Suffolk's Biological Data Centre
We collect, curate and share ecological data to inform better decisions and actions to benefit Suffolk’s wildlife.
Latest news
The Linder Foundation GrantsThe Linder Foundation support specific projects that focus on land-based projects relating to biodiversity (such as sustainable farming practices) and/or species preservation/re-introduction. The project can be in an urban or rural environment, can be farm-based or within connected farms, and could contain a research element that seeks to provide the evidence base for change. Our average grant is £15,000 and their grant should cover at least 50% of the total project cost. Priorities
Visit Linder Foundation website |
Are you interested in taking part in a Suffolk bat survey?The surveys involve installing static/remote detectors at a fixed location in your garden or local space for up to a week. Bats passing in the vicinity of the microphone will be recorded from sunset to sunrise for the duration of the survey. Recorded bat calls are analysed using the BTO acoustic pipeline, followed by manual verification of the species. Vocalisations of any other small mammal species detected (shrews, mice, voles) will also be identified. The results will be sent to you and SBIS. The surveys aim to gather bat data from locations that might otherwise be under-recorded to increase the distribution data for bats in the county. For more information, contact Huma Pearce, [email protected] |
Spot a hog!Spot a Hog is a citizen science study that aims to test the potential of using data obtained from privately owned camera traps for monitoring hedgehogs and estimating their density. It will be using a novel method that requires a calibration step, for the study team to be able to extract the metrics necessary for the population size modeling. The West European Hedgehog is a species of conservation concern in the UK, as its population has been undergoing a historic decline. To identify the reasons for, and the extent of, this decline data from across the country is needed. Camera traps, or trail cameras, are widely applied in wildlife monitoring. Some amazing initiatives, such as the National Hedgehog Monitoring Programme, uses camera traps to estimate the density of various species. However, camera traps are also increasingly used by private users to observe wildlife in their gardens. This data holds great potential for monitoring urban species, as it can provide information on multiple species in a habitat often not represented in scientific studies. This is also an especially important habitat for hedgehogs, as currently they are more frequently observed in urban than in rural areas. The novel method used in this study requires some additional steps to work out how animals move in front of the camera, and that’s where you come in! The study welcomes anyone who already has a camera trap (or will get one before the start of the survey) in May 2025. You will need to set up your camera according to a protocol available on the website, calibrate the camera following the instructions, and leave it on for a maximum of 1 month. After this, you will need to upload the images to a designated project on MammalWeb. The images will then be available to the public for spotting (i.e. classifying images by species) and the results will be analysed by the project team. Further information can be found on the Spot a Hog website as well as how to sign up. You can also download an information sheet. |
Forthcoming events
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Suffolk Wildlife Trust: Nightingale Walk at Newbourne Springs Nature Reserve
Friday 1 May 2026 |
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Biological Recording Company: Endemic Plants of the UK and Ireland Tuesday 5 May 2026 |
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Suffolk Wildlife Trust: Birdwatching walk at Hen Reedbeds
Wednesday 6 May 2026, Walk starts at 7pm |
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Suffolk Wildlife Trust: Nightingale Open Evening
Friday 8 May 2026, 7-9pm |
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Suffolk Wildlife Trust: Workshop: Spring wildlife photography
Saturday 9 May 2026 |
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Royal Entomological Society: Fantastic Fungi Festival – External
9 May 2026, 14:00-16:00 Royal Institution, 21 Albemarle Street, LONDON, W1S 4 BS The Royal Entomological Society will be taking part at the Royal Institution’s Fantastic Fungi Festival, in partnership with Pestival. The event will include a shortened performance… |
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Biological Recording Company: Curlew Conversations: Conservation Monday 11 May 2026 |
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Biological Recording Company: Pan-Species Listing: How to Become a Super-Naturalist Wednesday 13 May 2026 |
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Suffolk Wildlife Trust: Wildlife Walk
Wednesday 13 May 2026, 11am-1pm |
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Royal Entomological Society: Insect Hour: Pesticides, dogs & insect declines
Insect Hour: Pesticides, dogs & insect declines Welcome to the first event in our online talk series exploring Grand Challenges in Entomology. Insect Hour will be held every second Wednesday of the month* from 1pm-2pm… |
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Volunteering with Dedham Vale National Landscape: Hedge Aftercare
Hedge Aftercare |
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Mammal Society: Planning Effective Public Engagement Thursday 14 May 2026 |
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London Natural History Society: Saving the Stone Curlew by Keith Betton Thursday 14 May 2026 |
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Volunteering with Suffolk Coast and Heaths National Landscape: Heathland Restoration
Woodbridge Golf Club |
