Wildlife Training Workshops

These Wildlife Training Workshops
are dedicated to the memory of

Stephen Westoby Warburton 1950 – 2004

Guardian of the Yorkshire Landscape

and a founder member of the Forum.

Stephen was a true environmental conservationist and naturalist of considerable experience, expertise and skills who was always keen to build a strong network by engaging, educating and thereby empowering the next generation of naturalists, advocates and activists. For more details on Stephen’s contribution to nature conservation see Kirk, H R & Eversham, B C (2008) Thorne & Hatfield Moors Papers Volume 7.

These workshops were initiated as a mechanism to introduce keen amateurs and professionals alike to the technical skills required to make a confident species identification, and to contribute to survey, surveillance and monitoring. They are also a vehicle by which the Executive Committee seeks to introduce naturalists to Thorne & Hatfield Moors.

We hope there is something of interest in the 2010 programme, we welcome feedback and suggestions on other courses participants might like to see organised.

If you live locally, or indeed further afield and have enjoyed the event and feel that you would like to put newly acquired knowledge and skills to useful purpose then perhaps you would like to consider becoming involved with the recording group. Please contact the Forum’s Executive Secretary for further details.

WILDLIFE TRAINING WORKSHOP 2010 PROGRAMME

Saturday 29 May
Late Saxon and Norman Churches in the Humber Basin: architecture and building stone with Dr Paul Buckland.
From the Lincoln Edge to the dipslope of the Magnesian Limestone, across the Humberhead Levels, the churches show a mix of building stone which appears not entirely logical, from the use of Pennine Millstone Grit in north Lincolnshire to the use of Lincolnshire/East Yorkshire Middle Jurassic oolitic limestones at Thorne. After providing an architectural framework with a brief review of the styles of medieval building, from Late Saxon to Perpendicular, the course will consist of a field visit to several of the churches in the area, where the reasons for this use and re-use of materials will be considered.

Saturday 19 June
Beginners & improvers guide to Bird Identification with Phil Palmer.
We have all been in a hide and puzzled over a distant bird, but been too embarrassed to ask. This course is designed to take you a step beyond Springwatch. If you enjoy looking at birds but are baffled by jargon, bewildered by the amount of books and binos, this course is for you. Advising on the best books, CD's, optic usage, websites and other equipment, we discuss fieldcraft and what to look for to correctly identify that distant dot or flying blur correctly.
Your records can be used to save a threatened habitat or species, learn how to put them to good use. What to record and what to do with your notes.

Saturday 26 June
Soldier Beetles with Brian Eversham.
Members of this distinctive family of beetles are familiar to most people from summer walks in woodlands, meadows and fens - they often sit around on hogweed flowers. There are 40 species in this country over half of which occur in the Thorne-Hatfield area and they are potentially valuable in monitoring grasslands, fens, moorland and mire. . A day is sufficient to get to know most of the more commonly encountered larger species; part of the workshop will be based on am easy-to-use chart designed for quick identification in the field and longer, more definitive keys for confirmation back indoors with a hand-lens or microscope. One nationally rare species, previously known only from the Caledonian pine forests, was found on Hatfield Moors in 2008, and it would be good to re-find it.

Saturday 17 July
A Beginners guide to Wildlife Photography with Phil Palmer.
Enjoyment of the natural world often leads us to record what we see. Not for the techno-geeks, this course discusses the aspects of wildlife photography that make it enjoyable without getting bogged down with terminology.
Photography as an aid to identification and recording in the field is discussed. Followed by tips on fieldcraft, composition, lighting and weather will be followed by a brief look at artistic creativity.

Saturday 7 August
Wetland Plant Identification Part 1 with Louise Hill
A guide to locally-occurring wetland plants; their identification and habitats. An illustrated talk with samples and captive specimens - including aliens! Also included will be the more-aquatic grasses, sedges, rushes.
This workshop design followed suggestions from previous season when it was recognised that there was a lot to follow up from the field work as well as earlier benefits of introduction through use of samples.
These two workshops are designed in such a way that they can be attended separately or as a pair (second half price if advance booked together with first).

