Spring wildlife walks
This course has now started
- Course Code: HS301
- Dates: 19/04/24 - 10/05/24
- Time: 12:30 - 14:30
- Taught: Fri, Daytime
- Duration: 4 sessions (over 4 weeks)
- Location: Keeley Street
- Tutor: Brenna Boyle
Course Code: HS301
Duration: 4 sessions (over 4 weeks)
Please note: We offer a wide variety of financial support to make courses affordable. Just visit our online Help Centre for more information on a range of topics including fees, online learning and FAQs.
What is the course about?
Find out more about the natural history all around us here in London. Take a closer look at everything from intricate wildflowers to singing birds across a range of habitats. Become familiar with some of London’s more common species, and learn to look out for the more unusual. But most of all, enjoy three walks taking in all the joys that spring has to offer.
What will we cover?
Seasonal natural events in spring:
• Bird breeding behaviour and birdsong, with some tips for starting to identify different songs
• Re-emergence of invertebrates; ecology and identification of key London species
• Spring flowers; identification of some common species and consideration of their ecology, uses, common names and importance in culture.
The first session will be in the classroom at City Lit. The next three sessions will be gentle walks in
Kensington Gardens, the WaterWorks Nature Reserve in the Lee Valley and Brockley and Ladywell Cemetery in Lewisham.
(Sites and order of the walks is subject to change).
What will I achieve?
By the end of this course you should be able to...
- Understand the behaviour of birds in the spring time
- Start recognising London birds by sight
- Tune in more closely to birdsong and start to identify some of the more common songs
- More readily notice invertebrates, and identify some common species
- Recognise a number of spring wildflowers
- Make references to the wildflowers in a cultural context
- Gain confidence in independently exploring and enjoying London’s many wild spaces
- State some ways in which you could become involved with the conservation and study of London's wildlife.
What level is the course and do I need any particular skills?
This is an introductory course and is open to all. No prior knowledge of the subject is required. However, you will need a good grasp of English to keep up with the course and to participate fully in discussions. You must be mobile enough to walk gently for 2 hours over some rough ground.
How will I be taught, and will there be any work outside the class?
Illustrated presentation, group work, discussion, direct observation, questions and answers. There will be no work outside of the class, though guidance to finding further information will be provided each week.
Are there any other costs? Is there anything I need to bring?
There are no additional costs, aside from your travel to the sites. Wear suitable outdoor clothing including sturdy footwear. Bring binoculars and identification guides if you have them and wish to use them. The tutor will bring binoculars and identification guides for the group to share.
When I've finished, what course can I do next?
For further nature courses, please check our website: Science & Nature.
Brenna Boyle (B.Sc Hons Dunelm, M.Sc DIC) is a zoologist, wildlife guide and environmental teacher. She runs Wild Capital and also works for two urban environmental education charities. She is often to be found wading in either the River Thames or Deptford Creek. Her favourite species is the Long-tailed Tit.
Please note: We reserve the right to change our tutors from those advertised. This happens rarely, but if it does, we are unable to refund fees due to this. Our tutors may have different teaching styles; however we guarantee a consistent quality of teaching in all our courses.