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Volunteering with Dedham Vale National Landscape: Tree Protection
Tree Protection |
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Volunteering with Suffolk Coast and Heaths National Landscape: Hedge Maintenance
Dunwich |
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Suffolk Wildlife Trust: Guided monthly walk: 30 days wild
Sunday 24 May 2026, 2-4pm |
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Biological Recording Company: Plant-Pollinator Interactions and the UN Sustainable Development Goals Tuesday 26 May 2026 |
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Suffolk Wildlife Trust: Guided Walk at Nunnery Lakes
Tuesday 26 May 2026, 7pm until dusk |
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Volunteering with Dedham Vale National Landscape: Hedge Aftercare
Hedge Aftercare |
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Biological Recording Company: Orbweb Spiders Wednesday 27 May 2026 |
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Biological Recording Company: Underexplored Freshwater Habitats in Ireland: Case Studies Using Riverflies Thursday 28 May 2026 |
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Volunteering with Suffolk Coast and Heaths National Landscape: Hedge Maintenance
Dunwich |
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Biological Recording Company: Friend, Foe, or Freeloader? The Flower Crab Spider Tuesday 2 June 2026 |
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Volunteering with Dedham Vale National Landscape: Summer Visit
Summer Visit |
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Volunteering with Suffolk Coast and Heaths National Landscape: Task tbc
Benacre |
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Suffolk Wildlife Trust: Flower Power at Martlesham Wilds
Wednesday 10 June 2026 |
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Royal Entomological Society: Insect Hour: The Mosquito Diaries
Insect Hour: The Mosquito Diaries Welcome the second talk in our online series exploring Grand Challenges in Entomology. Insect Hour will be held every second Wednesday of the month* from 1pm-2pm (UK time). All are welcome –… |
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Volunteering with Suffolk Coast and Heaths National Landscape: Stag Beetle Stumpery Building
Old Waldringfield Golf Course |
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Suffolk Wildlife Trust: Levington Lagoon bird watching
Friday 12 June 2026, 7pm |
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Suffolk Wildlife Trust: Butterfly walk-Landseer Park Ipswich.
Thursday 18 June 2026, 10.30am |
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Volunteering with Suffolk Coast and Heaths National Landscape: Wildflower Meadow Creation
Lower Holbrook |
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Suffolk Wildlife Trust: Evening Nightjars and Glow-worms Walk
Friday 19 June 2026 |
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Mammal Society: Introduction to Foxes: Ecology and Monitoring Saturday 20 June 2026 |
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Suffolk Wildlife Trust: Wildlife Wander
Saturday 20 June 2026 |
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Royal Entomological Society: Insect Week 2026
Get involved Find an event Visit the Insect Week Events page to find an event near you during Insect Week. We will be listing some of these nearer the time. Planning an event during Insect… |
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Biological Recording Company: Fly Research and Conservation Virtual Symposium Tuesday 23 June 2026 |
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Suffolk Wildlife Trust: Wildlife Wander
Wednesday 24 June 2026, 10am-12pm |
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Volunteering with Dedham Vale National Landscape: Path /Ditch Clearance
Path /Ditch Clearance |
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Suffolk Wildlife Trust: Wildlife Wander
Wednesday 24 June 2026 |
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Suffolk Wildlife Trust: Talk: Gulls - more than just chip thieves
Wednesday 24 June 2026, 7.30pm |
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Mammal Society: Dormouse Ecology & Conservation - Online Friday 26 June 2026 |
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Suffolk Wildlife Trust: Evening Nightjars and Glow-worms Walk
Friday 26 June 2026, 9.15pm-10.30pm |
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Suffolk Wildlife Trust: Guided monthly walk: Summer reptiles
Sunday 28 June 2026, 2-4pm |
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Suffolk Wildlife Trust: The Orwell Challenge 2026 - Team Suffolk Wildlife Trust
Sunday 28 June 2026 |
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Royal Entomological Society: Plant-insect interactions between the pealeaf weevil and pulse hosts implications for control in their invasive range – External
Seminar: Plant-insect interactions between the pea leaf weevil, Sitona lineatus (Coleoptera: Curculionidae) and pulse hosts in Alberta, Canada with implications for control in their invasive range Join for a relaxed and insightful discussion of leading… |
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Biological Recording Company: Formica Ants Tuesday 30 June 2026 |
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Suffolk Wildlife Trust: Photography Workshop: Macro masterclass in summer
Saturday 4 July 2026 |
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Royal Entomological Society: Insect Hour: Land management for beneficial insects and smallholder livelihoods
Insect Hour: Land management for beneficial insects and smallholder livelihoods Welcome to the third event in our online talk series exploring Grand Challenges in Entomology. Insect Hour will be held every second Wednesday of the… |
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Suffolk Wildlife Trust: Walk: Butterflies in Bonny Wood.
