BioLinks workshops - register now!

Part of the micromoth collection at Liverpool Museum.  C Bell

Earlier this year I wrote about an exciting new project called BioLinks that the FSC is currently developing and hoping to bring to the West Midlands and the South East in 2017. The project is funded by the Heritage Lottery Fund and will include training people on the identification of species groups that have been identified as data deficient (e.g. soil invertebrates and freshwater invertebrates). The project will have a big emphasis on using collections and will involve field events, as well as lab-based training courses.

Bryophyte surveyors at Attingham Park.  P Boardman I am currently part way through a series of workshops across the two proposed project areas, where I am consulting with biological recorders and sector professionals in order to determine how the project should be planned and what we should focus on. The consultations are providing amazing feedback and, as a result, I’ve organised extra dates and locations to ensure we gather as much information as possible. If you would like to attend a workshop, you will be made very welcome.

Workshops will run from 10 am to no later than 4 pm. Dates and locations that still have spaces are as follows:

  • FSC Amersham (Buckinghamshire) - 21st July 2016
  • FSC Juniper Hall (Surrey) - 26th July 2016
  • Dinton Pastures (Berkshire) - 2nd August 2016
  • FSC Bushy Park (London) - 4th August 2016
  • Linnean Society (London) - 9th August 2016
  • FSC Bishops Wood (Worcestershire) - 11th August 2016

There are 10 places on each workshop. We will provide a buffet lunch and a fixed payment of £50 to volunteers for expenses, though we ask that professionals who are claiming work time for attendance to these consultations do not also claim the £50 expense refund.

Biological sampling.  Photo: C BellAt the workshops I will give an overview of the project and the current issues as we see them at the FSC. Then I will lead a structured (but open) discussion about the issues and potential solutions as you see them. 

If you would like to attend a workshop, please email me and let me know the location and date of the workshop on which you want to book a place. Booking is essential as the spaces are limited.

However, if you can’t attend a consultation but can spare just 15 minutes of your time you could help us by filling in a short online survey about biological recording and how you think the BioLinks project can help strengthen the biological recording community. The online is open to anyone and can be filled in here.

Please feel free to share this survey as widely as possible as the more responses we get, the better quality the output of this survey will be. 

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