Suffolk's Biological Data Centre
We collate, manage and share species and site data to help inform better decisions and actions to benefit Suffolk's wildlife.
Latest news
Call for articles*************************** Newsletter time is coming around again! We welcome articles that showcase local biodiversity projects, or share environment, ecology and wildlife news, training and funding opportunities (with photos where possible). Previous articles have included the work of community groups, charities, statutory bodies, AONB partnerships, businesses, local authorities, and more. To see previous issues, please click here. The newsletter is seen by over 450 people from the private, corporate, statutory, and charitable sectors, as well as individual subscribers, and is widely shared online. *************************** To send us your story use the Contact Us link at the bottom of the page, the deadline for the next issue is 25 October *************************** Emma Aldous, Communications Officer, |
Norfolk & Suffolk Community Online WebinarMon 14 Oct, 19:00 – 20:00 • Wed 16 Oct, 14:00 – 15:00 As we create the Local Nature Recovery Strategy, we aim to enhance the positive effects of nature on community wellbeing, contributing to improved mental and physical health through direct and indirect benefits. Our spatial strategy has the potential to unlock opportunities for communities to deliver key measures and embed nature recovery locally. Therefore, the Norfolk and Suffolk Nature Recovery Partnership invite you to attend an online webinar, where we aim to update you on the current progress of the strategy, share our shortlisted priorities and demonstrate the mapping tools developed to identify where action for nature will have the most impact. This will enable you to signpost and highlight potential for your local area to deliver key measures and embed nature recovery in your community. Please follow this link to register your interest. |
Suffolk Naturalists' autumn meeting21 September 2024 Programme – timings are approximate! Directions: What Three Words ///snips.hatter.airbrush. |
Forthcoming events
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Chartered Institute of Ecology and Environmental Management: CIEEM 2024 Scotland Conference Reshaping Scotland: Nature Restoration in Action
Conference • Level:
Suitable for all |
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Chartered Institute of Ecology and Environmental Management: Plant Identification and Botanical Keys
Online Training • Level:
Beginner - Intermediate |
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Volunteering with Suffolk Coast and Heaths National Landscape: Blackthorn Hedge Coppicing
Viking Forest, Shotley |
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Field Studies Council: Birdwatching: Autumn Migration  Location: Flatford Mill, Duration: 3 days Price: £205 - £292, Level: Open to all, Tutor: Carl Chapman |
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Chartered Institute of Ecology and Environmental Management: Design considerations for BNG river and stream enhancement
Online Training • Level:
Beginner - Intermediate |
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Bat Conservation Trust: BatFest Bat Care for Non-Bat Carers workshop
Ideal for ecologists, vets and vet nurses or anyone who might come across a bat unexpectedly.
This workshop is free, but you are invited to make an optional donation towards BCT's conservation work if you are able. |
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Species Recovery Trust: Great Crested Newts - Ecology, Conservation and Survey ONLINE Check ticket price on event |
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Royal Entomological Society: Online Talk – Ecological Entomology
Join us for our October online talk given by the Royal Entomological Society\\'s President Elect, Jane Stout of Trinity College Dublin. In association with our journal Ecological Entomology and free for members. |
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Volunteering with Dedham Vale National Landscape: cp-color2" style="opacity: 1;">- Meadow Management
Steeple Bumpstead |
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Bat Conservation Trust: Introduction to Sound Analysis Workshop, online via Zoom
This session provides an introduction to bat call analysis using sound analysis software. We will use Wildlife Acoustics Kaleidoscope software as this can be downloaded free of charge, but the analysis techniques covered will be applicable to a range of different programs. As well as species ID we will look at the links between species’ ecology and call characteristics. Attendees will be given a library of recordings of bat calls to work through which they can keep afterwards for their own use. |
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Biological Recording Company: Fungi Field Recorder Day Check ticket price on event |
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Chartered Institute of Ecology and Environmental Management: Indicator Plants, Relationships and Habitats - beginners
Online Training • Level:
Beginner |
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London Natural History Society: Research in Rewilding: the Good, the Bad and the Boaring by Connor Lovell Check ticket price on event |
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Mammal Society: Grey Long-eared Bats: Ecology, roosts and survey techniques Check ticket price on event |
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Volunteering with Dedham Vale National Landscape: Rhododendron / Snowberry Control
Polstead |
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Suffolk Bird Group: Landguard Bird Observatory  Outdoor meeting. Leader: Nigel Odin |
