Courses

Overview

Insects are the most diverse animals on Earth and in the UK alone we have more than 20,000 species. If you’ve ever wanted to find out a bit more about insects, specifically how to find and identify them, then this introductory course is perfect for you. You don’t need a background in biology to benefit from this course.

The course will be based in a classroom located at the back of our old farmhouse in mid Suffolk, which is a stone’s throw from some excellent insect habitat, including some ancient deciduous woodland.

You’ll take away with you a greater understanding and appreciation of these fascinating animals as well as some of the skills that will enable you to develop your interest further.

Day 1: 9am to 5pm

This will be mostly classroom based. The first half of the day will be an introduction to insect diversity and you’ll get to know more about their lifestyles and inner workings. The second half of the day will be devoted to identification. You’ll learn how to use microscopes and the techniques for the close study of insects.

Day 2: 9 am to 5pm

You’ll learn how and where to find insects. We’ll spend some time making simple equipment for finding and catching insects before heading out into the field to look for some and explore some of the techniques you can use to find them. There should be time to return to the classroom to have a better look at the catches with the microscopes.

Who’s it for?

This course would suit beginners and anyone with an interest in nature as well as undergraduate biology and zoology students who may not have access to much entomology on their degree courses. It’s also suitable for environmental/ecological consultants who may not have had much experience of entomology.

What’s included?

  • The classroom is kitted out with dissecting microscopes and all the other equipment you will need for this course, including insect nets (if you have your own feel free to bring these along).
  • Lunch, drinks and snacks during the day.

What’s not included?

  • Travel to and from the venue.
  • Dinner on the first evening.
  • Accommodation.

What to bring

Laptop/tablet, notepad, camera. For Day 2 you’ll need long sleeves and trousers, raincoat, water bottle, hat and sunscreen.

What to expect

There’ll be a bit of walking during Day 2 on uneven, sometimes wet ground, but we won’t cover much more than two miles and much of this will be at a very leisurely pace.

Accommodation

There are lots of places to stay in the local area.

Attendees are welcome to camp in our field.

Location

The course will be run in Mid Suffolk, very near Needham Market.

Booking

To book or for more information please get in touch

Terms and conditions
Payment

The full balance is payable to confirm your reservation at time of booking and is non-refundable except if the course is cancelled (see below).

Cancellation

In the event of the course being cancelled due to insufficient numbers we will advise customers with a minimum 4 weeks notice.  In this case a full refund will be issued.

Amendments

No refunds can be made in respect of late arrival, early departure or absence during any part of the course.

General conditions

We do not offer attendees insurance. We strongly recommends that attendees have their own insurance to cover any cancellation costs.

We cannot take responsibility for loss or damage to attendees’ personal belongings.

The weather and ground conditions at the sites we may visit can be unpredictable so we recommend that all attendees bring suitable footwear and clothing for all weather conditions.

Please note that a degree of physical fitness is required for the course.