Shropshire Spider Training 2016

Learn to Love Spiders

If you’re interested in spiders but never felt ready for a beginner’s ID workshop, then this day is for you! It’s a day for people who are fascinated by spiders but don’t know where to start with them. It’s a very gentle introduction to the world of spiders and the art of telling one spider from another. We will be looking at live specimens of different types of British spiders in the classroom, learning some of their names and how to tell some of them apart. There will be some fascinating talks by local spider experts and you can find out what to do if you want to take your interest further. At only £10 for the day, this is a heavily subsidised event, but places are limited, so book soon.

Field Identification of Spiders & Harvestmen

Many spiders and harvestmen can be identified and recorded in the field, with the aid a simple piece of kit called a spi-pot, before being released again. There will be classroom sessions and practice at identifying spiders and harvestmen in the field. We will collect live spiders and harvestmen around the grounds of Preston Montford and bring them back into the classroom for a closer look, before releasing them. We will talk about how you can get help with spider identification and submitting records.

Spider ID with Microscopes

There are over 670 different species of spiders in the Britain and at least 500 of these can only be reliably identified by looking a specimens under the microscope. This course is aimed at introducing people to the techniques of identifying British spiders under the microscope. The day will begin with a very brief introduction to the diversity, biology and ecology of this fascinating group of animals, but we will quickly get into the practical work of identification and the emphasis will be on giving you first-hand experience under the supervision of your tutors. This course is being run in partnership with Manchester Metropolitan University and will be held at the Gateway, Shrewsbury. For more information and paper booking form check check out this PDF. To book online, visit the MMU store and search for spiders.

Field Identification of Spiders & Harvestmen

Many spiders and harvestmen can be identified and recorded in the field, with the aid a simple piece of kit called a spi-pot, before being released again. There will be classroom sessions and practice at identifying spiders and harvestmen in the field. We will collect live spiders and harvestmen around the grounds of Preston Montford and bring them back into the classroom for a closer look, before releasing them. We will talk about how you can get help with spider identification and submitting records.

Harvestmen - ecology and identification

This open nature of this workshop is designed to be suitable both for relative beginners in Harvestman ID and those wishing to take their Harvestman ID and recording to the next level. There will be a chance to try out a new multi-access key developed by Tomorrow’s Biodiversity in association with Paul Richards - author and photographer of the highly regarded FSC fold-out Guide to Harvestmen of the British Isles. The day will inlcude an introduction to the British harvestmen; a discussion of the finer points of ID with the aid of Paul's excellent harvestman photographs; a field session to find and identify harvestmen.

Spider Photography and Introductory Identification

This course combines an extended introduction to spider identification, encompassing both field and microscopic techniques, with a instruction on photographing spiders in the field. The course is run by Lawrence Bee who is authoring a new Wildguide (a photographic field guide) to British spiders, due to be published in 2016, and Alex Hyde, an expert wildlife photographer.

Shropshire Spider Group 'lab' day

This is a day for which we have organised use of a Preston Montford classroom for members and associates of the Shropshire Spider Group to come along and do some 'communal spidering'. There is no charge for attending this event, but you should email either Nigel or Rich if you are intending to come along.

Learn to Love Spiders

If you’re interested in spiders but never felt ready for a beginner’s ID workshop, then this day is for you! It’s a day for people who are fascinated by spiders but don’t know where to start with them. It’s a very gentle introduction to the world of spiders and the art of telling one spider from another. We will be looking at live specimens of different types of British spiders in the classroom, learning some of their names and how to tell some of them apart. There will be some fascinating talks by local spider experts and you can find out what to do if you want to take your interest further.

This is a free event, run by the Shropshire Spider Group but places are limited, so book soon. It will be held at the FSC's Preston Montford Field Centre near Shrewsbury. There's no online booking form for this course. To book, you should send an email to Rich Burkmar as explained here. If you have been on a basic spider ID course before, this course is probably not for you; you should consider one of the basic spider courses, or an improvers course, shown below.

Field Identification of Spiders & Harvestmen

Many spiders and harvestmen can be identified and recorded in the field, with the aid a simple piece of kit called a spi-pot, before being released again. There will be classroom sessions and practice at identifying spiders and harvestmen in the field. We will collect live spiders and harvestmen around the grounds of Preston Montford and bring them back into the classroom for a closer look, before releasing them. We will talk about how you can get help with spider identification and submitting records.