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Mammal Society: National Harvest Mouse Survey Training (in-person) Check ticket price on event |
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Chartered Institute of Ecology and Environmental Management: Statutory Biodiversity Metric Training
Online Training • Level:
Intermediate - Advanced |
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Biological Recording Company: Can Earthworms Be Identified Using Photos and AI? Check ticket price on event |
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Field Studies Council: Discovering Water Voles: Biology, Ecology and Surveying  Location: Virtual, Duration: 3 weeks, Price: £45.00, Level: Beginner, Tutor: Vivien Kent |
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Biological Recording Company: Cave Spiders: Behavioural Adaptations in Webs, Foraging and Dispersal Check ticket price on event |
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Bat Conservation Trust: Introduction to Sound Analysis Workshop, online via Zoom
This session provides an introduction to bat call analysis using sound analysis software. We will use Wildlife Acoustics Kaleidoscope software as this can be downloaded free of charge, but the analysis techniques covered will be applicable to a range of different programs. As well as species ID we will look at the links between species’ ecology and call characteristics. Attendees will be given a library of recordings of bat calls to work through which they can keep afterwards for their own use. |
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Volunteering with Dedham Vale National Landscape: Meadow Management/Dead Hedging
Kedington |
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Field Studies Council: Discovering Bryophytes  Location: Virtual, Duration: 4 weeks, Price: £60.00, Level: Beginner, Tutor: Diego Sánchez-Ganfornina |
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Bat Conservation Trust: BatFest Wonderful World of Bat Sounds
Explore the wonderful world of bat sounds! |
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Species Recovery Trust: Heathlands and Acid Grassland - Species and Habitat Survey Online Check ticket price on event |
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Suffolk Bird Group: East Anglia’s Rivers and Coasts: From river snorkelling to world heritage Talk by Nicola Crockford, RSPB • Woodbridge Community Hall, Station Road, Woodbridge, Suffolk, IP12 4AU • 7.30pm • £3, non-members most welcome; full-time students free. |
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Volunteering with Suffolk Coast and Heaths National Landscape: Heathland Management
Bixley |
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Mammal Society: Monitoring Small Mammals (2-day, in person workshop) Check ticket price on event |
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Field Studies Council: Autumn Fungi: Introduction and Beginner Identification  Location: Flatford Mill, Duration: 2 days Price: £160, Level: Beginner, Tutor: Chris Ford |
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Butterfly Conservation, Suffolk: Suffolk Butterfly Conservation A.G.M & Members Afternoon 2024
Suffolk Butterfly Conservation A.G.M & Members Afternoon 2024 |
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Anglian Microscopy Group: Marine Plankton 
Guest speaker Elizabeth Beston - SUNDAY MEETING! • Crowfield Village Hall, Stone Street, Crowfield, Suffolk, IP6 9SZ |
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Species Recovery Trust: Aquatic Plant ID Online Check ticket price on event |
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Bat Conservation Trust: What bats eat around the world
We all know bats eat insects and blood, but what else do bats eat? Join BCT Trustee Matthew Terry as we explore what bats eat around the world and the special skills and adaptations different species have to help them feed.
This workshop is free, but you are invited to make an optional donation towards BCT's conservation work if you are able. |
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Volunteering with Dedham Vale National Landscape: Willow Coppicing
Conrard Mere |
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Biological Recording Company: Natural History Online Training Virtual Symposium Check ticket price on event |
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Biological Recording Company: Freshwater Leeches of the UK Check ticket price on event |
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Mammal Society: Dormouse and Development Check ticket price on event |
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Volunteering with Dedham Vale National Landscape: Rhododendron Control
East Bergholt |
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Suffolk Bird Group: Walton on the Naze  Outdoor meeting. Leader: Ashley Gooding |
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Biological Recording Company: Earthworm Society AGM 2024 + Talks Check ticket price on event |
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Suffolk Bird Group: Birding in Sichuan, China and the Kruger Challenge, South Africa Talk by Sarah Glyde • Hintlesham Community Centre, Timperleys, Hintlesham IP8 3PS • 7.30pm • £3, non-members most welcome; full-time students free. |
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Biological Recording Company: Biodiversity Net Gain: What Could BNG Mean For Pollinators? Check ticket price on event |
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Bat Conservation Trust: BatFest: Bats vs Beetles
A fun, interactive event where both teams share fun facts to try and prove their animal is the best - but ultimately the final vote is by the audience - who will you vote for?
