for enthusiasts, recorders and professionals. As well as our best selling WildID foldout guides - stunningly illustrated, packed with facts and splash-proof making them perfect for heading outdoors. They will be offering a selection of publications, including AIDGAP books and wildlife fold-out guides for sale. Cash only.

Arthropods. Arthropods presents UK made accessories for entomologists, designed and created by entomologist and visual artist Richard Dawson. Products include the ArthroSphere microscopy accessory, the Beehave field ID aid, Lightweight Pan Trap Sets and civic BioDiversity Boxes. Plus second-hand entomology books & some new products launching at the event. Cash or paypal only.

Worcestershire Wildlife Trust. The Trust will host a charity information stand.

Butterfly Conservation. BC will hold an information stall, attended by West Midland Branch volunteers.

Worcestershire Recorders. Worcestershire Recorders is a society for all naturalists interested in observing, recording and studying natural history in Worcestershire. They will have information on the society, their activities and membership opportunities. They will also have copies of the ‘Worcestershire Record’, a bi-annual journal which showcases what the society does and biological recording in Worcestershire.

Wyre Forest Study Group. The Wyre Forest Study Group is committed to collecting biological records in and around Wyre, and celebrating its wildlife. Their book 'THE NATURE OF WYRE' and 'ANNUAL REVIEWS' will be on sale.

Bishops Wood Volunteering. Become part of our team and volunteer here at the Bishops Wood centre. Support us and help to maintain and nurture this centre while meeting new people. And don’t forget a cuppa too!

• 
  Expert Tuition
• 
  Hot and Cold Drinks
• 
  Lunch

Complimentary tea/coffee will be provided during a morning tea break and over the lunch break.

Lunch will also be provided (please provide any dietary requirements when booking).

Registration from 10:00 am for a 10:30 am start. The event will conclude by 4.30 pm.

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.

Getting to FSC Bishops Wood

FSC Bishops Wood, Crossway Green, Stourport-on-Severn DY13 9SE

• By car from Kidderminster: (M5, A38, A449 southbound) On the M5 heading southbound coming off at junction 5, taking the third exit on the roundabout to get onto the A38. at the first roundabout take the third exit onto Kidderminster Road going straight over the next roundabout sticking to Kidderminster Road. At the second left turn to follow Doverdale Lane. Once you have come to a sign turning right onto the A449 take it until you get to the Mitre Oak pub on your left. Take the first exit on the roundabout onto Bishops Wood Lane, finally taking the first left on you will arrive at Bishops Wood Field Centre.
• By car from Worcester: (M5, A449 northbound) On the M5 heading northbound, take Junction 6 to Worcester/ Kidderminster taking the second exit heading for the A449 northbound, continuing for 9 miles. At the roundabout with the Mitre Oak pub take the first exit onto Stourport Road. Take the first left onto Bishops Wood Lane, finally taking the first left on you will arrive at Bishops Wood Field Centre.
• By train: The nearest station to the centre is Hartlebury. From here, it is a two-mile walk to FSC Bishops Wood, or a short taxi ride.