INVERTEBRATE SPECIES IDENTIFICATION FOR PUBLIC ENQUIRIES
Volunteer Task outline
Summary of Task
Background
The Woodland Trust is a recognised authority on native woodland in the UK, many of our supporters
and other members of the general public send in photographs of invertebrates they do not recognise.
Whilst we cannot hope to be able to give an answer to all these queries, we attempt to identify them to
at least family, genera or species and provide links to further sources of information. This helps to
support people's interest and understanding of invertebrates and the habitats within which they live, and
their interest in the wider work of the Trust.
Most of these queries are submitted as e-mail with photographs attached, although sometimes just
descriptions are sent.
As well as these general enquiries, the Trust is carrying out a project to improve the efficiency of our
photo library. This will involve identifying invertebrates in the photographs used by the Trust, this is a
large project which involves thousands of photographs.
Task
Your role will involve utilising your invertebrate species identification (ID) skills, carrying out some
research to find information about any species you are uncertain of, and reporting your findings back.
You will be supporting both the Enquiries and Conservation teams by enabling them to respond to
enquiries efficiently and helping to maintain the interest of supporters and wider public in the work of
the Woodland Trust.
Additional to this, we will be asking for your expertise when identifying invertebrates in photographs
which the Trust currently have in the photo library, this will be an on going task, with more hours
available towards the beginning of the project. Eventually this will lead to a small regular number of
identifications as and when we have new photographs to add to the library.
Beneficiaries of the voluntary role
Public Enquiries Officer and Conservation team; Woodland Trust photo library; Woodland Trust
supporter development; The volunteer will utilise communication, research, interpretation skills and
learn a little more about the Trust's work.
Key Contact/s
Volunteer Manager
Volunteering Development Team
Public Enquiries Officer
Timescale
General enquiries:
We anticipate that this will be an intermittent but ongoing task as/when the images are received for
identification. To facilitate an efficient response to enquirers and supporters, you will be required to
turn around ID requests within 48 hours of receipt.
Photo Library:
These photographs will be fed to you over a long period of time (most likely months) whilst the project
carries on. After the initial tagging of photographs, the work load will decrease and change to
identification as we receive photographs for our library.
Location
Anywhere in UK with internet connection (remotely from home or office).
Equipment Required
Computer and broad band internet access, provided by volunteer
Experience Required/Desired
Good level of botanical identification skills in order to be able to recognise a range of native and nonnative invertebrates.
Knowledge of sources for ID research and information
Proficient IT user - photographs are sent in a variety of file types
Qualities Required
Accuracy, attention to detail and timeliness in response
Awareness of own knowledge limits
Confident, self starter able to manage tasks with minimal support
Key Duties
The Woodland Trust is running a project to increase the efficiency of our large photo library. This task
will involve our species ID volunteers assisting us to identify invertebrates throughout the photographs
in our library. To start with this task will require around 2 hours per week, after the majority of the
photographs have been identified, this work load will decrease. The volunteer will also support general
bird enquiries received by members of the public (no more than 1 hour per week).
The duties of the volunteer are as follows:

To receive the requests, normally in the form of a series of photographs, by e-mail from the
public enquiries team.
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To provide a response within 48 hours of receipt of e-mail, either identifying the subject (within
previously discussed limits) or recognising that the subject was unidentifiable.

For most queries the species name is required but for some the genus and/or cultivar is
acceptable where either the original material is not of high quality or there are too many
options in terms of hybrid varieties etc.

Keep a record of the hours you are involved with the task, a diary of activity sheet is provided
should you wish to use it (with your volunteer handbook). This allows us to measure and report
the valuable impact volunteering has on the work of the organisation.

Identify any risks that the task may pose to you personally and to discuss those risks with your
volunteer manager
Health & Safety
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The task needs to be carried out for a short duration each time with regular breaks.
Make sure your workstation and equipment are set at a safe, comfortable height and wires are safely
tucked away.
You will not be required to carry out any additional tasks without prior consultation with the
relevant Woodland Trust staff.
Expenses
It is unlikely this task will incur expenses. However if this should change, any items must be pre-agreed
with the task manager. Travel costs to agreed meetings with Woodland Trust staff will be reimbursed
at our standard mileage rate or the full cost of public transport.