Already joining Team Beetle this year we have Suzanne Burgess, Ashleigh Whiffen and Sally Morris from Buglife as well as author and beetle enthusiast MG Leonard.
And assembling for Team Bat, we have Naomi Webster, Philip Briggs from BCT and Gail Armstrong and her bats from North Lancashire Bat Group.
This free online event is open to all ages. There is an optional donation which will be split between BCT and Buglife. |
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Biological Recording Company: Earthworm Sampling Day Check ticket price on event |
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Volunteering with Dedham Vale National Landscape: Groundworks at Black Poplar Nursery
Alphamstone |
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Biological Recording Company: Damselflies of the UK Part 2 Check ticket price on event |
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Royal Entomological Society: New Scientist Live 2024 – External Event
New Scientist Live 2024Sat 12 - Sun 13 Oct | Schools\\' Day Mon 14 Oct ExCeL Centre London, Royal Victoria Dock, 1 Western Gateway, London E16 1XLCome and see the RES at New Scientist LiveThe RES will… |
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Field Studies Council: Identifying Broadleaf Trees in Winter  Location: Virtual, Duration: 3 weeks, Price: £45.00, Level: Beginner, Tutor: Gini Morandi |
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Royal Entomological Society: Insects as Food and Feed: Delivering insect proteins in the UK
We are delighted to welcome back our annual Insects as Food and Feed (IAFF) conference in partnership with Michelmores. Join us to hear the latest information and take part in discussions outlining new developments and challenges that face the IAFF sector. |
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Volunteering with Suffolk Coast and Heaths National Landscape: Cut & Rake
Sizewell |
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Suffolk Bird Group: Orfordness weekend trip Outdoor meeting. Leaders: Gi Grieco and Eddie Bathgate |
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Royal Entomological Society: An afternoon at Manchester Museum
Join Barbara Tigar, RES Northern England Representative, and Diana Arzuzas Buelvas, Curator of Entomology, Manchester Museum, for an opportunity to go behind the scenes and visit the Museum’s Entomology Collection. |
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Species Recovery Trust: Woodlands - Botanical Survey Online Check ticket price on event |
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Royal Entomological Society: Orthoptera Special Interest Group (SIG) 2024
Join our Orthoptera Special Interest Group event on the conservation of grasshoppers, crickets and related insects. |
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Volunteering with Dedham Vale National Landscape: Grassland/hedge Management
Langham |
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Bat Conservation Trust: Advanced Sound Analysis
This workshop will look at the theory of signal processing, tips on making more precise measurements when analysing bat sounds, and species identification including some more unusual/challenging calls. Techniques will be demonstrated in Anabat Insight, BatSound, Kaleidoscope and Sonobat. Although some knowledge of sound analysis is helpful this workshop will also have information included for beginners. |
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London Natural History Society: How Big is a Buttercup? by John Warren and Botany Section AGM Check ticket price on event |
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Bat Conservation Trust: British bats, their ecology and conservation - 6 session course
Online course with 6 live, weekly workshops lasting 60-90 minutes online with opportunities to interact with the tutors on Zoom and ask your questions. Recordings of each session will be available afterwards for 1 month. You can book individual sessions if you are particularly interested in one or two topics, or book all six for a full overview of British bats. |
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Mammal Society: Introduction to bat ecology and bat surveys Check ticket price on event |
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Royal Entomological Society: Sustainable Agriculture: Innovations in research and practice
Join our Sustainable Agriculture Special Interest Group (SIG) for a day delving into the latest innovations in research and practice across agricultural entomology. |
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Volunteering with Dedham Vale National Landscape: Rhododendron Control
East Bergholt |
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Field Studies Council: Seal Field Skills to Inform Conservation  Location: Virtual, Duration: 4 weeks, Price: £75.00, Level: Intermediate, Tutor: Sue Sayer |
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Mammal Society: Mammal Society Local Groups Conference Check ticket price on event |
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Field Studies Council: Bee Nesting Ecology  Location: Virtual, Duration: 2 weeks, Price: £30.00, Level: Intermediate, Tutor: Aaron Bhambra |
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Species Recovery Trust: Habitat Indicator Species Online Check ticket price on event |
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Volunteering with Dedham Vale National Landscape: Tree Guard Removal
Higham |
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London Natural History Society: Urban Garden Wildlife: Culture and Practice by Noel Brock and Hampstead AGM Check ticket price on event |
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Volunteering with Suffolk Coast and Heaths National Landscape: Plantation Thinning
