In the past people kept nature diaries and used inspiration from the natural environment to feed into hobbies, from embroidery to poetry writing.  This session will look at how you can create your own nature diary and record the countryside in creative and innovative ways. Led by Carolyn Holmes, Senior Curator (Natural Life), Leicestershire County Council (LCC).  Venue: Holly Hayes, Birstall.

The rocks of Charnwood Forest are internationally famous for containing some of the oldest fossils to have been found anywhere in the world.  This illustrated talk by Dr. John Carney from the British Geological Society will look at these fossils and discuss their origins. Venue: Holly Hayes, Birstall

If you are interested in getting a local history book/project published then this session is for you.  Local publisher Graham Stretton will share his knowledge together with Heritage Wardens who have experience of small scale publishing.   This is an interactive session with participants encouraged to discuss their own ideas and experiences. Venue: Holly Hayes, Birstall.

If you record animals or plants in Leicestershire and Rutland, you’ll find this an interesting and rewarding day.  You will also have the chance to meet other recorders. Venue: Rothley Centre, Rothley.

Chris Farmer from the Environment Agency will talk about  the return of the otter to the region. Venue: Holly Hayes, Birstall.

Have you ever struggled to decipher the squiggles and intricacies of handwriting of old documents?  This fully interactive session gives you some clues to get you going.  Suitable for beginners or for those with some experience - and FUN! Led by Dr. Margaret Bonney, Venue: Record Office, Long  Street, Wigston Magna.

An informal session to look at our common species of ladybird and how to learn the differences between them and a recent arrival, the Harlequin. Led by Anona Finch, Curator, Natural Life (Zoology), LCC. Venue: Collection Resources Centre, Barrow upon Soar

Andrew Heaton, County Recorder, will talk about the amphibians of Leicestershire and Rutland, their distribution, how they are faring and possible consequences of climate change.Venu: Holly Hayes, Birstall.

The conference provides an opportunity for local conservation and heritage enthusiasts to meet and see what others are doing. Venue: Broughton Astley Village Hall, Broughton Astley.

This session will show you how to use your free community website to present the work you have done as a heritage, archaeology or tree warden.  You will learn how to create and edit your own web pages on the Leicestershire Villages site and add items to promote local events. Venue: Open Space Centre, BBC Radio Leicester, Leicester.

An illustrated talk by Geoff Pursglove, Ashby Canal Project Officer, will cover the story of the Ashby Canal from its beginnings in the late 18th Century to the current restoration and the plans for the future. Venue: Holly Hayes, Birstall.

Try your hand at identifying woodland plants with Sue Timms, Senior Ecologist, LCC.Venue: Burbage/Sheepy Woods, Hinckley.

A walk back in time seeing the early canal, railway and the Grace Dieu Priory ruins. Led by Ernest Miller, Friends of Grace Dieu Priory. There will be a charge of £3 per person, payable on the day.  

This talk will provide tips on how to collect plants and focus on the different sorts of plant collections and techniques used to preserve them. Plant recording and data collection will also be looked at. Led by Dr. R.J. Gornall, Director of the University of Leicester Botanic Garden. Venue: Holly Hayes, Birstall.

Join local expert Maggie Frankum for an outdoor session to learn more about the world of these industrious insects and how to identify them. Venue: private site, Leicester.

Grassland habitats support a range of flower species. In this session learn how to identify some of our more common grassland flowers and grasses. Led by Sue Timms, Senior Ecologist, LCC. Venue: Kirby Frith, Local Nature Reserve, Leicester.

An opportunity to see how a wetland habitat is being created.  Led by Michael Jeeves, Head of Conservation at Leicestershire & Rutland Wildlife Trust (LRWT) Venue: Cossington Nature Reserve

A chance to look at the archaeology of a medieval Leicestershire village. The visit will look at the evidence on the ground for the medieval village, a medieval garden and mill. Led by Pete Liddle, Community Archaeologist, LCC.

An opportunity to hear about the latest heritage and natural history issues with people from across Leicestershire. Venue: County Hall, Glenfield.

The Hallaton Treasure is one of the most significant archaeological finds ever made in Leicestershire. Peter Liddle, LCC’s Community Archaeologist will talk about the project from  field walking through to the new museum displays at Harborough Museum. Venue: Holly Hayes, Birstall.

Join Baz Forgham at Cloud Wood for a guided butterfly walk to look at some of our local butterflies. Venue: Cloud Wood Nature Reserve, North West Leicestershire.

An indoor session on the grasshoppers and bush crickets of Leicestershire and Rutland and the sounds that they make. This will be followed by a walk in a field nearby to see the insects in their natural habitat and identify them by their songs. Led by Helen Ikin. Venue: Woodhouse Eaves area.

Many species of plants and animals have been introduced to the UK since Roman times. Several of these non-native species have thrived causing serious problems to the  environment of our own species. Dr. Phil Harding of the Environment Agency will give an overview of the more troublesome species affecting Leicestershire. Venue: Holly Hayes, Birstall.

Staff at the Record Office for Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland will show you how to interpret old maps, estate records and other local archives for countryside/landscape studies. Venue: Record Office, Long Street, Wigston Magna.

The session will look at both how to trap mammals and how to identify what we might catch. Participants will get a chance to observe and handle anything that we find. If we don’t catch anything we will look for signs of mammals. Led by Joe and Alyson Kirkwood. Venue: Moira area.

A day at Jewry Wall aimed at those who want to take an active part in finding Leicestershire and Rutland’s archaeology.  This will explain how to identify archaeological material and undertake surveys. Venue: Jewry Wall Museum, Leicester.

If you would like to start a study to record your own ancient parish boundary come and listen to the team who recorded Rothley Church Parish.  A great project if you enjoy the countryside and what it can tell us about the past. Led by Rothley Heritage Wardens Marion Vincent, Terry Shepherd & Brian Verity. Venue: Holly Hayes, Birstall.

This talk will illustrate the techniques you can use to investigate old houses, and the key things to look for, including building types and dating methods. Led by Nick Hill, who has been undertaking independent building research in Leicestershire for 25 years. Venue: Holly Hayes, Birstall.

An introduction to the families of tiny moths, whose larvae feed internally in leaves. Although not easily seen and often difficult to identify in the adult stage they are identifiable by the pattern of the mines left in the leaves by the larvae. Led by Anona Finch, Curator Natural Life, (Zoology), LCC.

Try your hand at identifying trees with Sue Timms, Senior Ecologist LCC. Venue: Beacon Hill Country Park.

An opportunity to learn and practice the skills needed to manage a traditional coppice. £10 per person British Trust fo Conservation Volunteers (BTCV) Certificate course. Contact Andy Jackson, Project Officer, Stepping Stones Project, LCC on 0116 305 7221 for booking.

A chance to visit the Collections Resources Centre at Barrow Upon Soar for a behind the scenes tour of Leicestershire County Council’s natural history collections. Venue: Collection Resources Centre, Barrow upon Soar.

Led by David Smith, this session will look at the variety of materials, types and forms of minor domestic buildings in Leicestershire.  Fieldwork research and looking at photographs and engravings as a way of developing a further insight into this area will also be looked at. Venue: Holly Hayes, Birstall.

Learn the skill of making hurdle fencing from hazel. £10 per person. BTCV certificate course.Contact Andy Jackson, Project Officer, Stepping Stones Project, LCC on 0116 305 7221 for booking.

Certificate hedge laying course for beginners. Run in partnership with BTCV and under the guidance of an expert instructor. Contact Andy Jackson, Project Officer, Stepping Stones Project, LCC on 0116 305 7221 for booking.