About this Event
Our next FREE conservation meetup will be taking place on:
- Date: Saturday 30th September
- Timings: 10:30am- 3:00pm (followed by an optional guided walk of the reserve)
- Location: The Engine House, Walthamtow Wetlands
- Who can come? The workshop is open to young people aged 16-30
- What to expect: Buzz Map Insect Mapping
✨LEARN and get CREATIVE in Nature:
You’ll learn about setting up the Malaise trap, supporting sample collection and processing, as well as helping us with activities to engage visitors with the project and insect conservation.
This citizen science project is perfect for anyone who wants to be part of understanding and safeguarding our local insect populations, and especially for anyone looking to learn more about careers in biodiversity science, conservation, or develop skills in science engagement and education.
We will provide training and support around sample processing and identification- no experience necessary!
? Pause for a free pizza party lunch break at 12:20pm
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The sessions will be held monthly, and you’re welcome to come to just one session, or more regularly. The more often you come, the more you’ll be able to build your knowledge and hear more about what insects you’ve helped us discover.
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Why should I join the Nature Nurtures Collective?
As part of the new project, London Wildlife TrustSpread the Word and Black Girls Hike are organising a series of meetups for young people (aged 16-25). Nature Nurtures want to join forces with you to create a friendly community who want to explore nature conservation, social action and the creative arts. Whether you’re a nature novice, seasoned writer, or have never even flexed a creative muscle – Nature Nurtures invites you to join us!
We’re creating an inclusive space to explore and develop your practical conservation and creative skills which we want to be led by young people. By becoming a regular member of our community; we’ll tailor future Nature Nurtures workshops to your interests, you’ll be given access to OCN accredited Youth Leadership training led by London Youth and Volunteer Management training led by London Wildlife Trust. More excitingly, you’ll have the chance for your creative work to be professionally published in a nature anthology and other creative productions.
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Why get involved with The Buzz Map?
Walthamstow Wetlands is Europe’s largest urban wetland. The 221 hectare site comprises 10 operational reservoirs which provide drinking water to London, and a commercial fishery; it is a nationally important site for breeding and overwintering water birds and other wildlife, and forms part of an internationally important site for waterfowl. Owned and operated by Thames Water, the Wetlands’ nature reserve management, biodiversity monitoring and visitor engagement is undertaken by London Wildlife Trust under contract to Waltham Forest Council.
Wellcome Connecting Science's mission is to enable everyone to explore genomic science and its impact on research, health and society.
The BIOSCAN project is part of a collaboration with the Wellcome Sanger Institute’s Tree of Life programme which investigates the diversity of complex organisms through sequencing and cellular technologies. They generate and use high-quality genome sequences to explore the evolution of life, provide the raw materials for new biotechnology and deliver tools and understanding for biodiversity conservation.
Ethical Considerations:
The insects we collect in our malaise traps are humanely killed before their DNA is studied. The deliberate or reckless killing of any life, even for scientific study, requires careful ethical consideration. This is not something we take lightly and are aware that there might be concerns and questions around this method of sampling. It is important to always consider whether a destructive method of sampling is truly necessary for a piece of research. In the case of the BIOSCAN project, this monitoring effort will help us to understand insect populations and to improve our DNA barcode database so that in the future, we will be able to monitor them in a non-destructive way. The methods follow approved standards are restricted in locations around the site and over time; it is unlikely than anything other than a small sample of the whole site’s insect biota is affected by this research.
In future the data gathered will inform our approaches to the Wetlands’ management
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About Charlie (me)
Charlie is a wildlife lover, amateur nature photographer, facilitator and socially awkward bean. As the Youth Volunteering Coordinator at London Wildlife Trust, Charlie loves providing young people with foraged materials and a range of art supplies to draw inspiration from nature with through practical conservation and craft sessions. In their spare time, Charlie embodies being nature’s paparazzi by capturing moments in nature through photography, collages and the occasional crude doodle. Want to try something out in a Conservation + Crafts session? Let's learn it together! Send off an email to [email protected] :D
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FAQs
✨Cost - FREE (we can also cover the cost of your travel expenses within London zones 1-6)
✨ Do I need to bring anything? Wear some comfy clothes and closed-toe shoes. All other materials will be provided for you.
✨ Do I need to bring lunch? Only if you want to! We'll be putting on a pizza party with drinks/snacks . Please bring a water bottle with you if you can.
✨Nervous about coming alone? You are more than welcome to bring a friend (ideally, get them to sign up here too)! You can also get in touch with us ahead of the workshop and we will buddy you with one of the team, so you can connect before and during the workshop.
✨Accessibility - The facilitators will be very keen to ensure that inclusion needs are met as best as possible, so please feel free to let us know before if there's anything we can do by contacting us at [email protected]
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Still reading? Here's a bit more info about the Nature Nurtures project:
Nature Nurtures is a new cross-sector project led by London Wildlife Trust with partners Spread the Word, Black Girls Hike CIC and London Youth. The project will be a whole host of exciting opportunities for young people that link natural heritage with creative arts to get more young people volunteering and taking action for nature. Nature Nurtures will also be an opportunity to explore themes of wellbeing, identity & cultural heritage within the environmental sector.
Specifically, this project will focus on young people from Black, Asian, and Minoritised Ethnic heritage, young people with special educational needs and disabilities, and those who live in socio-economically disadvantaged areas of London.
Nature Nurtures is supported by funds awarded by the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sports, via the Volunteering Futures Fund distributed by .
London Wildlife Trust's Walthamstow Wetlands
Have a lovely week! -Charlie :)
Event Venue & Nearby Stays
Walthamstow Wetlands, London Wildlife Trust, 2 Forest Road, London, United Kingdom
GBP 0.00
