My last day at the Field Studies Council is here! It’s come all too fast, and I can’t believe that it’s time for goodbyes. I’ve had the MOST FANTASTIC opportunity this year, thanks to TCV, FSC and Esmee Fairbairn.
I’ve continued with microscope sessions with the North Wales Non Flowering group in Pensychnant, and this was nicely complemented by a wonderful trip with the Shropshire entomologists to Ganllwyd in North Wales yesterday. This is a prime site for mosses, liverworts and lichens, due to it’s oceanic conditions, and home to some red data listed species.
I was lucky to attend the FSC Entomology Day earlier this month. This proved to be a fascinating day, with eight speakers on topics including the problems of mapping invertebrates, the new FSC BioLinks project, an author of the latest spider handbook, the fascinating world of pseudoscorpions, and the varied life of an entomologist working for Natural England. We were joined by a very eminent guest from Oxford museum…a dung beetle which had been pinned by Charles Darwin!
With the end of our traineeships looming, we organised a Showcase event in Edinburgh Botanical Gardens. We invited 45 guests, guest speakers, and then provided workshops from each of our areas. We were delighted with how well the day ran, and it was a great chance to meet up and find out where everybody was going once the taineeship ends. A few of us were extra lucky, because we had a trip to the archives of the Scottish National museum. We were given lots of time to look through the entomology collection, the wet collections, and a peek at the mammal collection. All fascinating stuff!
I’ve just had the most amazing send off from the FSC. All I can say is THANK YOU to the Biodiversity Team of Charlie Bell, Rich Burkmar and Sue Townsend. You have given so freely of your time and expertise and it has been a real privilege to be a part of the FSC family.
A massive thank you to Amy Styles for being super organised and a great inspiration and support throughout the year.
A huge thank you to Esmee Fairbairn for funding the traineeship and making it a reality!
Next stop, 12 month internship at RSPB Lake Vyrnwy….see you there!