Trimley Marshes |
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Suffolk Bird Group: Dunwich Outdoor meeting. Leader: David Walsh |
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Anglian Microscopy Group: Owl pellets 
Owl pellet dissection, prey species identification • Crowfield Village Hall, Stone Street, Crowfield, Suffolk, IP6 9SZ |
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Mammal Society: Skull and Bone Identification of British Mammals (2-day course) Check ticket price on event |
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Species Recovery Trust: Invasive Species Online Check ticket price on event |
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London Natural History Society: Rewilding Our Skies: Bringing Back the White Stork and London Bird Club AGM Check ticket price on event |
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Field Studies Council: Native Winter Tree Identification at Flatford Mill  Location: Flatford Mill, Duration: 4 days Price: £299 - £427, Level: Open to all, Tutor: Ros Bennett |
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Volunteering with Dedham Vale National Landscape: tbc
Arger Fen |
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Species Recovery Trust: Around Britain in 25 Sedges Online Check ticket price on event |
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Volunteering with Suffolk Coast and Heaths National Landscape: Plantation Thinning
Trimley Marshes |
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Mammal Society: Malts and Mammals - Online Whisky Tasting Check ticket price on event |
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Suffolk Bird Group: Lynford Arboretum Outdoor meeting. Leader: Val and Ivan Lockwood |
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Species Recovery Trust: UK Wildlife and The Law Online Check ticket price on event |
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Volunteering with Dedham Vale National Landscape: Woodland Planting
Stoke by Nayland |
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Bat Conservation Trust: Halloween, Christmas, and Bats
Join us to celebrate Halloween, Christmas, and Bats! A FREE talk exploring the link between bats and our favourite winter holidays. Book your space to find out why we associate bats with Halloween, what bats have to do with Christmas treats and how UK bats will be spending the winter months! Spend an hour learning fun facts and interesting connections to share with your friends and family over the festive period, spreading the joy of bats whilst they're busy hibernating for the winter. |
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London Natural History Society: The London Butterfly Atlas by Leslie Williams following the Society AGM
Check ticket price on event |
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Volunteering with Dedham Vale National Landscape: tbc
Arger Fen |
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Royal Entomological Society: Online Talk – Medical and Veterinary Entomology
Join us for the last online talk of 2024, with Amoret Whitaker and Molly Mactaggart of the University of Winchester. In association with our journal Medical and Veterinary Entomology and upcoming Special Issue on Novel Approaches and Advances in Forensic Entomology. |
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Volunteering with Dedham Vale National Landscape: Hedge Planting
Glemsford |
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London Natural History Society: The Missing Musk and the Underground Mosquito by Bob Gilbert and LNHS AGM Check ticket price on event |
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Volunteering with Suffolk Coast and Heaths National Landscape: Hedge Planting & Aftercare
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Suffolk Bird Group: Shotley Gate Outdoor meeting. Leader: Anne Wright |
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Species Recovery Trust: Winter Tree ID ONLINE Check ticket price on event |
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Volunteering with Dedham Vale National Landscape: Coppicing/Dead Hedging
Assington Mill |
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Volunteering with Dedham Vale National Landscape: Hedge Planting & Aftercare
tbc |
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Anglian Microscopy Group: Christmas plants 
Making slides from Christmas plant sections & pollen • Crowfield Village Hall, Stone Street, Crowfield, Suffolk, IP6 9SZ |
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Royal Entomological Society: Young Verrall Lecture 2025
Saturday 1 March, 2024 Stoke-on-TrentJoin the Amateur Entomologists’ Society and Royal Entomological Society for the Young Verrall Lecture taking place on Saturday 2 March, at 14:30 (GMT) at The Catalyst Building, Staffordshire University.This free talk… |
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Royal Entomological Society: Verrall Lecture 2025
Join us at our 2024 Verrall Lecture given by Professor Iain Couzin, Director of the Max Planck Institute of Animal Behavior. This is a public event and free for all to attend. |
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Royal Entomological Society: Student Forum 2025
Are you a currently studying insect science? Join us at our annual two-day student forum to network and discuss ideas with your peers, consider options for your future careers and share your research in a welcoming space. |
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Royal Entomological Society: Insect Week 2025
Insect Week returns for 2025! Insect Week is our annual celebration of the ‘little things that run the world’, dedicated to encouraging people of all ages to learn more about insects. |
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