The 2023 conference took place on Saturday 11th November at the Forest Centre, Marston Moretaine and was a great success. There were nearly 70 participants including sixth form students from Redborne Upper School, Ampthill. They had prepared a small display of some of the activities of the Environmental Group within the school. We would like to thank our hosts at the Forest Centre, Marston Moretaine for their support during the day and the lunch and refreshments which were appreciated by all.
Our speakers were:
Steve Cham: The changing life and times of Bedfordshire’s dragonflies.
Steve Brooks: Identifying mayflies and stoneflies in Bedfordshire.
Thom Dallimore: The mosquitoes of the UK and Bedfordshire – a guide to phobia and euphoria!
Peter Sutton: The aquatic bugs of Bedfordshire.
Kevin Rowley: Water beetles in Beds, Northants and Cambs.
Nina Birkby: Freshwater crustacea: natives and invaders
Peter Topley: Our freshwater molluscs
The proceedings were introduced and chaired by Wilf Powell.

Look out for a full Conference report in a forthcoming Bedfordshire Naturalist, journal of the BNHS.