Learn about the different families, genera and species of solitary bees and how to tell them apart. We will be using Field Guide to the Bees of Great Britain and Ireland by Steven Falk – copies will be available to use from our library, but please feel free to bring your own.
Join our tutor in the field to search for bumblebees. We will find a variety of different species’ and discuss the identification features of UK bumblebees that can aid field ID.
Join our tutor in the field to search for solitary wasps. We will find a variety of different species’ and discuss the identification features of UK solitary wasps that can aid field ID.
There are over 270 bee species in the British Isles most of which are solitary bees – the social bees (bumblebees and honeybees) only make up about 10% of these species. Join our tutor in the field to search for, find, and discuss the identification features of a variety of UK solitary bee species that can be identified in the field.
The Mason and Leafcutter Bees (Megachilidae), is a large family of solitary bees where many species require microscopic examination in order to reliably identify them to species. This course will provide you with the skills you need to be able to start identifying Mason and Leafcutter Bees to genus and species using a microscope.
This course provides an introduction to identifying bees to genus. This includes a short presentation introducing the morphological features used to identify specimens to genus level, followed by practical sessions guided by our expert tutor. During the lab sessions, you’ll explore a wide variety of different bee species, including ones that can be trickier to identify in the field. This course will use the Field Guide to the Bees of Great Britain and Ireland, by Steven Falk – copies will be available for use from our reference library.
If you’re interested in finding out more about bees but don’t feel ready for a beginner’s ID workshop, then this is the course for you. Learn To Love Bees is a very gentle introduction to our planets most important pollinators, introducing aspects of their biology and ecology.
This course combines the use of classroom-led learning and outside learning opportunities led by one of our bee tutors to give individuals the skills and confidence to learn more about the lives and ecological role of bees.
If you’re interested in finding out more about bees but don’t feel ready for a beginner’s ID workshop, then this is the course for you. Learn To Love Bees is a very gentle introduction to our planets most important pollinators, introducing aspects of their biology and ecology.
This course combines the use of classroom-led learning and outside learning opportunities led by one of our bee tutors to give individuals the skills and confidence to learn more about the lives and ecological role of bees.
This course provides an introduction to identifying ants to species using microscopes and identification keys. The day includes a short presentation introducing the morphological features used to identify specimens to species level, followed by practical sessions guided by our expert tutor. During the lab sessions, you will explore a wide variety of different ant species, including workers, queens and males.
Hylaeus signatus male emerging from roost
Pseudomalus auratus
