Interact about this event using the hashtag #bugsday
Overview
On Bugs! day Silwood Park will help you discover the wonderful world of bugs and other invertebrates. Silwood Park has an extensive 100 ha of grassland and woodland (including a lake!) These undisturbed, natural habitats host many ecological experiments and keep wildlife safe. Here on the 10th of July you will find diverse exhibits, demonstrations and talks that will help you learn about the creepy crawlies all around you!
Various researchers and organisations will be present to talk about their projects and the bugs there are working on: dragonflies, spiders, beetles and many others! You will also be able to go on a bug hunt, build a bug hotel and discover what is hidden in your pond by taking part in some pond dipping while enjoying a tour around the campus. You can even get your face painted with your favourite bug! Snacks/Refreshments will be available all day.
Bugs! day is an event created by the Grand Challenges in Ecosytems and the Environment group (GCEE) from Imperial College London that will provide entertainment and education for a range of different interests and knowledge levels. We are currently collaborating with students and staff from Charters school who are participating in a mesocosm experiment with one of Silwood’s research groups. Students will then present their projects on Bugs! Day. Schools and children are therefore very welcome!
Exhibits include
Pond Dipping
Dr. Guy Woodward’s team: Will be leading Pond Dipping sessions. Participants will learn all about the invertebrates hidden in ponds and look at their finds under a microscope.
Earthworm hunts
Victoria Burton: Will lead hunts for invertebrates in leaf litter and demonstrate to visitors how earthworms and other invertebrates are important in keeping soils healthy.
Fantastic Minibeasts and where to find them
Dr. Chris Wilson will introduce visitors to an invisible world full of strange invertebrate animals so small that even fleas and mites look giant by comparison. Thousands of these invisible animals live in every tiny patch of moss, and he’ll use powerful microscopes to hunt some down and take a peek into their world.
Up close and personal with mosquitos
Dr Lauren Cator: Mostly we think of mosquitoes as nuisances or even as carriers of deadly diseases. However, mosquitoes actually have very interesting lives, and Lauren will introduce us to some of their lesser known behaviours.
Do aphids have predators?
Dr Ben Raymond: Tackles the issue that plagues all gardeners. Do greenflies, blackflies, and whiteflies have natural enemies?
How closely related to bugs are we?
Dr James Rosindell: James’ unique and interactive software ‘OneZoom’ will let us explore the evolutionary tree of life and create our own interactive family tree.
Meet prehistoric insects!
Marco Castiello and Richard Dearden: Millions of years ago, long before the dinosaurs, insects and their relatives ruled the Earth. We will have a selection of fossils to look at, in addition to interactive virtual scans of fossil creepy-crawlies.
Other contributors
Trevor Smith from Ascot Wildlife will be leading bug hunts in Silwood’s grounds
Tina Baily from Ascot Wildlife will be exhibiting her wonderful bug-themed photography
Dawn Fielding from Surrey Wildlife Trust will show visitors how to create Bug Hotels and Bug Feeders.
Caroline Coleman from the Thames Valley Environmental Records Centre will explain how easy it is for us all to join local groups and monitor interesting species.
The CABI Invasives Team will present their work on biological control of two weeds released in the UK (the Japanese Knotweed and the Himalayan Balsam) using insects.
The RSPB will be on-hand to tell visitors what they can do to ‘Give nature a home in their communities’.
There will also be bug-themed face painting and a photo competition.
Background
Grand Challenges in Ecosystems and the Environment is an initiative of Imperial College London, which is based at Silwood Park and aims to carry out ground-breaking research with real-world impact on three themes: Sustainable food, water and health; Managing target species in complex ecosystems; Predicting and mitigating environmental change. GCEE promotes international collaborations and has received substantial investment from Imperial, including 13 new appointments and new infrastructure at Silwood Park.
Bugs! Day is the second annual outreach event to be hosted by GCEE at Silwood Park. The invertebrate themed outreach event will feature events such as building bug hotels, pond-dipping and bug hunts, there will also be a Bugs! photo competition and face-painting as well as some scientific exhibits.