Make natural connections to wildlife and nature. Learn animal track & sign, natural navigation and how get closer to wildlife on a walking workshop or hedgerow safari. Turn up and enjoy a fully guided walk or seasonally themed walk or activity across Dorset, Wiltshire, Hampshire and surrounding counties.
Introduction to track & sign
Learn how to find, identify and record track and sign
This two day, practical walking workshop will teach you to identify animal track and sign found in woodland and open countryside. The aim will be to find as many examples as possible alongside some example teaching resources to fill in the gaps.
Squirrel feeding table with sweet chesnuts, pine cones and beech mast
Learn how to recognise, distinguish and record the tracks of commonly found animals (and some birds) within main groups. How track shape, size and form will vary depending on the substrate, how the animal is moving and how to work out how the was moving (gait) from a set of tracks.
Fallow deer track in woodland mud
During the workshop we will see what other sign we can find along the way. Expect to find some examples of larger mammal scat and learn how to distinguish between deer species, dog and fox, badger latrines and maybe some bird poo as well. Feeding sign, feathers, mortal remains of prey that point to the culprit, insect activity, holes, nest, dens and borings in wood.
Pigeon nest (disused) in woodland
Each day will involve being outside for the duration of the course. You should dress well for the season and only in very bad weather will the dates be postponed. Boots or wellies you can walk in all day would be ideal. The total distance walked over 6/7 hours will be a round 8/km. Start locations will vary depending on the time of year and we might go to more than one during the day. The safety of your car when parked at remote locations is your responsibility and we will try a minimise car travel.
Song Thrush anvil with snail fragments
You do need to wear any camouflage clothing for this course.
Bring a comfortable rucksack with extra layers, loads of food and maybe a flask - it might not be practical to use a stove during the day. A notebook (waterproof?), pen/pencil/s, magnifying glass, small tape measure or ruler, a it mat or kneeling mat could be useful.
Please be aware that depending on the weather and ground conditions it might not be possible to find examples of every animal within a group! Hopefully we can find at least one example of tracks alongside resources and filed guides to show how others with a the group will be represented. However learning the characteristics of each animal group, how to measure, record tracks helps you to research and identify them later.
Develop your nature awareness and connection to wildlife
Learn how to reduce your disturbance and increase your awareness to feel more connected to nature and see more wildlife!
This one and two day workshop will enable you to learn how to increase your awareness of nature, reduce your disturbance on it and
Squirrel feeding table with sweet chesnuts, pine cones and beech mast
Learn how to recognise, distinguish and record the tracks of commonly found animals (and some birds) within main groups. How track shape, size and form will vary depending on the substrate, how the animal is moving and how to work out how the was moving (gait) from a set of tracks.
Fallow deer track in woodland mud
During the workshop we will see what other sign we can find along the way. Expect to find some examples of larger mammal scat and learn how to distinguish between deer species, dog and fox, badger latrines and maybe some bird poo as well. Feeding sign, feathers, mortal remains of prey that point to the culprit, insect activity, holes, nest, dens and borings in wood.
Pigeon nest (disused) in woodland
Each day will involve being outside for the duration of the course. You should dress well for the season and only in very bad weather will the dates be postponed. Boots or wellies you can walk in all day would be ideal. The total distance walked over 6/7 hours will be a round 8/km. Start locations will vary depending on the time of year and we might go to more than one during the day. The safety of your car when parked at remote locations is your responsibility and we will try a minimise car travel.
Song Thrush anvil with snail fragments
You do need to wear any camouflage clothing for this course.
Bring a comfortable rucksack with extra layers, loads of food and maybe a flask - it might not be practical to use a stove during the day. A notebook (waterproof?), pen/pencil/s, magnifying glass, small tape measure or ruler, a it mat or kneeling mat could be useful.
Please be aware that depending on the weather and ground conditions it might not be possible to find examples of every animal within a group! Hopefully we can find at least one example of tracks alongside resources and filed guides to show how others with a the group will be represented. However learning the characteristics of each animal group, how to measure, record tracks helps you to research and identify them later.
Heading content
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetuer adipiscing elit. Aenean commodo ligula eget dolor. Aenean massa. Cum sociis natoque penatibus et magnis dis parturient montes, nascetur ridiculus mus. Donec quam felis, ultricies nec, pellentesque eu, pretium quis, sem. Nulla consequat massa quis enim.