Come along for a hands-on day of earthworm sampling and surveying with fellow nature enthusiasts! Join the Biological Recording Company on Friday 27 March for a sampling day at Paradise Fields, Greenford to collect earthworm specimens to contribute to ongoing ecological monitoring.
You’ll help search for and collect earthworm specimens, contributing valuable data to build a species list for the site. The Biological Recording Company survey methods include exploring different microhabitats and hand-sorting soil samples to gather specimens. Trained earthworm recorders with then identify the earthworms through this sampling. All records will be added to the National Earthworm Recording Scheme, helping to expand our understanding of these important soil creatures. No experience is necessary – just bring your curiosity and a keen eye for wildlife!
Earthworm Sampling Day Details
Location: Paradise Fields, Horsenden Hill, Perivale, England
Date: Friday, 27 March 2026 from 10 am to 4 pm
What will the day involve?
- Fieldwork experience in undertaking soil pit sampling surveys to assess soil-dwelling earthworm species.
- Hands-on experience of undertaking microhabitat searches to find above-ground earthworm species.
- Practical experience in collecting and preserving earthworm specimens.
- Recording environmental and ecological data required for the generation of earthworm species occurrence data.
- A chance to meet fellow like-minded people from a range of different disciplines.
Earthworm Specialist: Keiron Derek Brown
Keiron has been running the National Earthworm Recording Scheme since it was launched in 2014.
He has run over 100 earthworm training courses and events since 2014, covering a wide range of subjects including biology, ecology, surveying, identification and recording.
He is currently authoring a Provisional Earthworm Conservation Status Assessment for the UK on behalf of Natural England.
About Paradise Fields
The event will take place at Paradise Fields on Horsenden Hill in the London Borough of Ealing. This is the site which became nationally (and internationally) famous for hosting an enclosed beaver reintroduction, the first of its sort in the UK. In addition to its furry residents, Paradise Fields also boasts a variety of interesting habitats ranging from wet woodland to wildflower meadows with a rich invertebrate fauna to boot.
This event is a partnership of the Biological Recording Company with support from Ealing Wildlife Group, Earthworm Society of Britain and London Natural History Society as part of The Ealing Beaver Project. Find out more about the project here Beavers are back in Ealing.
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