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X-WR-CALNAME:South Devon National Landscape
X-ORIGINAL-URL:https://southdevon-nl.org.uk
X-WR-CALDESC:Events for South Devon National Landscape
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BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Europe/London:20260417T103000
DTEND;TZID=Europe/London:20260417T123000
DTSTAMP:20260404T093250
CREATED:20260402T081843Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260402T081843Z
UID:13715-1776421800-1776429000@southdevon-nl.org.uk
SUMMARY:Life on the Edge Volunteers and Surveys - (7) Oil Beetle & Bee-fly Surveys
DESCRIPTION:[vc_row css_animation=”” row_type=”row” use_row_as_full_screen_section=”no” type=”full_width” angled_section=”no” text_align=”left” background_image_as_pattern=”without_pattern”][vc_column][vc_column_text css=””] \nLife on the Edge volunteers spend time in the fresh air\, being active\, meeting new people and making a real difference for nature. Come and join the crew!\n  \nCome and join Life on the Edge this Spring to survey the invertebrates of our beautiful coastline and work on your insect identification skills! Starting on February 27th\, we will be going out every Friday from 10.30am to 12.30pm to sites along the coast. We will start our survey season looking for the Black Oil Beetle and Short-necked Oil Beetle\, and as the weather warms up will also survey for the Dark-edged Bee-fly and Dotted Bee-fly. These creatures are useful indicators of a thriving\, species-rich coastal habitat ideal for numerous plant and insect species\, so going out and recording is a vital element of our work to restore these habitats. Your survey results will be uploaded to iRecord\, and will help us to target our nature restoration work to protect and grow their populations. \nSee below for dates and survey locations\, and please get in touch for more information on meeting points and to book your place. We are providing transport in a 9 seater van for those that do not have their own transport\, with pick-ups at Follaton Arboretum in Totnes and en route – please let us know when you sign up if you would like a lift and we will let you know further details. Sorry\, but we are unable to take dogs in the vehicles. \nThis opportunity is open to anyone who has an interest in nature and our coastline\, or wants to get more experience surveying the variety of nature on their doorstep 😊 \n  \n  \nImportant booking information \n\nFree event\nPre-booking essential via email to lote@southdevon-nl.org.uk – contact us to book and for more information on meeting point. Let us know if you would like to use the LotE transport.\n\n  \nKnow before you go \n\nFridays from 10.30am to 12.30pm\nMeeting point / location: See attached poster for survey locations\, and email for further specifics on meeting points and lifts\nWalk distance: approx 3-5km\nAccessibility: this event is taking place on the unsurfaced footpaths and is not suitable for people who might have difficulty in these conditions.\nSorry\, no dogs\nTo bring: weather-appropriate clothing\, sturdy boots\, snacks and drinks. If you have one\, a hand lens and a note pad would be useful.\n\n  \n\nBlack Oil Beetle & Short-Necked Oil Beetle \nFrom early spring in South Devon\, you can find three of the five native UK Oil Beetle species\, Black Oil Beetles (Meloe proscarabaeus)\, Violet Oil Beetles (Meloe violaceus)\, and Short-necked Oil Beetles(Meloe brevicollis) . Both Black and Violet Oil Beetles are relatively widespread in South Devon\, however their abundance does seem to be declining. However\, the Short Necked Oil Beetle has a very restricted\, fragmented range nationally\, with it being equally rare in South Devon being known from one stretch of coast between Bolt Tail and Bolberry Down..   \nViolet Oil Beetles are often found inland in woodland edges\, sunny glades\, and hilly\, unimproved grasslands\, whereas Black Oil Beetles are more commonly found on coastal cliffs and open\, sandy\, or well-drained grasslands. To distinguish between Black and Violet Oil Beetles\, examine the base of the thorax (pronotum). The Violet Oil Beetle has an indented lower edge with a distinct\, sharp\, raised tooth at the base. The Black Oil Beetle has an almost straight lower edge to the thorax with only a small\, rounded\, or almost absent tooth.  \nBlack Oil Beetles have a square thorax and kinked antennae\, and can be up to 30mm in length. Short-necked Oil Beetles are smaller\, up to 24mm long\, and have an oblong shaped thorax resembling a ‘short neck’ with shorter\, straight antennae. Any records of the Short-necked Oil Beetle should be submitted to iRecord with a photo clearly showing the thorax (ideally a dorsal view\, i.e. top-down of its back).  \nBlack\, Violet and Short-necked Oil Beetles are found from March through to June (although can be spotted as early as late February in the milder Devon climate) when the adults emerge to feed and mate. Look near wildflower-rich sites\, patches of bare ground on the coast path that females will burrow into to lay their eggs\, and grassy tussocks that can provide shelter on colder days. Their life cycle is intertwined with that of solitary bees\, so any habitat that is good for solitary bees is a good sign there might be Oil Beetles nearby! \n  \nDark-Edged Bee-Fly and Dotted Bee-Fly\nBee-flies\, although they look like bumblebees\, are actually flies. Their distinctive features are their fuzzy bodies\, long tongues\, and hovering darting flight.  