Lewisham Biodiversity Partnership is seeking keen naturalists who wish to be recipients of free ecological training that will commence in the spring/summer 2012.
The principle intention is to train naturalists in survey techniques so that the London Borough of Lewisham can encourage a trained body of volunteers to collect ecological species data and generate more complete records of protected species for the Borough and its environs.
The data will be uploaded by the Regional Records Centre. It will help the local authority and others develop informed strategic plans and fulfil the L.A.'s obligation to achieve sustainable development and to protect/enhance biodiversity through local biodiversity action plans.
There are two independent strands of training, as follows:
1) Manual bat activity survey training
It is anticipated that this will cover general bat ecology, indentifying bats by echolocation and flight, methods and survey methodology.
2) How to be a curious entomologist — an introduction to the study of insects
Learn the simple but important techniques of examining various habitat types, finding a wide variety of different insects, collecting and examining them, preserving and storing them for future reference, and gives initial pointers to identifying them.
Further information
It is anticipated that the training will be a series of modules that will occur in the evenings or at the weekends. It will be free but subject to a refundable deposit. The manual bat activity survey training recipients will be expected to produce a basic survey and report in support of their learning outcomes. All field equipment will be provided but a computer with internet access will be required in order to access the bat analysis software needed to determine species.
For further information and to express an interest please contact Nick Pond: nick.pond@lewisham.gov.uk
Please state which course you are interested in and provide your post code
Kind regards,
nick pond
ecological regeneration manager
wearside service centre
wearside road
london SE13 7EZ
t. 020 83142007