Course: Spider Identification

About the event

After making your own mini spider viewing pot, explore a range of habitats at Lower Woods for spiders and other arachnids.  Discover charts and keys that will help you to identify features and record your finds.

No previous knowledge required - the course is designed for beginners, students, and professionals. It just might embark you on a voyage of delight and challenge that will last a life-time.

Summary

• Location: Lower Woods
• Tutor: David Scott-Langley
• Date: Saturday 17th August 2019
• Times: 09:30 – 16.00
• Level: Beginners, enthusiasts and professionals all welcome
• Age: 18+ (14-17 year olds can attend for free with a paying adult)
• Refreshments included
• Price: £49 per person, or £53.10 per person plus guide

Course expectations

At the end of the day participants will have met more than 20 spider species, learned key features of families and genera, will have sufficient knowledge for further investigation and to start recording spiders.

About the Tutor

David Scott-Langley is an expert entomologist, so expect plenty of fascinating invertebrate knowledge. Growing up in the heart of the Somerset countryside his father sparked his interest in butterflies and birds, and he has since broadened his interest to all natural history, but especially the non-charismatic invertebrates of Gloucestershire and the Shetlands, promoting them to all who will listen.

Programme

09.15 : Registration and refreshments at Lower Woods Yurt

09.30 : Welcome and introductions

09.45 : Indoor session: Introduction to Spiders

10.00 : Making your own mini spider viewing pot

11.15 : Introduction to Spider field ID and recording

12.30 : Lunch (note: bring packed lunch. Hot drinks provided)

13.15 : Practicing Field Identification

14.45 : Further tools and techniques

15.30 : Discussion and review of the day

16.00 : Course ends

All timings are approximate. This is an outline programme and may be subject to change according to the weather, group requirements or other factors on the day of the course.

What we provide

• Light refreshments
• Course pack
• All equipment and materials needed
• Relevant guide books
• Hand lenses
• Select reference guides
• Certificate of Attendance

What to Bring

Essential:

• Weather appropriate outdoor clothing (we advise clothing to cover arms, legs and feet).
• A packed lunch and water

Recommended:

• Notebook and pencil
• Camera
• Your own guide book and hand lens if you have them

Useful Guides

Bee & Lewington (2002) FSC Fold-out Chart - Spiders Identification

Bee, Oxford & Smith (2017) Britain's Spiders: A Field Guide

Meeting point/Location

Lower Woods, Inglestone Common, Badminton, GL9 1BY

Parking and Transport

There is free parking on site, but the access track and car park is not owned by GWT and is in poor condition. We will walk into Lower Woods directly from the Lower Woods Yurt.

Accessibility and Health

If you have relevant medical or access requirements please let us know when booking.

Lower Woods Yurt access is across the working woodyard and has small steps up. There is a disabled toilet nearby. Field tuition is approximately 4 hours on often rough, muddy and steep terrain.

Please contact course organiser Ellen Winter for more details - we are happy to work with you to facilitate attendance wherever possible.

About the Field Site

Lower Woods is one of the largest ancient woodlands in the south-west of England and covers three square kilometres. The reserve has 23 woods and coppices whose boundaries have remained unchanged for several centuries. The rich woodland flora includes carpets of bluebells in spring, with early purple and greater butterfly orchids and herb Paris.

Further Information

https://www.gloucestershirewildlifetrust.co.uk/nature-reserves/lower-woods

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