We delve into the Natural History Museum’s collections to explore some of the strange but fascinating worms, from leeches to bristle worms. The term “worm” is often used synonymously with earthworms, but nature is full of many fascinating worms that we are much less familiar with. this includes the predatory or blood-sucking leeches and the fascinating bristle worms found in our seas and oceans. Drawing on the incredible collections of the Natural History Museum London, we explore some fascinating worm specimens and learn how their study has led to some important, or often slightly strange, discoveries. Emma Sherlock is the Senior Curator of Annelids at the Natural History Museum London, looking after the segment worm collections (including earthworms, leeches and bristle worms) as well as undertaking fieldwork both at home and abroad, and describing new species. Emma was one of the founders of the Earthworm Society of Britain back in 2009 and is currently the Chair of the Society. she also produced the Field Studies Council ‘Key to the Earthworms of the UK and Ireland’. https://www.facebook.com/events/5003939483041170/

FREE live webinar with Professor Helen Roy

Ladybirds are much-loved insects. Our understanding of the ecology of these beautiful beetles has been in part from the contributions of many citizen scientists. I will provide some insights into the diverse and intriguing life histories of ladybirds.

Professor Helen Roy MBE is an ecologist at the UK Centre for Ecology & Hydrology. She is fascinated by the ways in which environmental change effects the interactions between insects and other species. Biological invasions have been the focus of much of her research. Helen leads many collaborative national and international research projects. She is leading research for the EC on enhancing understanding and awareness of invasive alien species. Helen leads a Defra-funded project to produce a comprehensive information portal on non-native species in Great Britain which also includes annual reports on status and trends of invasive alien species and the development of an alert system for people to report sightings of concern. Over the last few years she has had the privilege of working with the UK Overseas Territories to predict and prioritise invasive non-native species. Her research on invasive non-native species has received international recognition and she is currently leading a global assessment on invasive non-native species for the Intergovernmental Panel on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services. Helen also enjoys science communication and public engagement with research which led to her interest in citizen science. She has a passion for ladybirds and has led the UK Ladybird Survey, including tracking the spread of the invasive alien ladybird, Harmonia axyridis, alongside Peter Brown (Anglia Ruskin University) for more than 15 years. Helen is delighted to be the current President of the Royal Entomological Society. Helen was awarded an MBE in 2018 in recognition of her contributions to biodiversity science.

Book via Eventbrite: https://www.eventbrite.com/cc/entolive-74679

https://www.facebook.com/events/357908399762775/

FREE live webinar with Mark Patterson

For more than 10 years London has seen an unprecedented rise in beekeeping across the city’s urban landscape. This talk will look at how sustainable beekeeping is in London and how it can impact other pollinators. In recent years well-meaning intentions have led to unsustainable actions.

Mark Patterson is an ecologist and beekeeper in London and an active recorder of wild bees. Through his consultancy Apicultural he works with local authorities, London business and community organisations to help the capital’s pollinators.

Book via Eventbrite: https://www.eventbrite.com/cc/entolive-74679

https://www.facebook.com/events/508207217711303/

The Nature Reserve will be open to the public every 2nd and 4th Saturday of the month, so come on down and relax in this little natural paradise! We have a bird hide, several ponds and wetlands, a small wood, a wildlife garden, a sunny deck to relax on and have some tea.  You can spot foxes, woodpeckers, slow worms, newts, frogs, spiders, insects, dragonflies, butterflies, red kites,  bats, pondlife,  and things we haven’t even discovered yet! To learn more about our reserve click here.

The entrance to the reserve is off Ruislip Rd across from the Lidl Car Park, our gate is to the immediate right of 61 Clifton Rd Greenford UB6 8SP and we have a sign on the gate! Click here to see a map and public transport information.

NB – All under 18’s must be accompanied by a parent or legal guardian.

FREE live webinar with Eleanor Colver

Dragonflies and damselflies make up the insect order Odonata and are the focus of the British Dragonfly Society (BDS). The BDS has accumulated over a million verified species occurrence records of dragonflies and damselflies have been accumulated through monitoring and recording of these fascinating insects, some dating back to the 19th century. This talk will provide an overview of the National Dragonfly Recording Scheme, how it influences dragonfly conservation and how you can get involved.

Eleanor Colver is Conservation Officer for the British Dragonfly Society. She graduated with a BSc Zoology with Conservation from Bangor University and an MSc Biodiversity and Conservation from Leeds University. After graduating, Ellie spent a year wading around in RSPB wetland reserves as a Warden Intern, performing practical habitat management with volunteers. She also spent two seasons as the Langholm Moor Demonstration Project’s Senior Research Assistant, monitoring upland wildlife. During this time Ellie had the opportunity to observe Odonata in a range of habitats, and found that the more she learnt about their ecology the more she wanted to discover, leading her to her current role.

Book via Eventbrite: https://www.eventbrite.com/cc/entolive-74679

https://www.facebook.com/events/1526319634449899/

Wasp-love swept has swept the nation year after year. Learn how social wasp populations are being investigated through citizen science!

Big Wasp Survey is a citizen science initiative co-founded by Prof Seirian Sumner (University College London) and Prof Adam Hart (University of Gloucestershire). Members of the UK public sample vespine wasps in their local area, and submit their data. BWS has been running for 5 years, and it’s giving us a really good view of the diversity and distribution of vespine wasps in the UK, as well as insights into what influences citizen scientists to participate year after year.

