We have had an amazing experience at the Natural History Museum so far. We kicked off at the beginning of March with a very warm welcome from the Museum, both from our introductions and tours at the Angela-Marmont Centre (AMC) and the NHM Big Welcome. We were introduced to a variety of departments, libraries and collections.

The highlights for us were seeing the Integrated Pest Management (IPM), botanical library, tank room and the British herbarium and British invertebrate collections. On the IPM tour it was really interesting to learn about the different techniques that are used, while avoiding chemicals, to keep pests like the biscuit beetle out of our collections. The importance of this was brought home to us seeing the damage that could be done within a very short space of time. The botanical library was stunning. Not just for the vast amount of knowledge and historical significance tucked away in those shelves, but also for the volumes of marvelous botanical art. We were all taken aback by the skill and anatomical detail these paintings showed. Between the tank room, herbarium and invertebrate collections we saw a variety of ways in which we should preserve specimens. From the smallest flies dry and pinned, to sharks submerged in ethanol. These varieties in preservation techniques are really important to insure that the specimens can be identified and used for decades to come.

The wildlife garden has been a fantastic place for us to practice different survey techniques with the added bonus of contributing to records there. We are looking forward to spending more time there as the year continues.

The team at the AMC have been incredibly welcoming. We feel part of the team since we have been attending meetings and helping out with various projects, such as verifying photo identification for the OPAL bugs count, reorganising the AMC library, helping prepare survey packs for the Earthworm watch survey. We have also been getting ready for the upcoming BioBlitz’s at Brompton cemetery (27th – 28th May) and Tring (18th June) as well as the Nature Day at the Gilbert White Museum (28th May). We are also looking forward to helping manage the identification Twitter account, which will mean we have more interaction with members of the public while improving our identification skills and networking with experts around the Museum.

Throughout Phase 1 of our traineeship we have been introduced to topics relevant to identification and going out and recording. Our first was an introduction to taxonomy and keys, which really helped us to understand the process that taxonomists use in applying a name to a species as well as the different methods of forming keys. We soon discovered between us that we all had varying success with different keys, and that it was really important to try out a variety of keys with each group to find which one best suited us individually. On top of all this we had the pleasure of visiting the Museum of Tring, The Linnean Society and the Biological Records Centre (BRC). The team at Tring were very welcoming and showed us around the amazing collections that they have, from fleas with clothes to their egg collection, and of course their outstanding bird specimen collection.

Our trip to The Linnean Society was jaw-dropping with so much history and knowledge in one building. We are now always on the lookout for days we are free to go back and listen to one of the many lectures and debates available to the public at The Linnean Society.

We have learned so much over the last two months and are all feeling more confident about going into the next phase of the traineeship where we will be doing identification workshops across difficult groups, such as bryophytes and hymenoptera. We will also be starting our placements with the Field Studies Council (FSC), which we are all very excited about!

We can’t wait to get going with Phase 2 of the ID Trainers for the Future traineeship.

Written by Sophie Trice

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BioLinks is an exciting new Heritage Lottery Fund biological recording project that the Field Studies Council (FSC) is hoping to bring to the South East and West Midlands regions of England from 2017 for 5 years. BioLinks will follow on from all of the success of previous FSC biodiversity projects (such as Invertebrate Challenge) and complement the Tomorrow’s Biodiversity project.

In order to ensure that the project has the maximum effect when it is delivered we are asking for biological recorders to input into the planning of the project and help us decide which species groups should be focused on and how the project can deliver training and resources to support the recording of these groups.

How to get involved

There are 2 ways that biological recorders can help:

• Complete our online survey

This survey should take around 15 minutes to complete and asks questions about focus species groups, training courses and the resources and support that benefit biological recorders.

Take part in the online survey

• Attend one of our public consultations

We have organised a series of workshops across the two proposed project areas and we want to hear from as wide a range of biological recorders and biological recording interests as possible. If you would like to attend a workshop, you will be made very welcome.

Workshop locations

Workshops will run from 10 am to no later than 4 pm. Dates and locations are as follows:

• FSC Preston Monford (Shropshire) – 6^th June 2016
• Martineu Gardens (West Midlands) – 17^th June 2016
• Martineu Gardens (West Midlands) -18^th June 2016
• Natural History Museum (London) – 15^th July 2016
• Natural History Museum (London) – 16^th July 2016
• FSC Amersham (Buckinghamshire) – 21^st July 2016
• FSC Juniper Hall (Surrey) – 26^th July 2016

There are 10 places on each workshop. We will provide a buffet lunch and a fixed payment of £50 to volunteers for expenses, though we ask that professionals that are claiming work time for attendance to these consultations do not also claim the £50 expense refund.

At the workshops I will give an overview of the project and the current issues as we see them at the FSC. Then I will lead a structured (but open) discussion about the issues and potential solutions as you see them.

If you would like to attend a workshop, please email me at keiron@field-studies-council.org and let me know the location and date of the workshop on which you want to book a place. Booking is essential as the spaces are limited.

Thank you.

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