Identification Trainers for the Future – May update

Introduction by Steph West – Identification Trainers for the Future Project Manager

In our next update on the Identification Trainers for the Future Project, Chloe Rose is going to introduce the work that our trainees have been doing this month. Now they are settled into the Museum (see Sally Hyslop's post from last month!) our trainees are starting to get to grips with their busy schedule for Phase 2 of their programme. Don’t forget, for more information on the project and the traineeships, including how to apply for next year's places, please have a look at our webpage.
 
Written by Chloe Rose (Identification Trainers for the Future Trainee)

I’m Chloe, one of the lucky 5 that succeeded in securing a position on the Identification Trainers for the Future projects traineeship scheme for this year.  Before this traineeship I worked for the RSPB and along the way have volunteered for numerous conservation organisations, assisting in an array of surveys such as wetland bird counts, corn bunting and nightjar surveying.  I’ve also carried out bee walks for the Bumblebee Conservation Trust, and Barbastelle bat monitoring as part of the National Bat Monitoring Programme.  The last 8 years I have spent studying UK biodiversity, as well as completing a degree in Ecology and Biogeography, have set me up in good stead for the year ahead of me at the Natural History Museum.    

We have now entered Phase 2 of the traineeship and things are really starting to take off.   We will spend a total of five months gaining an extensive set of identification and fieldwork skills, as well as increasing our confidence with interacting and engaging a range of audiences.

Over the last month we have all learnt so much during the first few workshops, which have so far included; Bryophytes, Lichens, Ferns and Flowering plants.  These cryptic species groups are proving to be somewhat tricky, hence why they remain significantly under-studied and why we have some of the leading experts guiding us through.  The bryophytes workshop was led by Dr Fred Romsey, one of the museums top botanists.  This group of terrestrial non-vascular plants covers mosses, liverworts and hornworts.  During the workshop we looked at the ecological importance, distribution and techniques used to identify this group using a combination of field and lab based activities.   

The lichen workshop, a particular favourite of mine, was led by lichenolgist Dr Holger Thues.  We spent a great deal of time out in the field with our hand lenses and ID guides getting up close and personal, allowing us to identify this challenging under-recorded group.  We spent a lot of time either on our hands and knees or with our faces up against trees, gates, walls and even rubbish bins!  We surveyed this fascinating group around the museums own wildlife garden, Hampstead Heath and Brompton Cemetery in London.  It is remarkable to see how these ‘systems’, which are made up of a fungus and algae working symbiotically, can provide us with a story which allows up to understand the environment.  Lichens can be used in so many ways such as detecting damp on a building, levels of air pollution, to tell how old something is and even help to understand human and animal activity.

Equally as challenging during this phase, has been developing our communication and engagement skills.  First up was a classroom of 52 excitable children from a London primary school, aged 8.  This was part of Decoding NAture which takes place at the Old Malt House in Dorset, a truly worthwhile project which helps engage children with nature.  My presentation was looking at why bumblebees are important pollinators.  I was a little nervous to say the least, but pleasantly surprised by the level of knowledge which was apparent by the number of hands that shot up when asking them questions.  I provided the children with a bee ID guide and helped lead a bug hunt along the sand dunes on Studland beach.  Albeit an exhausting time, enthusing children about nature was by far one of the most rewarding experiences I’ve had so far.