Details of our 2024 courses can be found here.
Courses run in 2023 were as below
Winter Tree ID Course (In-Person)
This in-person course teaches attendees the skills to identify trees in winter. Without their leaves and fruits as distinguishing features, trees can be difficult to differentiate and identify. This course will take you through the key features of different tree species to improve your winter identification skills. The course will be held in our Cardiff Bay office on February 17th 2023. It will be priced at £25 per person (VAT inclusive) and all attendees will be issued with a certificate of attendance.
Otter Ecology and Survey – Hybrid Course 14th March 2023
This hybrid course covers otter legislation, ecology and surveying. The fieldwork will take place at from 10am until 1pm. The fieldwork will commence at Fourteen Locks Canal Centre, Cwm Lane, Rogerstone, Newport NP10 9GN and will involve a walk of around 6km.
The hybrid element of the course will cover the following topics:
- Otter biology and ecology
- Identifying otters and their field signs
- Legal status of otters
- Otters and development.
The course costs £60 including VAT.
Introduction to QGIS Course (Online) – 20th March 2023
This online course introduces the use of QGIS (an Open Source Geographic Information System (GIS)) and will explain how QGIS software can be used to undertake a range of ecological mapping functions. By the end of the course, you should be able to draw a UK Habs habitat map using QGIS software and use the Natural England net gain QGIS files. We will also use QGIS to undertake a range of other mapping tasks such as creating buffers. The course will cost £75 per person (inclusive of VAT), and all attendees will be issued with a certificate of attendance. The course will run online via zoom on 22nd march from 10am until 3pm. A reasonable level of computer literacy is recommended.
BatExplorer Training Course (Online)
This online course, which is aimed at beginners and intermediate users, aims to give participants the knowledge and skills to use the Bat Explorer software to analyse bat survey recordings and present their findings of surveys using the Batlogger or other bat detectors. This course requires only a very basic knowledge of bats and bat ecology, and the identification features illustrated will apply to a range of different software. This course will provide an introduction to both BatExplorer and how they can be used to analyse bat recordings. The course will run via Zoom over two days, the 15th and 22nd of March 2023, from 10am to 1pm each day. It will be priced at £40 per person (VAT inclusive), and all attendees will be issued with a certificate of attendance.
Phase 1 Habitat Survey Course (Online)
We will be re-running our ever popular Phase 1 Habitat Survey course in April 2023. This course will focus on introducing participants to the Phase 1 methodology to classify habitats. The Phase 1 Habitat Survey Course will consist of four Zoom sessions on the afternoons of April 4th, 11th, 18th and 25th. Each session takes place at 1pm until 2:30pm. The course will cost £50 (inclusive of VAT), and all attendees will be issued with a certificate of attendance.
Phase 1 Habitat Survey Course (Field-Based – In Person)
This Phase 1 Habitat Survey Course is entirely fieldwork based, taking place in Cowbridge on June 14th. The course will cover the identification of species important for separating out the major habitats (particularly unimproved and semi-improved neutral grasslands and marshy grasslands) and is an ideal field-based supplement to our online Phase 1 Habitat Survey course. The course will be useful for anyone looking to brush up on their identification skills, or to gain experience in the field. It will be priced at £50 per person (inclusive of VAT).
Preliminary Roost Assessment Course (In Person) – October 2023
The Preliminary Roost Assessment Course will be carried out in-person in the Usk Museum, Monmouthshire. It will be led by Chris Smith, a Chartered Surveyor who became a licensed bat worker nearly 20 years ago. Chris has undertaken bat surveys and obtained European Protected Species licenses in the Midlands, together with becoming a Registered Consultant for the Bat Mitigation Class license. As a Chartered Surveyor with knowledge of building methods and materials Chris has taught Ecologists about buildings for Volunteer Roost Visitors with Natural England and commercial Ecologists. It will run in October 2023. Attendees of the course will learn the skills required to carry out a Preliminary Roost Assessment, as well as roost identification skills and basic bat ecology. It will be priced at £80 per person (VAT inclusive) and all attendees will be issued with a certificate of attendance. Registration of interest can be sent to enquiries@acerecology.co.uk.
UK Habs Course (Field-Based)
This course is entirely fieldwork based, taking place in Sully on June 28th 2023. This course will be ideal for anyone wishing to learn about habitat classification and those seeking experience in the field. The UK Habitat Classification designed to provide a simple and robust approach to survey and monitoring for the 21st century. The course will cover the basics of habitat classification, and attendees will leave with a greater and more in-depth understanding of the identifying features of different habitat types.
Additional Information
- All attendees of our courses will be issued with a certificate of attendance.
- If we don’t have a course listed that you would like us to run, please get in touch! We can run bespoke courses for organisations, or if we have enough interest in your idea, we may consider put together a new course. You can view our entire course repertoire here.
- To book on a course, please email us to request a booking form.
If you would like to enrol on any of our courses, or if you require further information, email us on enquiries@acerecology.co.uk or call us on 029 2065 0331.
