Workshops 2024
Workshops are also listed in the Events Calendar
Harvestman Identification Workshop on Saturday, 17th August 2024 from 10.30am to 4.00pm
An introductory workshop for beginners and anyone interested in these fascinating invertebrates.
Tutor: Vanna Bartlett, County Harvestman and Pseudoscorpion Recorder
and author of Harvestmen of Norfolk (which includes provisional distribution maps)
Venue: Ted Ellis Trust, Wheatfen
Bring lunch and suitable footwear (NB the reserve can be wet so wellies are advisable). A hand lens is useful for examining harvestmen, but these can be borrowed on the day if you don’t have one.
The aim of the day is to spend the morning searching for harvestmen on the reserve and learning how to identify them in the field. Some live specimens will be retained to look at in more detail under the microscope in the afternoon. Hopefully there will also be time to hunt for pseudoscorpions as well.
Booking: The cost of the workshop was £10, payable on the day. Free for anyone in full-time education.
Spaces are limited so please book by email to Tony Leech tonyleech3@gmail.com (phone no. in Natterjack.
Participants will be sent directions and further information on resources. See Notes below
Fungus Identification Workshop on Friday 25th October 2024 from 10.00am to 4.00pm
An introductory workshop for beginners and anyone who has tried to name a fungus from a field guide (and probably failed!).
Tutor: Tony Leech, County Fungus Recorder
Venue: Gressenhall Rural Life Museum near Dereham)
Bring lunch and suitable footwear. A hand lens is useful for examining specimens but these can be borrowed on the day.
After a presentation outlining the range of fungal forms, we will go out to collect specimens which will be brought back for identification. A class set of field guides will be available.
Booking: The cost was £10, payable on the day. Free for anyone in full-time education.
Spaces are limited so please book by email to Tony Leech tonyleech3@gmail.com (phone no. in Natterjack).
Participants will be sent directions and further information on resources. See Notes below
Lichen Identification Workshop on Friday 6 December 2024 from 10.00am to 4.00pm
A beginners’ workshop for anyone interested in acquiring the skills to identify lichens at Gressenhall Rural Life Museum (near Dereham). It will be tutored by Rob Yaxley (County Lichen Recorder) and Anthony Speca.
Lichens are probably the most fascinating yet overlooked organism in the natural world. Indeed, they’re not individual organisms at all. Rather, they’re such deep and integral partnerships that the word first invented to describe them – ‘symbiosis’ – might not even do them justice. Lichens are found in almost every terrestrial and aquatic environment, including where other organisms can’t survive, and they’re central to the planet’s ecology. And though they’re also beautiful, they’re just background smudges to most people, if they’re noticed at all.
In this workshop, Anthony Speca and Robert Yaxley will bring the compelling world of lichens out of the background. We’ll begin with an introduction to lichens, before heading outdoors to observe and collect species living in the museum grounds. We’ll then return indoors to learn how to analyse our lichens with microscopes and chemical reagents. Join us for an enjoyable and informative day: you’ll never look at lichens the same way again!
Anyone with an interest in attending is invited to contact Tony Leech tonyleech3@gmail.com to be sent details when available.
Booking: The cost was £10, payable on the day. Free for anyone in full-time education.
Spaces are limited so please book by email to Tony Leech tonyleech3@gmail.com (phone no. in Natterjack).
Participants will be sent directions and further information on resources. See Notes below
Participants will be sent directions and further information on resources. See Notes below