Dipterist Forum Summer Field Meeting 2026

The Dipterist Forum (DF) 2026 summer field meeting will be based at Cannington College near Bridgwater, Somerset, from 11^th–18^th July. Attendees spend their days in the field collecting and observing flies. Attendees are encouraged to bring a microscope. We set ourselves up in a work room or “laboratory” where we can spend wet days and evenings identifying catches alongside other dipterists. Beginners are made very welcome and can gain valuable knowledge from more experienced members. Bursaries are offered to reduce the cost of attending and the deadline for applications for the Summer Field Meeting is 31st March 2026. Please contact enquiries@dipterists.org.uk. You need to be a member of the DF to apply for a bursary but this process is cheap (£8-£12 per annum),  easy - see the Help tag in the menu on this website and provides an outstanding information source for budding dipterists and those more experienced too.

Somerset has a huge amount to offer, with a wide range of different habitats (see photos in the previous edition of the Bulletin, no. 100). The Somerset Levels are internationally important wetlands supporting specialised freshwater wildlife. In recent years, there has been considerable conservation activity to ‘improve’ these habitats, including rewetting, rewilding and deep trench or deep cell bunding, a technique to slow the lateral movement of water by creating watertight cells in the peat. In addition to freshwater wetlands, there are saltmarshes, dunes and intertidal habitats on the North Somerset coast. Upland areas are also available. The Mendip hills include the Ebbor Gorge NNR, a steep limestone valley containing ancient woodland, and the Quantocks feature a number of acid mires. In 2022, the Somerset Wetlands NNR was established as one of the first ‘super’ NNRs, a landscape-scale designation that connects existing NNRs. From the marshes and fens of the Somerset Levels it runs north to join with the coastal habitats of WWT Steart Marshes and the Bridgwater Bay NNR, in a collaboration between seven conservation agencies

We have reserved 25 en-suite single rooms and 2 en-suite double rooms as a minimum; more rooms are available. The package includes breakfast and dinner as a group in the college restaurant. Unfortunately, there is no option for B&B only. Please let us know at the time of booking if you have special dietary requirements or have special access requirements, e.g. for a ground floor room. The rooms, catering facilities and the workroom are all conveniently located centrally on the campus. There is also a communal room with a bar which can be opened at suitable times in the evenings. Facilities include free Wi-Fi, free on-site parking and a laundry

The cost of attendance is £609.00 for 7 nights DB&B, which works out at £87 per day. For two people sharing a double room, the cost per room will be £1029.00 or £147 per day. Any DF members who are local to the area and would like to attend field days will be very welcome to join us and should contact the Meeting Organiser. We will start taking bookings from 1^st January 2026. To book a place on the meeting a deposit of £100 is required, with the remaining amount payable by the end of May. The preferred method for payment of your deposit is by bank transfer using the following details: 

Dipterists Forum

NatWest Bank

Sort code 60-60-08

Account no. 48054615

Please add your name to the payment reference AND send an email (including any special dietary or access requirements) to both the Treasurer (Phil Brighton, helophilus@hotmail.co.uk) and the Meeting Organiser (Mike Ashworth). If booking a double room, please let us know who will be sharing your room!

Meeting Organiser, Mike Ashworth