Field Studies Council

Did you know that dragonflies spend most of their lives hidden underwater? After hatching from eggs, they live as larvae for months or even years, hunting prey with a powerful extendable jaw. When conditions are right, they climb out of the water and emerge as adults, leaving their cast skin behind. This dramatic transformation skips a pupal stage entirely. Adult dragonflies live for just weeks, making each sighting a brief glimpse of an extraordinary life cycle. If you’ve seen a dragonfly please share it with us to collate helpful data on our #SignsofSpring survey: buff.ly/wv9VkTR

⛰️ Today’s the day! David is now officially setting off on the West Highland Way, his first multi‑day trek and his first backpacking adventure. Keep an eye on socials for his updates! From Milngavie to Fort William, he’ll cover 96 miles of stunning landscapes, tough climbs, and unforgettable moments, all to raise funds for outdoor learning. “Here goes! Thank you for every bit of encouragement so far — it means everything. I’ve got a relatively mild 11-mile day to begin with. That should get me warmed up nicely for the challenges ahead. I keep telling myself this first step is the hardest one but I’m not sure I’ll believe that after a few days on the trail!” Follow along for updates and support David here: buff.ly/4tfa5n3

Applications are now open for our 2026 Young Darwin Scholarship! 🥳 🍃 If you’re aged 16–25, you could take part in a heavily subsidised environmental experience - choose from ecology camp, conservation with John Muir, snorkelling for marine biology and more. 100% of last year’s scholars would recommend it 🙌 Find out more and apply by 27th May 2026: buff.ly/CgE2pqh #YoungDarwinScholarship

You can sponsor David here: buff.ly/4tfa5n3

David is just one week away from stepping onto the West Highland Way. His first multi day trek and wild camping adventure. David told us he’s checking gear, planning miles, and building excitement for a journey that will take him through some of the UK’s most stunning (and demanding!) landscapes. “I put my camping setup through its paces, and the tent was still standing in the morning! I’m trying to be eco-friendly and buy as much second-hand gear as possible, but you don’t know what it’ll be like till it arrives. My pack weight is at 14kg as ultralight gear is out of my budget, so it’ll be quite a slog, but I’ll just take my time and make sure I get it done!” 👏 Drop a message of support for our incredible challenger!

What does meaningful learning look like in practice? Our Theory of Change explains the role of high quality outdoor experiences in creating meaningful learning across Field Studies Council courses. Every Field Studies Council experience works towards three core skills, built by seven experience outcomes that underpin all our delivery across the organisation. This short animation begins to tell the story. Through all our delivery we aim to build connection to and understanding of nature and landscape. The natural world is a living classroom that sparks curiosity and wonder. By guiding observation and discussion, our education team transforms a simple walk into a powerful lesson about interdependence and environmental change. Connection to nature and landscape is one of the three core skills developed by our outdoor learning experiences. To find out more about our approach to learning please visit our website: buff.ly/DbenShC

Celebrate nature this May with our free Natural History Live webinars 🌿 In the lead-up to International Day for Biological Diversity, we’re bringing together a series of expert-led talks exploring the species, habitats and recording work that underpin biodiversity across the UK. 🪲 From conservation projects to practical recording insights, our Natural History Live sessions are designed for anyone looking to widen their ecological knowledge. 🐝 Explore the full programme and book your place: buff.ly/hEUHstv #Nature #Wildlife #Ecology #GardenWildlife

An apprenticeship is often the first step in a much bigger journey. At the Field Studies Council, many of our colleagues begin as Trainee Tutors and go on to build long, meaningful careers in outdoor learning, education and environmental engagement.  In this final part of our Apprenticeship Series, we spoke with Ana, who started as a Trainee Tutor and has since progressed through the organisation to her current role as a Regional Senior Tutor. Read her story to discover how far an apprenticeship can take you — and the skills that stay with you along the way: buff.ly/PnuzJOA

🌊 Free CPD opportunity for teachers Join us on a river‑based adventure learning day on the River Severn in Shropshire! This day offers the chance to explore how outdoor challenge can build confidence, resilience and wellbeing, all guided by our experienced tutors. Spend the day learning, reflecting and connecting with other educators. ✅ Free to attend ✅ Practical, inspiring and classroom‑relevant ✅A great day out paddling! 👉 Book your place today: buff.ly/mKo6Gh0 #CPD #Canoeing

Last chance to save on this month’s WildID guide bundles. 🦋 Choose from: 🐝 Insects - bees, butterflies, ladybirds 🍃 Plants - trees, wayside plants, urban plants 🐾 Animals - land mammals, bats, amphibians and reptiles These trusted fold-out guides are perfect for learning, surveying and exploring in the field. Shop the sale before it ends: buff.ly/ywmcXm2

After the success of Sunday, we are delighted to share we have secured a place in the TCS London Marathon 2027 supporting the Field Studies Council. Would you be interested in running 26.2 miles through London in the world's most iconic marathon on Sunday 25th April? Can you commit to fundraising a minimum of £2,500 and helping more young people access outdoor learning opportunities? If so, please follow the link and register your interest. Applications will be subject to a selection process, the deadline for applications is Friday 29th May. There's more information in the document - please read it first before signing up. buff.ly/6YAkSj4