Saturday 21 August
Wetland Plant Identification Part 2 with Louise Hill.
A brief introduction to survey methods and equipment (indoors) will be followed by field work and sampling the drains and ponds on the eastern edge of Hatfield Moors. Identification of the samples will take place mainly in the field, with an opportunity to return indoors to inspect specimens more closely under the microscope and collate the day's survey results.
Wellington boots recommended, Hand Lens and Plant keys / identification books would be useful.

Saturday 4 September
Centipedes, Millipedes, Woodlice and Harvestmen with Brian Eversham.
These groups contain about 200 British species, of which perhaps 80 may be encountered in the Thorne-Hatfield area. They are abundant in soil, leaf-litter and vegetation in most habitats, and are among the best-known ‘minibeasts’ for children and the general public.
The day will introduce the groups, their behaviour and ecology, and give participants the means to begin to identify the local species. The majority can be named in the field with a hand lens, but initially the features are easier to see with a low-power binocular microscope. Several species are good heathland and moorland indicators, and at least one nationally rare species, the harvestman Paroligolophus meadii a dry heathland specialist is recorded from Hatfield Moors, and it would be exciting to refind it.

Saturday 18 September
Introduction to Spiders with Dr Geoff Oxford.
The day will provide a beginners guide to just some of the 650 spider species in Britain. After a brief introduction to spiders and their kin in this country we will discuss how to find, sex and identify them. A fieldwork session will explore different habitats, observe webs and try various capture techniques. After lunch there will be a session on starting to identify of spiders under the microscope, ending with a short presentation of a few fascinating facts about the natural history of some British spiders.

Saturday 9 October
Landscape Photography with Peter Roworth ARPS.
For those who have wondered how to capture that evocative image, rather than it fading to a memory will enjoy this course led by master craftsman Peter Roworth as it explores the landscape around the peatlands of Thorne & Hatfield Moors. Those familiar with Peter’s stunning photographs will appreciate the opportunity to learn how to capture the image for posterity and record that special moment in time from our local landscape.
Photographers of all abilities including beginners and novices are welcome and will learn to compose images with impact and which utilise the play of light to show the landscape in stunning form. Indoor tutorial and tips followed by a session in the field learning those techniques which cause the common to become works of art on canvas.

Saturday 23 October
An Introduction to Mosses and Liverworts with Tom Blockeel.
The day’s workshop is intended to provide an introduction to mosses and liverworts. We will begin with a brief overview of these plants (what are bryophytes, and how do they differ from other plants?), but the main emphasis will be on the means of recognising and identifying them. We will spend some time on Hatfield Moors to observe and collect in the field, and will follow this up with an indoor session to examine the specimens in full detail and learn a bit more about techniques.

USEFUL INFORMATION

All workshops are held at Blaxton Village Hall (signposted from the A614 Bawtry Road at approximately SE671003) commencing at 10am and finishing at approximately 4pm. For those using ‘satnav’ technology, the address is Back Lane, Blaxton, Doncaster DN9 3AL.

Directions to Blaxton Village Hall

Generally each workshop will comprise an introductory presentation, examination of standard and sample material and a field session on Hatfield Moors, usually in the afternoon.
Refreshments are available in the morning and at lunch time.
However, participants are asked to bring their own packed lunch and advised to wear stout footwear and suitable clothing for the fieldwork session.
The cost of each of the workshops is £20 although participants booking one workshop will now be entitled to book another at half price (£10).
Early booking is advised as each workshop has limited places. Please ensure that cheques are made payable to Thorne & Hatfield Moors Conservation Forum.
Further details are available from the Executive Secretary Helen Kirk via or on 07833 693635.

Download the 2010 program as a pdf (includes an Application Form)

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