Field Natural History

Overview

This short course in natural history will take place over several weekends. The class will concentrate on the basic skills recognizing families and local species as well as an understanding of ecological communities. Depending on how it is taught and who teaches it from year to year, the emphases may change - but it may focus variously on butterflies, insects, pond ecology and grasses. The course will be very practical and emphasis identification skills useful to an amateur naturalist. A great advantage of doing this kind of training in the context of a residential environmental institute is that there will be constant opportunities to practice and use the knowledge as the year progresses (e.g. in relation to the bushcraft, foraging and horticultural activities). Students will have a rare opportunity to internalize the 'jizz' of a great many species, whilst developing a real feel for the subject. This is a rare opportunity to spend a concentrated period developing a knowledge and practical expertise capable of illuminating nature walks for a lifetime.