On Saturday 22nd April 2006, the UK Ladybird Survey, based at Monks Wood in Cambridgeshire, in conjunction with Sorby Natural History Society, will run a Ladybird Workshop, by kind permission of Potteric Carr Nature Reserve, Yorkshire Wildlife Trust, in the Tofield Room at their new Field Centre, situated at this exciting SSSI site, some two miles from Doncaster, S.Yorkshire.
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| 7-spot ladybirds (Coccinella 7-punctata) | Harlequin ladybird (Harmonia axyridis) - specimens are highly variable, ranging from black through to this multi-spotted example. |
The workshop will be led by Peter Brown, the UK Ladybird Project Officer, an ecologist based at the Biological Records Centre, Centre for Ecology & Hydrology (CEH), Monks Wood, Cambs. Peter co-ordinates both the UK Ladybird Survey, also the Harlequin Ladybird Survey and the Workshop will cover the UK ladybirds together with the alien species Harmonia axyridis.
The Workshop will run from 10.30am until 4.00pm with a one hour break for lunch at 1.00pm with the outline programme as follows:-
| 10:00 | Participants assemble for Coffee/tea in the Tofield Room. |
| 10:30 | Introduction to workshop followed by Powerpoint presentation. |
| 11:00 | Overview of the UK and alien species and their identification features. |
| 12:00 | Field trip within the Reserve to collect specimens, weather permitting (bring nets/beating trays, hand lenses and other field equipment if you have them). |
| 13:00 | Lunch at Low Ellers Junction(or in the Tofield Room). |
| 14:00 | Examination of collected and voucher specimens. |
| 15:30 | General discussion and summing up. |
| 15:45 | Tea/coffee available. |
| 16:00 | Finish. |
Basically the Workshop is free to practising naturalists/Recorders in the region, but a charge of £7 (UK) per head is being made to cover the costs of refreshments and lunch (Vegetarian option available on request at time of booking). A cheque for this amount, made out to Yorkshire Wildlife Trust should be sent with your booking to :-
Helen R KirkPlaces are strictly limited and will be allocated on a first come, first served basis.
The Reserve entrance is at Grid Ref. SE/588.007 and may be easily accessed by joining the M18 from either the M1 or A1 North/South routes, leaving the M18 at Junction 3 onto the A6182, then the third exit at the first roundabout (by B & Q warehouse). Reserve entrance on your right within fifty yards. Cars may be taken down to the Wardens Car Park at the centre of the Reserve.
If you have any queries, please contact:
Derek Bateson, Sorby Natural History Society