If you’re interested in finding out more about harvestmen but don’t feel ready for a beginner’s ID workshop, then this is the course for you. Learn To Love Harvestmen is a very gentle introduction to this group of arachnids, 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 harvestmen tutor to give individuals the skills and confidence to learn more about the lives and ecological roles of harvestmen.
- Certificate upon course completion.
- 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 harvestmen into broad 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?
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- Recognising harvestmen from other similar looking invertebrates and discussing their place in the animal kingdom.
- An introduction to harvestman biology, including their anatomy and morphology.
- An overview of the species diversity of harvestmen in the UK
- The ecological roles of different groups of harvestmen.
- How to go about finding harvestmen in different habitats.
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: £10 Subsidised by the FSC BioLinks project for non-professionals eg. volunteers, biological recorders, wildlife gardeners, amateur naturalists and students.Available to UK residents only. Select ‘Attendee Subsidised: In Person’
Tutor: Meg Skinner
Meg began recording invertebrates during university and studied survey techniques for moths during her MSc dissertation. Meg has contributed to several wildlife conservation projects and works as an ecologist. She has been organising the harvestmen recording scheme since 2019 for the British Arachnological Society, of which she is also a council member. Meg aims to educate and encourage the study of this little-known arachnid group.
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.
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
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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
How to get 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.
There is no general access parking in Tower Hamlets Cemetery Park.
A map of the area can be found here.
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 site in various weather conditions.
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