Previous events

Earthworm expert (and Earthworm Society of Britain President) Emma Sherlock is in the process of updating the current FSC Key to the Identification of Earthworms of the UK & Ireland. The second edition will contain live photos of earthworms, updated taxonomy and a key to some of the non-native earthworm species that have been found in British greenhouses and botanical gardens.

Earthworms are essential to soil quality, come in many varieties and are under-recorded throughout the country. Learn to identify them with Dan Carpenter of the Earthworm Society of Britain and help to reduce the knowledge gap.

In the morning we will sample earthworms across the Woolley Firs estate and then identify them with the help of microscopes in the afternoon.

At the end of the day we will have a record of the species across the habitats at Woolley Firs and you will have experienced a wide range of earthworms and be ready to sample your own area.

Few people realise that Great Britain is home to 29 species of earthworm. This one day beginners' course will take you through the biology and ecology of these fascinating ecosystem engineers, and explain why all earthworms are not the same. Participants will be introduced to the different sampling methods for recording earthworms. The Earthworm Ecology course acts as a a great introduction to anyone who is planning on attending our two-day Earthworm Identification Weekend course.

Few people realise that Great Britain is home to 29 species of earthworm. This one day beginners' course will take you through the biology and ecology of these fascinating ecosystem engineers, and explain why all earthworms are not the same. Participants will be introduced to the different sampling methods for recording earthworms. The Earthworm Ecology course acts as a a great introduction to anyone who is planning on attending our two-day Earthworm Identification Weekend course.

Few people realise that Great Britain is home to 29 species of earthworm. This one day beginners' course will take you through the biology and ecology of these fascinating ecosystem engineers, and explain why all earthworms are not the same. Participants will be introduced to the different sampling methods for recording earthworms. The Earthworm Ecology course acts as a a great introduction to anyone who is planning on attending our two-day Earthworm Identification Weekend course.

ESB Earthworm Identification Weekends are two-day courses suitable for beginners and more experienced recorders alike, involving a sampling day in the field with an identification workshop the following day. These workshops provide participants with the knowledge and skills they will need to sample, identify and record British earthworms, provide support/verification for existing earthworm recorders and generate new earthworm records/species lists for previously unrecorded sites.

ESB Earthworm Identification Weekends are two-day courses suitable for beginners and more experienced recorders alike, involving a sampling day in the field with an identification workshop the following day. These workshops provide participants with the knowledge and skills they will need to sample, identify and record British earthworms, provide support/verification for existing earthworm recorders and generate new earthworm records/species lists for previously unrecorded sites.

*** THIS EVENT WAS, UNFORTUNATELY, CANCELLED DUE TO LOW BOOKINGS***

There are 29 species of earthworm living freely in soils in the UK. The course will begin by giving a general overview of British earthworm species and how to collect and preserve them (to accurately identify British earthworms they do need to be preserved). It will involve some collecting in nearby habitats for a short period using various sampling methods.

The Wild Connections team have teamed up with the Earthworm Society of Britain to bring you this weekend specifically tailored for discovering Wiltshire's earthworm species. One day will be dedicated to field sampling, and the second to identification, this is a great opportunity to gain an in depth knowledge, and help to contribute to the county's earthworm records. 

Meet: Earthworm Identification Weekend

Cost: Free but booking is essential.

Refreshments: Refreshments will be provided, but please bring your own packed lunch

This earthworm site survey will be field based and involve sampling a range of sites and habitats. Experienced recorders will be on hand to provide training and guidance to anyone new to earthworm recording. The aim of the day is to collect specimens for identification at the Earthworm Identification Workshop the following week at the Natural History Museum. The records will be used to update the Hampstead Heath Earthworm Report.