Their tongue – which can be almost half as long as their body – is technically called  a proboscis\, and is used to feed on  nectar from flowers. A good way to tell different species of bee-flies apart is to look at the patterns on their wings.  The Dark-edged Bee-fly (Bombylius major) is a  widespread species to look out for in South Devon from March through to June\, identified by the solid dark band along the front edge of their wings. A rarer species is the Dotted Bee-fly (Bombylius discolor)\, identified by the dark spots on the front edge of their  wings. \nDuring flight\, identification is much harder as their distinctive wing patterning becomes a blur – so if you spot one still\, snap a clear photo and upload a record to iRecord. \nDark-edged Bee-flies can be found throughout South Devon in a variety of open habitats\, including gardens\, grassland\, woodland rides and clearings\, and the coast. The Dotted Bee-fly has more scattered records\, but is most commonly seen between Prawle Point and Start Point. Their life cycle is intertwined with that of solitary bees\, so any habitat that is good for solitary bees is a good place to start looking! \n  \n \nThanks to National Lottery players \n          [/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]
URL:https://southdevon-nl.org.uk/event/life-on-the-edge-volunteers-and-surveys-7-oil-beetle-bee-fly-surveys/
LOCATION:East Soar Car Park\, Malborough\, TQ7 3DR
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=application/pdf:https://southdevon-nl.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/Spring-invert-surveying-poster.pdf
ORGANIZER;CN="South Devon National Landscape LotE":MAILTO:lote@southdevon-nl.org.uk
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Europe/London:20260417T113000
DTEND;TZID=Europe/London:20260417T133000
DTSTAMP:20260404T093250
CREATED:20260319T152150Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260319T152150Z
UID:13542-1776425400-1776432600@southdevon-nl.org.uk
SUMMARY:Shoresearch Volunteer Survey
DESCRIPTION:[vc_row css_animation=”” row_type=”row” use_row_as_full_screen_section=”no” type=”full_width” angled_section=”no” text_align=”left” background_image_as_pattern=”without_pattern”][vc_column][vc_column_text css=””] \nJoin Devon Wildlife Trust’s Wembury Marine Centre for a Shoresearch Survey\n  \nShoresearch is The Wildlife Trusts’ national citizen science survey of the intertidal shore\, the exciting world of extremes where the sea meets the land. It’s a great way to explore your local coast\, learn more about the wildlife found there and add to our understanding of this important habitat. \n  \nYou will be trained to identify and record the marine life found on our local shores. The data collected by this project helps The Wildlife Trusts to monitor our fragile sea life and better understand the effects of pollution\, climate change and invasive alien species. \n  \nShoresearch data has been key to designating many of our Marine Conservation Zones. For more information on the project\, visit Shoresearch. \n  \nImportant booking information \n\n\n\nFree event (donations to Devon Wildlife Trust welcome)\nBooking required – see Wembury Marine Centre website\nThis event is weather dependent\, so please check your emails the day before in case of cancellation\n\n\n\n\nKnow before you go\n\nSuitability\n\nThis event is aimed mainly at those with an interest in intertidal marine life identification and surveying.\n\n\nDogs\n\nNo – dogs are not allowed on the beach 1st May to 20th September\nAlthough assistance dogs are allowed year round\, the nature of the rocky terrain may make it unsafe for dogs\n\n\nWhat to bring\n\nPlease wear weather appropriate clothing and be prepared for unpredictable weather\nWear wellies/sturdy boots – rocks can be sharp so wearing thick-soled\, waterproof footwear with good grip is essential.\n\n\nAccessibility\n\nThe event takes place on the rocky foreshore at Wembury Beach.\nThere are steep unguarded edges along the coast.\nYou should expect to be walking 0.5km over slippery\, seaweed-covered rocks and other uneven ground.\nPlease note\, this activity may not be suitable for those with a mobility impairment\nInstruction s provided verbally by a group leader in English within an outdoor setting where there may be background noise (wind or rain). Printed copies of some information can be made available with advance notice. The event takes place in a popular public place but is not usually crowded. Flash photography may be used by staff and participants. Noise cancelling ear muffs can only be used if the attendee has someone with them who is able to listen and interpret the instructions for them.\n\n\nWheelchair access\n\nNo wheelchair access to beach\n\n\n Parking\n\nParking is free for National Trust members\, parking charges apply to non-National Trust members and vary depending on the time of year (please bring correct change or pay by phone).\n\n\nFacilities\n\nToilets\nShop\nCafe/refreshments\nPicnic area\nDisabled parking\nAccessible toilet\nBaby changing facilities\nBicycle parking\n\n\n\n\nMeeting point\n\nWembury Marine Centre\nW3W ///venues.olive.grasp\nAim to arrive just before the event start time\n\n[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]
URL:https://southdevon-nl.org.uk/event/shoresearch-volunteer-survey-2/
LOCATION:Wembury Marine Centre\, Church Road\, Wembury\, Devon\, PL9 0HP\, United Kingdom
ORGANIZER;CN="Devon Wildlife Trust":MAILTO:info@wemburymarinecentre.org
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