Recorder Field Days
Our recorder field days are informal peer-to-peer learning experiences where naturalists can spend a day in the field together sharing their knowledge.
Whatever your level, from beginner to expert, we invite you to take part. Some of the days will have a theme but the content will generally be determined by the interests of the participants.
The aim of these days is to give people the opportunity to practise identification and surveying skills in a friendly environment to build confidence in biological recording.
Unfortunately we have decided to cancel all our Field days for 2020 due to the ongoing impact and restrictions of COVID-19. These will hopefully be re-arranged around the same time next year or as soon as possible.
Dates for 2020
Harcourt Hill - Wednesday 20th May - CANCELLED
This field day is being hosted with Oxford Preservation Trust. Harcourt hill field is in west Oxford, at the end of Vernon Avenue (nearest postcode: OX2 9AU) and is known to be a good spot for flora and fauna. The day will start at 10am and finish at 2pm, please bring your own lunch to this event. We would like to encourage people to take public transport who can, the U1 Brookes Bus goes to Harcourt Hill campus and it will be a short walk from there.
The Ridgeway - Friday 5th June - CANCELLED
This field day is being hosted with The Ridgeway National Trail. This day will involve a walk of at least 2 miles to the site, please be prepared and wear sensible footwear. The day will start at 10am and finish at 3pm We will be walking to Berkshire Old Ridgeway, above Compton. The stretch of this Trail follows the route thought to date back to prehistoric times (this isn't the always the case along the Trail, so this patch is special!) Please remember to bring your own lunch to this event.
The stretch is from here to here
The parking locations are Compton and Blewbury
Dinton Pastures Country Park - Saturday 20th June - CANCELLED
This field day is partnered with FSC Biolinks. The postcode for Dinton pastures is RG10 0TH. The day will start at 10am and finish at 2pm. Please bring your own lunch to the event. For more event information please follow the link here.
Waltham Place - Tuesday 7th July - CANCELLED
On this field day we will be recording grasslands invertebrates and plants in the fields at Waltham Place (an organic farm and gardens). The day will start at 10am and finish at 2pm. An organic vegetarian soup will be provided for lunch. There is parking on site, postcode SL6 3JH. There is a no photos policy and a no kill to identify invertebrates policy at Waltham Place.
Waltham Place - Thursday 3rd September - CANCELLED
This day we will be recording fauna and flora by some of the ponds at Waltham Place. A new pond has been created which we are returning to survey and monitor the change in biodiversity over the years. The day will start at 10am and finish at 2pm. An organic vegetarian soup will be provided for lunch. There is parking on site, postcode SL6 3JH. There is a no photos policy and a no kill to identify invertebrates policy at Waltham Place.
Heyford Meadow - Monday 5th October - CANCELLED
This field day is being hosted with Oxford Preservation Trust. Heyford Meadow is a nature reserve south of Oxford, it has a more varied landscape with open meadows, shaded grass, ponds and wetter areas. Heyford Meadow has vehicular access and a long driveway off Heyford lane (nearest postcode: OX4 4XS). The day will start at 10am and finish at 2pm. Please bring your own lunch. If you are taking public transport, the 3A bus service stops at the end of Heyford Hill Lane and the nature reserve is a short walk away.
Poster (PDF)
The field days are free to attend but booking is essential.
Please let us know when you book whether you are able to offer help to others on identification of any particular species groups, and also if there is anything you would like to learn about. We have some field guides and survey equipment that we can bring along.