Saturday 11 July 2026, 2-4.30pm |
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Royal Entomological Society: Sustainable Farming Special Interest Group (SIG) 2026
Sustainable Farming Special Interest Group (SIG) Date: Tuesday 14 July (10:00 - 16:00) Venue: Rothamsted Research, Harpenden To celebrate the new expanded Sustainable Farming SIG, this event brings together sustainable agriculture and forestry with pollination and parasitoids,… |
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Volunteering with Dedham Vale National Landscape: Meadow Cut & Rake/ Himalayan Balsam Pulling
Meadow Cut & Rake/ Himalayan Balsam Pulling |
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Mammal Society: Introduction to American Mink: Ecology, Monitoring and Impacts Saturday 18 July 2026 |
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Biological Recording Company: Can Infiltrators be Indicators? Understanding Cuckoo Bumblebees Tuesday 21 July 2026 |
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Suffolk Wildlife Trust: Brilliant Butterflies at Martlesham Wilds
Wednesday 22 July 2026 |
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Volunteering with Dedham Vale National Landscape: Bracken Removal
Bracken Removal |
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Biological Recording Company: Froghoppers Thursday 23 July 2026 |
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Suffolk Wildlife Trust: Moth Trap at Fen Meadow, Woodbridge.
Saturday 25 July 2026 |
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Volunteering with Dedham Vale National Landscape: Sedge Cutting
Sedge Cutting |
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Volunteering with Suffolk Coast and Heaths National Landscape: Wildflower Meadow Creation
Lower Holbrook |
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Volunteering with Dedham Vale National Landscape: Wildflower Patch Cut and Rake
Wildflower Patch Cut and Rake |
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Volunteering with Suffolk Coast and Heaths National Landscape: Sedge Management
Bixley (Ipswich) |
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Mammal Society: Pine Marten: Monitoring and Ecology Saturday 22 August 2026 |
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Volunteering with Dedham Vale National Landscape: Meadow Management
Meadow Management |
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Species Recovery Trust: Summer Tree Identification for Surveyors Online Thursday 3 September 2026 |
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Volunteering with Suffolk Coast and Heaths National Landscape: Grassland Management
Bawdsey |
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Species Recovery Trust: Botany for surveyors - Part 1 Monday 7 September 2026 |
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Suffolk Wildlife Trust: Talk: Discovering lichens
Tuesday 8 September 2026 |
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Royal Entomological Society: Ento26
Rydym wrth ein bodd yn croesawu Ento26 i ddinas Caerdydd! We are delighted to be hosting Ento26 in the city of Cardiff! We would like to thank the Ento Convenors for their support with the… |
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Volunteering with Dedham Vale National Landscape: Green Lane Management
Green Lane Management |
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Species Recovery Trust: Around Britain in 25 Grasses Online Thursday 10 September 2026 |
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Mammal Society: Introduction to Stoats and Weasels: Ecology and Behaviour Saturday 12 September 2026 |
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Species Recovery Trust: Botany for surveyors - Part 2 Monday 14 September 2026 |
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Suffolk Wildlife Trust: Talk: The Willow Tit in Suffolk
Tuesday 15 September 2026 |
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Biological Recording Company: Urban Pond Conservation Tuesday 15 September 2026 |
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Volunteering with Dedham Vale National Landscape: Cut and Rake
Cut and Rake |
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Suffolk Wildlife Trust: Talk: Garden Bird Watch
Thursday 17 September 2026 |
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Species Recovery Trust: Aquatic Plant ID Online Thursday 17 September 2026 |
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Biological Recording Company: The Search for German Hairy Snails Thursday 17 September 2026 |
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Suffolk Wildlife Trust: Evening bat walk at Foxburrow Nature Reserve
Friday 18 September 2026 |
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Species Recovery Trust: Botany for surveyors - Part 3 Monday 21 September 2026 |
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Biological Recording Company: Lasius Ants Tuesday 22 September 2026 |
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Biological Recording Company: Discoveries After Dark: How Insects Connect Us to Nature Thursday 24 September 2026 |
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Species Recovery Trust: Around Britain in 30 Bryophytes Online Thursday 24 September 2026 |
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Volunteering with Suffolk Coast and Heaths National Landscape: Heathland Management
Newbourne Springs |
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Species Recovery Trust: Around Britain in 20 Rushes Online Monday 28 September 2026 |
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Biological Recording Company: Identifying Whitebeams Tuesday 29 September 2026 |
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Suffolk Wildlife Trust: Talk: The history of Havergate Island
Wednesday 30 September 2026 |
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Volunteering with Dedham Vale National Landscape: Meadow Management
Meadow Management |
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Species Recovery Trust: How to Survey and Assess Hedgerows using the Hedgerow Regulations Online Thursday 1 October 2026 |
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Mammal Society: Introduction to Large Mustelids: Monitoring and Project Coordination Saturday 3 October 2026 |
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Species Recovery Trust: Grasses Part Two Online Monday 5 October 2026 |
