Join Buglife Conservation Officer, Kate, and The Wildlife Information Centre for a workshop about pollinators and Flower Insect Timed (FIT) Counts, training to learn how to monitor pollinators along the Tweed and in your local greenspaces.
FIT Counts, which have been developed by the UK Pollinator Monitoring Scheme, involve a ten-minute count of pollinators on a chosen patch of flowers. These counts contribute valuable data to help monitor changing pollinator populations and can be carried out anywhere – from hay meadows to gardens and parks.
This workshop will begin at 11am at the Abbey Row Community Centre with an introduction to different pollinator groups and FIT Count survey methods. We will then head out to Mayfield Riverside Walk to practice carrying out the counts and explore what pollinators we can find together. The workshop will finish by 2pm.
The UK Pollinator Monitoring Scheme has a smartphone App, if possible, please download this ahead of the session (https://ukpoms.org.uk/fit-count-app). Alternatively, paper forms can be provided on the day.
Workshop Leader: Kate O’Leary is an entomologist who leads on Pollinators Along The Tweed, a partnership project led by Buglife which aims to create and restore pollinator habitat along the River Tweed as part of the Destination Tweed source-to-sea river revitalisation project.
Suitable for: Beginners, ages 16 and above.
What to bring: Please wear suitable outdoor clothing and footwear (especially for this time of year, which can be cold, wet, and unpredictable). Bring a pen, notebook, and a hand-lens if you have one—some will be available to borrow on the day. We will have a short break for lunch, you are welcome to bring a packed lunch, or cafes and shops are available nearby.
Cost: Free (Donations to TWIC are welcome and appreciated).
Booking is essential as places are limited. Choose either the free or donation ticket (minimum donation £1). Donations to TWIC help support our biological recording training workshops and events.
Please book through Eventbrite here.
Main Image Credit: Common Carder Bee (Bombus pascuorum) © Claire Pumfrey
