Beetle Field Recorder Day

Beetles are vitally important insects that contribute significantly to biodiversity and ecosystem health. Many species help recycle nutrients by breaking down leaf litter and deadwood, while others control pests in gardens and parks, and others are pollinators. London’s brownfield sites, green spaces, and waterways provide refuges for specialist and rare beetles that are declining elsewhere, and the city is also often an entry point for species new to Britain. Recording beetle species enables site managers to identify and protect important habitats and maintain the ecological balance of our green spaces.

On this Field Recorder Day, we invite you to join fellow nature enthusiasts for a day dedicated to finding, identifying, and recording beetles in a relaxed and supportive setting. Whether you're a beginner or an experienced naturalist, this event offers a great opportunity to share knowledge, build confidence in biological recording, and refine your identification skills – all with guidance from beetle specialist Connor Butler.

What will the day involve?

• Hands-on experience using different methods to collect and record a variety of beetle families.
• Practical training in specimen collection and preservation.
• Guidance on identifying beetles in the field and understanding which specimens require further examination under a microscope.
• A chance to connect with like-minded individuals from diverse backgrounds who share an interest in entomology and wildlife recording.

What do I need to know in advance?

• This event is aimed at adults only.
• Attendance is free but booking is essential.
• Invertebrate recorders of all abilities are welcome.
• Identification will take place in the field whenever possible, but some invertebrate specimens may need to be collected and preserved for accurate identification with a microscope.
• We'll be outside for the whole day so please bring suitable clothing for the weather.
• Please bring food for the day with you (i.e. a packed lunch).
• All records generated will be added to iRecord in order to share our findings with the site managers, Greenspace Information for Greater London (GiGL), London Natural History Society (LNHS) and relevant national recording schemes and societies.
• Check out our ‘Info for Field Recorder Day Attendees’ website page for more info (including instructions for setting up on iRecord): https://biologicalrecording.co.uk/info-for-field-recorder-day-attendees/

Beetle Specialist: Connor Butler

This Field Recorder Day will be led by Connor Butler. Connor is an entomologist specialising in beetles and deadwood invertebrates. He leads nature walks across London, with over 3,000 people coming on his tours to date. Check out Connor on Instagram: @connor_the_ecologist

Lesnes Abbey Woods

This course will take place at Lesnes Abbey Woods. Situated in South East London, this unique site offers 88 hectares of ancient woodland, a park and a ruined abbey. The nearest railway station is Abbey Wood Station and Lesnes Abbey Lodge is a roughly 10 minutes walk from the station. there is no parking on site. Details for getting to the site can be found on the Lesnes Abbey wood website: https://www.lesnesabbeywoods.org/plan-your-visit/directions-contact/

This event is being run as a collaboration between the Biological Recording Company and Lesnes Abbey Woods as part of the Lesnes 500 project funded by the National Lottery Heritage Fund.