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Suffolk Wildlife Trust: Wildlife Live Webinar - Soil ecoacoustics
Tuesday 6 October 2026 |
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Biological Recording Company: Unwelcome Guests: How Insect Pests are Impacting Britain’s Forests Tuesday 6 October 2026 |
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Volunteering with Dedham Vale National Landscape: Grassland Management
Grassland Management |
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Biological Recording Company: Robberflies Thursday 8 October 2026 |
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Species Recovery Trust: Great Crested Newts - Ecology, Conservation and Survey Online Thursday 8 October 2026 |
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Species Recovery Trust: Badger Ecology, Survey and Mitigation Online Monday 12 October 2026 |
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Biological Recording Company: Endemic Whitebeams of the UK and Ireland Tuesday 13 October 2026 |
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Suffolk Wildlife Trust: Wilder Communities - Land Purchase webinar
Online webinar |
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Species Recovery Trust: Heathlands and Acid Grassland - Species and Habitat Survey Online Thursday 15 October 2026 |
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Mammal Society: Advanced eDNA Survey Design and Data Interpretation for Mammal Monitoring Saturday 17 October 2026 |
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Species Recovery Trust: Around Britain in 20 Ferns and their Allies Online Monday 19 October 2026 |
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Suffolk Wildlife Trust: Talk: Climate change gardening
Tuesday 20 October 2026 |
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Biological Recording Company: Tardigrades: The Microscopic Animals with Survival Superpowers Tuesday 20 October 2026 |
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Species Recovery Trust: Woodlands - Botanical Survey Online Thursday 22 October 2026 |
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Suffolk Wildlife Trust: Talk: Black Poplars: How to Save a Tree
Wednesday 28 October 2026 |
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Biological Recording Company: Endemic Vertebrates of the UK and Ireland Wednesday 28 October 2026 |
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Royal Entomological Society: Advances in Hemipteran Research 2026
Advances in Hemipteran Research 2026 Thursday 29 October - Friday 30 October 2026 UCLouvain, Brussels Woluwe Campus, Belgium The Royal Entomological Society has expanded its former Aphid Special Interest Group to cover all hemipterans and… |
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Species Recovery Trust: Habitat Indicator Species Online Monday 2 November 2026 |
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Biological Recording Company: Sphagnum Mosses Tuesday 3 November 2026 |
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Biological Recording Company: Is There Such a Thing As "Flying Ant Day"? Wednesday 4 November 2026 |
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Royal Entomological Society: Orthoptera Special Interest Group (SIG) 2026
Orthoptera Special Interest Group (SIG) 2026 Join us for the Royal Entomological Society’s annual Orthoptera meeting about grasshopper and cricket research, conservation, recording and more. Our Orthoptera Special Interest Group (SIG) provides a forum for the discussion… |
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Species Recovery Trust: Invasive Species Online Thursday 5 November 2026 |
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Suffolk Wildlife Trust: Photography workshop: Macro masterclass in autumn
Saturday 7 November 2026 |
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Mammal Society: Introduction to Mammal Camera Trapping Saturday 7 November 2026 |
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Species Recovery Trust: Around Britain in 25 Sedges Online Monday 9 November 2026 |
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Biological Recording Company: Does Woodland Restoration Benefit Moths? Tuesday 10 November 2026 |
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Species Recovery Trust: UK Wildlife and The Law Online Thursday 12 November 2026 |
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Species Recovery Trust: Dormouse Ecology, Survey and Habitat Management Online Monday 16 November 2026 |
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Suffolk Wildlife Trust: Talk: Minsmere in Winter
Tuesday 17 November 2026 |
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Species Recovery Trust: Orchid Identification for Surveyors Online Thursday 19 November 2026 |
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Suffolk Wildlife Trust: Talk: The wonder of insects
Wednesday 25 November 2026 |
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Biological Recording Company: Can Green Roofs Function as True Ecosystems? Wednesday 25 November 2026 |
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Volunteering with Suffolk Coast and Heaths National Landscape: Tree Planting
Levington |
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Biological Recording Company: Myrmica Ants Tuesday 1 December 2026 |
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Mammal Society: Tracks and Signs (Online) Friday 4 December 2026 |
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Volunteering with Suffolk Coast and Heaths National Landscape: Tree Planting
Levington |
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Species Recovery Trust: Winter Tree ID Online Monday 14 December 2026 |
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Biological Recording Company: In Search of the Elusive Freshwater Jellyfish Tuesday 15 December 2026 |
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Suffolk Wildlife Trust: Talk: Sealife in Indonesia & Borneo
Tuesday 19 January 2027 |
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Suffolk Wildlife Trust: Wildlife Live Webinar - Bugs, who needs them?
Tuesday 26 January 2027 |
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Suffolk Wildlife Trust: Talk: Raptors in Suffolk
Tuesday 16 March 2027 |
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