Bats have morphologically adapted to make echolocation as efficient and effective as possible, and that’s why you see features such as large ears and noses 👂🦇 Through the use of special equipment, you can identify a bat based on its high-frequency echolocation calls. 🔊 You can learn how to do this with our webinars and courses: buff.ly/9x1awfI #Bats #Ecology #BatDetector

Timber. Barrels. Big ideas. When your pupils gather around a raft‑building challenge on a +Adventure residential, teamwork comes to life. Roles emerge, ideas are tested and every voice counts as the group works towards a shared goal. With our expert guidance, your pupils learn to trust one another, adapt plans and succeed together - even when things don’t go to plan. Explore exciting, purposeful, adventure in inspiring natural settings, now with 15% off. buff.ly/x1918mS

We were honoured to welcome Her Royal Highness The Princess Royal to Millport today. She met staff, partners and students, explored our classrooms, labs, and research vessel, and saw first-hand the impact of our marine science and outdoor learning. A truly proud and inspiring day for all involved. @RoyalFamily

He did it! Sam crossed the finish line of the world famous London Marathon, marking a huge milestone in his fundraising journey — and proving that even tired legs can carry a powerful purpose. Over the past few weeks, Sam has: 🏅 Taken on the Manchester Marathon 🏅 Now conquered the world famous London Marathon 🏅 Raised vital funds to open up nature learning for children and young people Sam says: “Crossing this finish line felt special. Thank you to everyone who’s supported me so far.” With two major events behind him including one of the most significant races on the running calendar, Sam now turns his focus to the final challenge ahead: 💪 the Birmingham Half Marathon, coming up soon. Good luck for the next challenge Sam, but a HUGE well done and thank from us all at Field Studies Council You can sponsor Sams amazing challenge here: buff.ly/QL2RLcq

Learn how to identify UK spiders with this beginner friendly course. Useful resources, live webinars with an expert, and flexible online learning. 🕷️ Plus, if you're a student, get 20% off using code 'BioStudent. 🗓️ Starting on the 19th May 2026. Sign up today: buff.ly/z2zAHME

🌿 Big adventures begin with quality time together 🌿 This year, our Family Nature Holidays are all hosted at Rhyd y Creuau in Eryri, Snowdonia – the perfect base for exploring mountains, rivers, woodlands and wildlife as a family. From discovering what lies beneath the water in streams and lakes, to exploring the woodlands and taking part in outdoor challenges, every day is an opportunity to connect with nature and each other. Our holidays offer you the chance to fully immerse yourself in the great outdoors and embrace the natural world. These breaks are packed with nature-based activities that the whole family can enjoy. Book your place and we'll do the rest. Accommodation, food and activities are all included so you can focus on spending quality time together in the great outdoors.🌿 👉 Find out more: buff.ly/XwODFrx

Last week’s challenge for Sam was a tough one, but he conquered Manchester Marathon in a fantastic time of 4hrs 5minutes. But he’s facing another marathon already! Tired legs, little recovery time, and big questions hanging in the air: Will his legs hold out for a second marathon in 2 weeks?! Can he beat last week’s time? We will find out soon, as Sam faces the second event in his trio of fundraising challenges and will be running with grit, determination, and a clear purpose driving every single mile. The London Marathon is one of the world’s most prestigious races and crossing that finish line will mark a huge milestone in Sam’s journey. It’s one of a series of challenges he’s taking on to help more young people access the outdoor learning opportunities they deserve. Let’s keep cheering him on as he pushes towards the last finish line of his inspiring fundraising mission. You can follow his progress live and send messages of encouragement through the TCS London Marathon 2026 app. Download here: buff.ly/r3CMwrR and search for bib number 33347.

🦋 Why are butterflies so important? Our butterfly species are a really useful indicator of a healthy ecosystem. If they are thriving it means an area will also be rich in other invertebrates, which provide environmental benefits like pollination. With drastic changes to habitats and climate, our butterflies are finding it hard to keep up - more than half of the butterfly species in the UK are in a long-term decline. Add your sightings to the Signs of Spring survey to help us monitor changes over time. Have you seen a butterfly yet this spring? Share it here: buff.ly/cufo9sm #SignsofSpring

Invertebrates make up the vast majority of animal life on Earth, yet most of them pass unnoticed beneath our feet, in hedgerows, gardens, and even our homes. Macrophotography offers a way to slow down, look closer, and reveal extraordinary detail in creatures we rarely truly see. 🐞 🐜 🪲 Join our webinar coming up on Tuesday to learn: 📸 Digital macrophotography techniques 📸 Tips on how to control your subject 📸 Options for lighting the subject 📸 Hand-held camera techniques 📸 Processing the image, inc. focus stacking. Just £10 to join, book today to secure your place: buff.ly/ld569Nc Photos by Paul Richards #Macrophotography