Skills For Ecology webinars and online courses tackle subjects surrounding field and tech skills for ecological surveys and conservation work.
Subjects include Biological Recording, Camera Trapping, Crayfish Surveys & Conservation, Drones, Endemics, Fern Identification, Hay Meadow Restoration, Insect Surveying, Invasive Plants, Moss Identification and Wildlife Detection Dogs.
We recognise the need for high standards in conservation and ecology so we work with sector professionals that specialise in the subjects that we teach… our crayfish and drone tutors both have PhDs in their subject areas, our invasive plants and ferns tutor is based at Kew Gardens and our wildlife detection dogs and shore survey tutors are leading professionals in their respective fields.
Skills For Ecology Webinars
Skills For Ecology webinars take place throughout the year and are 90 minutes in length, consisting of a 1-hour presentation and a Q&A session with the subject specialist delivered via Zoom. All Skills For Ecology webinars are available for just £12.50 each, and copies of the recordings and other content are made available to anyone who booked (just in case learners are unable to attend live).
Conservation Skills Series
Endemics Series
Endemic Plants of the UK and Ireland
Learn about the plant species and subspecies that are found in the UK and Ireland, but nowhere else in the world with James Hardin-Morris.
Endemic Whitebeams of the UK and Ireland
Learn about the endemic whitebeams found only in the British Isles with James Hardin-Morris.
Endemic Vertebrates of the UK and Ireland
Learn about the vertebrate species and subspecies that are found in the UK and Ireland, but nowhere else in the world with James Hardin-Morris.
Botany Skills Series
Sphagnum Mosses
Ryan Clark covers recognising and identifying Sphagnum mosses, including common and widesread species from all 6 Sphagnum ‘sections’.
Identifying Liverworts
Ryan Clark covers recognising and identifying liverworts, covering key features, common species, field techniques, and recording guidance.
Identifying Whitebeams
James Harding-Morris covers recognising and identifying whitebeams (including rowan and service trees), covering key features of common native and alien species.
Biological Recording Skills Series
Sustainable Development Goals Series
Biodiversity and the UN Sustainable Development Goals
Discover why biodiversity matters, how it supports the UN SDGs, how change is monitored, and what actions lead to a nature-positive future.
Biodiversity for Sustainable Goals
Learn why plant–pollinator interactions matter, how they underpin the UN SDGs, and what actions can support a pollinator-friendly future.
Skills For Ecology Self-study Online Courses
We have no plans to repeat Skills For Ecology webinars, so the recordings of Skills For Ecology webinars are packaged up alongside useful links and Q&A’s with the subject specialist as online self-study Skills For Ecology courses. Where a subject was covered over several webinars, the content from these webinars is combined into a single course.
Our Skills For Ecology courses start from just £12.50 and the content can be worked through at your own pace via our e-learning platform.
Camera Traps
Learn how to use camera traps to monitor wildlife, from choosing equipment to analysing data. Build practical skills in species identification, field deployment, and contributing to conservation and citizen science projects. Also includes 4 case studies from our Camera Trapping Mammals Virtual Symposium.
Checking and Validating Your Wildlife Records
FREE COURSE. Learn how to use Record Cleaner to check, validate and improve your wildlife records before sharing them with recording schemes and LERCs with Keiron Derek Brown.
Crayfish Surveys and Conservation
The White-clawed Crayfish, the UK’s only native crayfish, is endangered due to habitat loss, water decline, and invasive Signal Crayfish, which spread disease. Dr. Nicky Green covers surveys, conservation, and invasive species management. Also includes 4 case studies from our Signal Crayfish Virtual Symposium.
Drones Surveys for Ecology
Drones can be used to survey landscapes and capture high-resolution data informing conservation and site management practices. Aaron Bhambra covers planning and undertaking manned and autonomous drone surveys for ecology. Also includes 5 case studies from our Drones in Ecology Virtual Symposium.
Ferns of the UK
Ferns and horsetails can be identified through key morphological features, supporting accurate field identification and botanical surveys. Henry Miller covers the fundamentals, with a detailed focus on Spleenworts and Male & Buckler Ferns.
Flower-Insect Timed (FIT) Counts
Learn how to do FIT Counts—a 10-min survey tracking pollinator visits to flowers. this Skills For Ecology course covers ID tips, recording methods, and how your data helps pollinator conservation in the UK with Dr Miranda Bane.
Hay Meadow Restoration
Learn how to restore species-rich hay meadows with Carol Edmondson, from site selection and preparation to sowing, monitoring, and enhancement.
Identifying Mosses
Ryan Clark covers recognising and identifying mosses, covering key features, common species, field techniques, and recording guidance.
Invasive Plants in the UK
Invasive plant species are non-native plants that have a proven ability to spread and cause severe problems for native UK plants and the environment. Explore 8 of these species with Henry Miller in this Skills For Ecology course.
iRecord 101
Learn the fundamentals of biological recording and how to use iRecord to submit and share wildlife observations. Discover how your species records support biodiversity research, conservation, and environmental decision-making across the UK.
Surveying For Beetles
Discover the world of beetle surveys. Explore practical techniques, ideal timings, and diverse habitats to help track beetle diversity and strengthen conservation efforts, from beginner-friendly approaches to advanced monitoring methods.
Surveying For Dragonflies
Discover the world of dragonfly and damselfly surveys. Learn key techniques, timing, and habitats to help monitor these vital indicators of freshwater health, from beginner-friendly methods to advanced recording approaches.
Surveying For Pollinators
Discover how to survey pollinators. Learn key techniques, sampling methods, and study design to monitor bees, hoverflies, and more for research and conservation.
Wildlife Detection Dogs
A dog’s sense of smell is at least 100,000 times more sensitive than ours. Learn about working with detection dog handlers to locate scats, nests and animal carcasses with Louise Wilson in this Skills For Ecology course.
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