This Shropshire Spider Group/FSC course is ideal for anyone who is really keen to start on the road to spider identification. It runs along the lines of a couple of very successful and popular courses run in 2014. All the spiders are viewed alive and can be released again at the end of the course. The day is suitable for complete beginners or those with some experience who want to further their experience and field skills in the company of other learners and experienced tutors. There is a charge of £35 for this course. To book, use the online booking form. (From the booking form page there is also a link to more detailed information.)

Spiders in the Gorge

Habitats within the Severn Gorge landscape are incredibly important for a wide range of spiders. This workshop, run by Nigel Cane-Honeysett of the Shropshire Spider Group, introduces you to spiders and spider identification within the environment of the Severn Gorge. Outdoors, in local habitats, you will use a variety of simple techniques to temporarily capture these fun-loving creatures for identification. Indoors, you shall attempt to identify to species level using preserved specimens under a microscope in the classroom using the Collins Field Guide to Spiders.

This is a Severn Gorge Conservation Trust event supported by the Shropshire Spider Group. There is a charge of £20 for this course.

Spider Photography and Introductory Identification

This course combines an extended introduction to spider identification, encompassing both field and microscopic techniques, with a instruction on photographing spiders in the field. The course is run by Lawrence Bee who is authoring a new Wildguide (a photographic field guide) to British spiders, due to be published in 2016, and Alex Hyde, an expert wildlife photographer.

This is an FSC course but is not run by the Shropshire Spider Group, but it is supported by Tomorrows Biodiversity and is a useful addition to the regional programme of spider identification events available this year. The length of the course allows it to cater for people at all levels and encompass both field identification, identification under the microscope and photography. The course is led by Lawrence Bee, who is a member of the British Arachnological Society, and Alex Hyde, who is a skilled professional nature photographer. Cost for full single-occupancy board is £253 but there are some cheaper options. To book, use the online booking form. (From the booking form page there is also a link to more detailed information.)

Field Identification of Spiders & Harvestmen

Many spiders and harvestmen can be identified and recorded in the field, with the aid a simple piece of kit called a spi-pot, before being released again. There will be classroom sessions and practice at identifying spiders and harvestmen in the field. We will collect live spiders and harvestmen around the grounds of Preston Montford and bring them back into the classroom for a closer look, before releasing them. We will talk about how you can get help with spider identification and submitting records.

This Shropshire Spider Group/FSC course is ideal for anyone who is really keen to start on the road to spider identification. It runs along the lines of a couple of very successful and popular courses run in 2014. All the spiders are viewed alive and can be released again at the end of the course. The day is suitable for complete beginners or those with some experience who want to further their experience and field skills in the company of other learners and experienced tutors. There is a charge of £35 for this course. To book, use the online booking form. (From the booking form page there is also a link to more detailed information.)

Shropshire Spider Group field meeting

Join the Shropshire Spider Group for a field visit to Great Orme, Llandudno, to identify spiders in the field and collect specimens. Non-SSG members and those interested in other invertebrate groups welcome. For more details and booking please email Rich Burkmar .

Advanced Spider Identification

This day will focus on using microscopes and advanced microscopy techniques such as the clearing of specimens to identify tricky species. Although focussing on spiders, we welcome attendance by people studying other hard-bodied invertebrates as many of the techniques discussed will be applicable to them. For more details and booking please email Rich Burkmar .

Using Microscopes for Spider Identification

Although many spiders can be identified and recorded in the field, those wishing to record spiders soon realise that there are limitations to this technique and that many species – some of them very common – cannot be confidently separated from similar looking species without taking a much closer look. Those who want to overcome these limitations are ready to start learning the techniques of identifying preserved specimens under a microscope. This course takes people on the first steps of that journey.

This Shropshire Spider Group/FSC course is ideal for anyone who wants to explore the subject of spider identification at more advanced levels than is possible by only viewing live spiders. It involves the examination of preserved spiders under a microscope, but does not involve the collection and killing of spiders during the course. The course is ideal for people that have previously been on a basic spider field identification course, but it can be attended by complete beginners who have the desire and aptitude to work with microscopes. There is a charge of £35 for this course. To book, use the online booking form. (From the booking form page there is also a link to more detailed information.)