Seirian Sumner is a professor of behavioural ecologist at UCL. She uses a combination of field ecology and molecular biology to understand insect behaviour, with a particular fondness of wasps. She co-founded Big Wasp Survey in 2017, and published her first popular science book in 2022 – Endless Forms, the secret world of wasps.

Check out ‘Endless Forms, the secret world of wasps’ by Prof. Seirian Sumner: https://harpercollins.co.uk/products/endless-forms-the-secret-world-of-wasps-seirian-sumner

https://www.facebook.com/events/1003940183620414/

Brandon Mak recently completed his PhD at Kings College London on socio-ecology of urban raptors, under the expert guidance of Peregrine Falcon expert Ed Drewitt. Brandon’s kindly agreed to come and share his research insights with us at EWG, including what he learned about our very own Freddie and Dusty raising their brood last year. All welcome. Talk followed by Q&A followed by a drink or two if you fancy it. Venue TBC based on numbers, so please click if you’re likely to attend. We won’t hold you to it. Thanks!

Book via Eventbrite: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/big-wasp-survey-investigating-social-wasp-populations-tickets-393169559737.

Come along and take part in our second hedgehog habitat creation day 🦔! We will be creating places for hedgehogs to hide during the warmer months and to hibernate in the colder months. This is a joint collaboration with Ealing Park Rangers who will be providing us with the necessary logs and leaves!

The habitat creation will be focusing on Boles Meadow this time. The steps down to Boles Meadow are to the left of St. Mary’s Church as you face it, right next to the entrance of the Bunny park. Please bring gloves.

This is part of our ongoing Hedgehog Highway project which is kindly sponsored by the William Hobbayne Charity.

https://www.facebook.com/events/1119111248768492/

How a decade of citizen science has increased our knowledge of bumblebee populations and their differing habitats.

Bumblebees are some of the best-loved insect species but much remains to be discovered about them. In this talk, we’ll hear how 10 years of citizen science monitoring data has been used to reveal the different habitat preferences among 14 British bumblebee species. Penelope will discuss the variation among species and what this means for bumblebee conservation.

Dr Penelope Whitehorn is a wildlife biologist and works as co-Chief Scientist for Highlands Rewilding. After studying Zoology and Conservation, she worked for a number of conservation organisations in the UK, Eastern Africa and the US. Her PhD, at the University of Stirling, assessed the impacts of inbreeding and parasites on bumblebees. Much of her research since then has focussed on these delightful insects, including exploring the effects of pesticides and looking into the broader ecological effects of land management and climate change, the latter with an Alexander von Humboldt research fellowship in Germany. In 2022, Penelope returned to Scotland to work for Highlands Rewilding but remains passionate about bumblebees!

https://www.facebook.com/events/2883170651976604/

The Nature Reserve will be open to the public every 2nd and 4th Saturday of the month, so come on down and relax in this little natural paradise! We have a bird hide, several ponds and wetlands, a small wood, a wildlife garden, a sunny deck to relax on and have some tea.  You can spot foxes, woodpeckers, slow worms, newts, frogs, spiders, insects, dragonflies, butterflies, red kites,  bats, pondlife,  and things we haven’t even discovered yet! To learn more about our reserve click here.

The entrance to the reserve is off Ruislip Rd across from the Lidl Car Park, our gate is to the immediate right of 61 Clifton Rd Greenford UB6 8SP and we have a sign on the gate! Click here to see a map and public transport information.

NB – All under 18’s must be accompanied by a parent or legal guardian.

The Nature Reserve will be open to the public every 2nd and 4th Saturday of the month, so come on down and relax in this little natural paradise! We have a bird hide, several ponds and wetlands, a small wood, a wildlife garden, a sunny deck to relax on and have some tea.  You can spot foxes, woodpeckers, slow worms, newts, frogs, spiders, insects, dragonflies, butterflies, red kites,  bats, pondlife,  and things we haven’t even discovered yet! To learn more about our reserve click here.

The entrance to the reserve is off Ruislip Rd across from the Lidl Car Park, our gate is to the immediate right of 61 Clifton Rd Greenford UB6 8SP and we have a sign on the gate! Click here to see a map and public transport information.

NB – All under 18’s must be accompanied by a parent or legal guardian.

The Nature Reserve will be open to the public every 2nd and 4th Saturday of the month, so come on down and relax in this little natural paradise! We have a bird hide, several ponds and wetlands, a small wood, a wildlife garden, a sunny deck to relax on and have some tea.  You can spot foxes, woodpeckers, slow worms, newts, frogs, spiders, insects, dragonflies, butterflies, red kites,  bats, pondlife,  and things we haven’t even discovered yet! To learn more about our reserve click here.

The entrance to the reserve is off Ruislip Rd across from the Lidl Car Park, our gate is to the immediate right of 61 Clifton Rd Greenford UB6 8SP and we have a sign on the gate! Click here to see a map and public transport information.

NB – All under 18’s must be accompanied by a parent or legal guardian.

The Nature Reserve will be open to the public every 2nd and 4th Saturday of the month, so come on down and relax in this little natural paradise! We have a bird hide, several ponds and wetlands, a small wood, a wildlife garden, a sunny deck to relax on and have some tea.  You can spot foxes, woodpeckers, slow worms, newts, frogs, spiders, insects, dragonflies, butterflies, red kites,  bats, pondlife,  and things we haven’t even discovered yet! To learn more about our reserve click here.

The entrance to the reserve is off Ruislip Rd across from the Lidl Car Park, our gate is to the immediate right of 61 Clifton Rd Greenford UB6 8SP and we have a sign on the gate! Click here to see a map and public transport information.

NB – All under 18’s must be accompanied by a parent or legal guardian.