LOVERS of the smaller things in life are being invited to join a series of wildlife discovery courses to discover more about the fascinating world of insects.

Worcestershire Wildlife Trust is running a series of workshops to help people understand more about how to identify insects, the important role they play in our lives and how we can help them.

Each session is led by experts who guide participants through an indoor session before heading outdoors to put new-found knowledge into practice.

Sadie Carr Simons, who organises the courses, said: “If you want to know your bumblebee from your solitary bee or your fritillary from your skipper, we’ve got just the thing to help.

“Many of us are doing so much more to help wildlife in our gardens but we don’t know what’s turning up and making the most of our flowers.

"Our sessions to find out more about the insects that we share our space with are part of a whole series of courses to help people find out more about our natural world.

“Our informal and fun sessions are aimed at adults who’d like to know more about our wildlife, from a general introduction to which insect is which to more details sessions to help explain the differences between damselflies and dragonflies.”

Participants in Bees for Beginners on Saturday, May 25, will join county bee recorder Geoff Trevis and naturalist Wendy Carter to discover more about the lives of bees, how to recognise some of Worcestershire’s more common species and how they can be helped.

The course takes place at the trust’s offices at Lower Smite Farm, between Worcester and Droitwich Spa, where participants will be able to search for bees in the wildlife garden and amongst crops planted for pollinators.

From bugs to bees and butterflies to moths, on Saturday, June 22, at Ipsley Alders Marsh nature reserve in Redditch, naturalist Gary Farmer will help participants to identify the main insect groups.

Mel Mason of Butterfly Conservation will be leading the session on Saturday, July 13, at Old Hills near Malvern. Participants will have a chance to learn about the common and not so common butterflies to be spotted.

On Saturday, August 17, county dragonfly recorder Mike Averill will be explaining the beautiful and ferocious world of dragonflies and damselflies. After a session indoors, the group will visit two wildlife ponds at Lower Smite Farm to identify the aerial acrobats found there.

Sadie added: “We only have limited places available on each course so that all participants have a great experience with plenty of opportunities to ask questions.

“Each session is suitable for anyone who loves wildlife; knowledge or experience isn’t needed. It’s a great opportunity to visit some beautiful places, gain a new appreciation of the wildlife that lives there and to develop your own knowledge, skills and interest.”

Each course lasts for between three and five hours and costs £30. Bookings are essential and can be made at worcswildlifetrust.co.uk/whats-on.