Scottish Botanists’ Conference – last call
The 2021 Scottish Botanists’ Conference will be online on Saturday 6th November. As well as the keynotes on the plants of Beinn Eighe & Ben Lawers, we have shorter talks on a project to conserve Seagrass (Zostera) meadows which are important for carbon sequestration; on the effects of the Phytophthora pathogen on UK Juniper populations and on an expedition to Glen Affric in search of rare alpines. The day finishes off with two interesting workshops – an introduction to Larch ID and an introduction to Polypody ID.
For full programme details and to book visit Scottish Botanists’ Conference. Everyone is welcome, whether you are a BSBI member or not, so please forward details to interested friends and colleagues and to your local networks and groups.
Jim McIntosh, BSBI Scottish Officer
What's going on in your vice-county?
Have you recorded any interesting aliens this year? Any county firsts? Or do you have any observations about how the flora in your VC is changing and why that might be? Your fellow botanists across Britain and Ireland want to hear about your plant finds, so please consider offering an exhibit at this year's BSBI Annual Exhibition Meeting on 19th-20th November. You can register as an exhibitor here and we can help you if you've never produced an exhibit before. Or just email me (address below) if you have an idea but aren't sure if it would make an interesting exhibit.
For full programme details and to book visit BSBI Annual Exhibition Meeting.
Louise Marsh, BSBI Communications Officer
MapMate
As we approach the end of the field season, would County Recorders please remember to do their annual reset sync once fully up to date with data entry for 2021. Open MapMate and click Replicator > Special > Reset Sync Record and create and send a sync file that includes all your 2021 records to the BSBI Database (DDb). If successful you should get a confirmation email from the DDb.
This would also be a good time for all MapMate users to back-up their MapMate database. Ideally you should back-up after every data entry session. The best way is to copy your entire “My MapMate” folder onto an external drive (e.g., a pen drive). From time to time I get requests for help where there was no recent back-up and that can entail tears and a lot of data re-entry. Sorry to nag!
Jim McIntosh, BSBI Senior Country Officer
BSBI Database
Once County Recorders have sent their MapMate records for 2021 to the DDb it is worth checking that the number shown in the database is what you were expecting for your vice-county. Use this query a day or so after sending your synch file to the DDb to check.
Jim McIntosh, BSBI Senior Country Officer
Broad-leaved Pondweeds
Aquatic plant expert, Nick Stewart presented his Introduction to Broad-leaved Pondweed webinar last week. It got great feedback from those who watched it live and a recording is available to view by clicking the link. It was the last event in the Aquatic Plant Project programme for 2021. Thanks to Nick, the National Parks & Wildlife Services (NPWS) and everyone else who was involved.
Sarah Pierce, Ireland Officer
BSBI Dandelion Handbook
We've received hundreds of pre-orders from BSBI members for the latest in the series of BSBI Handbooks! The Field Handbook to British and Irish Dandelions by John Richards has now been published; 200 copies were sent out last week and there's a second batch going out tomorrow. Our members-only offer (30% off the RRP) is open until 15th November so it's not too late for you to order your copy. Don't miss out!
Louise Marsh, BSBI Communications Officer
Scottish HectAd Rare Plant Project
Thank you to everyone who has fed-back on the Scottish HectAd Rare Plant Project. As the deadline for responses isn’t until the end of November, there is still time to complete the SHARP Project feedback survey if you haven’t done so already! We’d like to hear from all Scottish botanists.
Jim McIntosh, BSBI Scotland Officer
Rare Plant Project in Ireland
Thank you to everyone who has fed-back on the Rare Plant Project in Ireland. As the deadline for responses isn’t until the end of November, there is still time to complete the RPPI Project feedback survey if you haven’t done so already! We’d like to hear from all Irish botanists.
Jim McIntosh, BSBI Scotland Officer