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Has a new insect been discovered in south Bristol?

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Has a new insect been discovered in south Bristol?

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An insect as yet unknown to science could have been discovered on Bristol's last working farm.

The intriguing discovery took place following an entomology report at Yew Tree Farm, with details of the fly as yet unknown to science sent to experts in Germany in order to undertake more studies.

Specialists consulted in Germany and Russia have so far been unable to name the fly, with other insects found on the farm previously never been found before in the local area.

In his invertebrate survey of Yew Tree Farm, David Gibbs said that the discovery of a single male meromyza was of "considerable significance" as it "so far eludes identification".

"This very distinctive Chloropid fly, much darker than other members of the genus and with quite different genitalia, appears to be new for Britain. Further research needed to identify it is ongoing."

Yew Tree Farm owner Catherine Withers said that she is "thrilled" by the potential new insect being found on her land.

"I never thought we were still discovering new insect species in the UK so to potentially have one on our little farm in Bristol is beyond special," Catherine told Bristol24/7.

"What makes it even more unique is that we nearly lost this land to housing so this insect may have disappeared before it was ever noticed.

"I do hope all those in power help protect the farm from future threats so we can continue producing food and protecting our precious wildlife."

The farm in Bedminster Down remains remains vulnerable from housing, with an application recently submitted to make the land a Site of Nature Conservation Interest which would protect it further from development.
Main photo: Catherine Withers Read next: Listen to Catherine Withers on episode 71 of the Bristol24/7 Behind the Headlines podcast:

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Has a new insect been discovered in south Bristol?

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An insect as yet unknown to science could have been discovered on Bristol's last working farm. The intriguing discovery took place following an entomology report at Yew Tree Farm, with details of the fly as yet unknown to science sent to experts in Germany in order to undertake more studies.

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Free online course - Finding Employment - National  Autistic Society 

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Free online course - Finding Employment - National  Autistic Society 

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Our online module is designed to provide support for autistic jobseekers to find employment. You may find it useful if you are:

•    an autistic person looking for work
•    an autistic person who is about to start a new role
•    a teacher or parent who would like to support someone to find work
•    employment professionals supporting autistic people eg DWP Work Coaches

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Access our online course to find out more about the steps involved in applying for work, interviewing tips and starting a role. Our online training module is FREE to download thanks to our sponsors, The City Bridge Trust.

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If you’re aged 19 or over, you could access a level 3 qualification for free. This is part of the support available from the government to help you gain the skills you need to get the job you want - whatever your stage of life.

A level 3 qualification is equivalent to an advanced technical certificate or diploma, or A levels.

The qualifications could help you:

gain skills that employers value

improve your job prospects

earn a higher wage

If you’re eligible, you will not have to pay for your level 3 qualification. The government will pay the course fees.

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If you're aged 19 or over, you could access a level 3 qualification for free. This is part of the support available from the government to help you gain the skills you need to get the job you want - whatever your stage of life.

A level 3 qualification is equivalent to an advanced technical certificate or diploma, or A levels.

The qualifications could help you:

gain skills that employers value

improve your job prospects

earn a higher wage

If you're eligible, you will not have to pay for your level 3 qualification. The government will pay the course fees.

Courses available

Qualifications are currently available in:

accounting and finance

agriculture

building and construction

business management

childcare and early years

digital

engineering

environmental conservation

health and social care

horticulture and forestry

hospitality and catering

manufacturing technologies

mathematics and statistics

medicine and dentistry

public services

science

teaching and lecturing

transportation operations and maintenance

warehousing and distribution

Eligibility

You can get a free level 3 qualification if you:

are 19 or over and do not already have a level 3 qualification

already have a level 3 qualification or higher but earn below the National Living Wage annually (£18,525 from April 2022)

already have a level 3 qualification or higher but are unemployed

In some areas, there may be a slightly different low wage threshold. Check with your local training provider to find out the low wage threshold in your area.

How to apply

If you're eligible, you will not have to pay for your level 3 qualification. The government will pay the course fees.

1. Use the National Careers Service course finder to see which courses are available for free in your local area or online. You can set the distance you are willing to travel. Some of these qualifications are available to study online or part-time.

2. Contact the college or training provider. You can confirm they offer the qualification you're interested in, check the admissions criteria and apply for the course in the normal way.

3. If you're accepted onto the course, you will not have to pay a course fee. You may also be able to get help to pay for childcare, travel and other costs.

Alternatively, you can search for courses on your local college's or provider's website. You can view the full list of providers offering free places for level 3 qualifications.

Get help with careers and training

If you're 19 to 23 years old, you could also access additional qualifications for free. The National Careers Service offers free and impartial advice to help with decisions about careers, training courses and work.

If you are claiming Universal Credit, you can apply for one of these free courses, provided it will improve your chances of securing work. Many Universal Credit claimants can currently take full-time training for up to 16 weeks and continue to claim benefit. Your local Jobcentre Plus can offer further guidance about this and help to identify the learning that works for you.

If you're not eligible for this offer, Advanced Learner Loans are available to help you cover the costs of learning, which you pay back when you are earning over a certain amount.

You can also find out more about other learning opportunities and how the government is supporting you to gain skills for life, whatever stage of your career you are at.

Information for providers and employers

Training providers can view the full list of qualifications included in this offer by selecting 'Level 3 Free Courses for Jobs' in the qualifications search service.

Information is available for employers about training and employment schemes.

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If you're aged 19 or over, you could access a level 3 qualification for free. This is part of the support available from the government to help you gain the skills you need to get the job you want - whatever your stage of life.

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1. What is Autism Community Link Work?
2. How can I access support?

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Welcome to the Bristol Autism Spectrum Service Community Link Worker notice board. Have a look around and see what you think.

If you would like more information or a chat about how to get support to access these opportunities, our link workers would love to hear from you.

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Our Link Workers can support you to access social or community activities or resources in your local area. We can support people who feel socially isolated, low in confidence or self-esteem, or just want to try something new. This type of support is called Social Prescribing.

Social prescribing is a service that refers, signposts and links people to non-medical services and sources of support within their community. Its aim is to promote individuals’ wellbeing, increase social connections, encourage social inclusion and to promote self-care where appropriate. In turn, it is hoped that this will increase confidence and mood and decrease anxiety.

The underlining principle is that your hobbies, interests and purposes can be used as a way of connecting with others, who share similar views in life. The idea is meeting new like-minded people by engaging in activities that you are already tuned into, rather than going to more broad activities or groups where conversations can be harder to follow. Some people might choose not going to a pub group as they will find more difficult to mingle as there isn’t a specific activity to focus on and to talk about.

Re-taking an old hobby or interest can be a good idea too, as well as exploring that interest that you always thought about but never had the opportunity to try. If you are unsure about what your interests are, the social prescriber can help you identify new potential activities to try too.

What kinds of things could clients try? (and much more)

• Health and wellbeing, e.g. exercise or healthy eating groups

• Learning, such as academic learning, music, language, cooking etc.

• Sporting activities – participating or watching sporting events

• Support networks

• Social groups – such as film going, bowling, pub groups

• Faith activities

• Arts, such as drawing, painting, craft, photography, drama, music

• Working with nature, e.g. conservation projects

• Volunteering for a local organisation

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To access this support you can contact us via  email in the contact column, or call the BASS office 01275 796249 ​​​​​​​ and ask to speak to an Autism Community Link Worker.

We will be able to meet with you in person at our advice services, or somewhere in your community  that you may already feel comfortable eg Coffee shop/library.

Alternatively we can meet with you via video or telephone call.

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If you have any questions or would like more information, please contact us! Email:

General enquiries - awp.bass@nhs.net