Known as the gardener’s best friend, it is widely recognised that earthworms are important creatures. Earthworms are involved in the breakdown of waste animal and plant material and help keep soils fertile and rich.
If you’re interested in finding out more about earthworms but don’t feel ready for a beginner’s ID workshop, then this is the course for you. Learn To Love Earthworms is a very gentle introduction to one of our planets most important animals, introducing aspects of their biology, ecology and behaviour.
This course combines the use of classroom-led learning and outside learning opportunities led by one of our bee tutors to give individuals the skills and confidence to learn more about the lives and ecological roles of earthworms.
- Certificate upon course completion.
- Endorsed by the Earthworm Society of Britain.
- Please email [email protected] if you have any questions.
- Please note that this course is NOT a species identification course and will only go as far as categorising British earthworms into four ecological categories.
This course is aimed at adults only and course attendees must be at least 18 years old in order to attend.
What will be covered during this course?
- Come and learn about the different ecological types of British earthworms and their natural history.
- Listen to some fascinating facts about the worldwide diversity of earthworms.
- Learn why earthworms are so important to both man and nature.
- Observe earthworms in their natural environment.
See the ‘Example Timetable’, ‘What’s Included’ and ‘Before You Attend’ sections below for more information about this course.
Course Fees
Regular Price: £75 For professionals and residents outside of the UK. Select ‘Attendee: In Person’ Sold Out
Subsidised Price: Free Subsidised by the FSC BioLinks project for non-professionals eg. volunteers, biological recorders, wildlife gardeners, amateur naturalists and students. Available to Harrow residents or those involved in Harrow environmental and conservation projects only. Select ‘Volunteer’
Tutor: Keiron Derek Brown
Keiron Derek Brown is passionate about biological recording and studying invertebrates, and delivers a wide range of events and training opportunities through the Biological Recording Company. He is the national recorder for earthworms (running the National Earthworm Recording Scheme on behalf of the Earthworm Society of Britain) and the Chair of the Ecology & Entomology section of the London Natural History Society. He also sits on the advisory council of the National Forum for Biological Recording.
Between 2016 and 2023 he designed and managed the £1.6 million FSC BioLinks project for the Field Studies Council, with the aim of inspiring amateur naturalists to take up the identification and recording of invertebrate groups that are often forgotten and rarely recorded.
Covid Measures
In order to keep our customers and staff safe, we ask that anyone attending our centres:
- Wears a face covering when in shared indoor space (unless exempt).
- Maintains social distancing.
- Cleans their hands regularly.
- Takes a Covid-19 test before they arrive.
Book with Confidence
We understand the difficulties of making plans in the current situation when guidelines continue to change, and insurance conditions are being tightened. In response, we will continue to offer additional flexibility. Find out more here
Example Timetable
- Please arrive in time for the course to start promptly at 10:00 am.
- Refreshments will be available from 9.45 am.
- The course will end at 4:00 pm.
What's Included
-
Expert Tuition -
Hot and Cold Drinks
- 6 hours of tuition
- Certificate of attendance
- Any excursions will be on foot
Bursaries and Subsidies
FSC BioLinks
FSC BioLinks is an exciting project for FSC in the South East and West Midlands, bringing together existing volunteers with skills in biological recording and identification, and new volunteers.
This project provides subsidised training courses, learning opportunities and digital tools focussed on invertebrate identification for anyone involved or interested in biological recording, to build and strengthen the community.
Invertebrates provide us with many useful ecosystem services, like pollination and decomposition, which we cannot survive without but their numbers are declining. Few people know how to identify or record invertebrates meaning there is a lack of data
We are delighted to have been awarded a grant of £1.23 million from the National Lottery Heritage Fund for this project.
Before You Attend
Getting to Tower Hamlets Cemetery Park
Southern Grove, London E3 4PX
- Tube: Zone 2. Mile End and Bow Road tube stations and Bow Church DLR station are all nearby.
- Bus: D6, D7, D8, 25, 277, 323, 339 Bus stops are located on Mile End Road or Burdett Road.
- TfL bicycles: at Southern Grove, Knapp Road, Mile End Road, and Grove Road.
- Car: There is no general access parking in Tower Hamlets Cemetery Park. There is free parking on the local streets at weekends.
Due to the prospect of some outside observations as part of this course, participants are advised to bring suitable clothing and footwear in order to access the nature reserve.
Please be aware that this is an urban green space, and there can be biting insects. Please consider wearing long-sleeved tops and trousers, even if the weather is nice, and bring insect repellent.
What to bring
- Notebook and pencil
- Lunch
- Hand lens (if you have one)
Due to the outside nature of part of this course, participants are advised to bring suitable clothing and footwear in order to access the nature reserve in various weather conditions.
This BioLinks course has aspects that will be taught outdoors with walking to field sites over uneven ground. No special preparation is required providing you are used to gentle exercise. If you have any concerns or questions about access or the activities involved, please get in touch.
There will be a member of staff with first aid training and access to a first aid kit on site. If you have special medical requirements please let us know as soon as possible so we can plan the course.
Sorry this course has ended
