Plant Atlas goes live!
The Plant Atlas 2020 project will be launched on 8th March. The new online Atlas will go live and there will be prominent links to the website, and to the summary reports, across the BSBI website. There are eight launches planned, kicking off with an online launch at 3pm on 8th March – everyone is welcome and here is the booking link. This will be followed by a series of face-to-face events across Britain and Ireland.
BSBI members can use the links on the password-protected members’ area of the BSBI website to find out more and to book for the launches happening in Edinburgh, Newcastle and Wales, and for the England online launch. Members can also benefit from the 50% discount offer if ordering print copies of the Atlas before the end of March. Any non-members joining BSBI before the end of March will also benefit from the discount offer.
There would be no Plant Atlas 2020 without all of you who have been out recording over the past 20 years; this project is a tribute to your dedication and commitment – THANK YOU!
Louise Marsh, BSBI Communications Officer
Plant Atlas online launch – call for questions
At our Plant Atlas launch on the 8th March there will be the opportunity for a Q&A. If you would like to submit any questions in advance on the Atlas 2020 project, the findings, the book or the online Atlas then please send them through to me.
James Harding-Morris, Countries Support Manager
Could you be a FISC Assessor?
BSBI is currently recruiting new FISC Assessors and providing training for those interested: are you interested in joining the team?
A FISC Assessor is a skilled botanist/ecologist at or above FISC Level 5, who is responsible for setting the FISC tests (including collecting suitable lab test specimens and identifying and checking out a suitable field test site), coordinating the FISC on the day, completing the marking and liaising with the BSBI for QA. Full training and ongoing support will be provided by BSBI. Our current training is a 90-minute online session; there are slots available on 10 March and 17 March and more are planned for later in the year. Please get in touch with me to find out more.
Chantal Helm, BSBI Training Co-ordinator
Recorders’ Meeting
Booking for the Recorders’ Meeting at FSC Preston Montford that runs from Friday 6 October to Sunday 8 October is now open. This meeting is aimed at anyone involved in botanical recording.
Jonathan Shanklin, Chair, Committee for England
2023 Wales Annual Meeting & AGM
The 2023 Wales Annual Meeting & AGM is being held at Gregynog Hall in Montgomeryshire from 2-4 August and has a wetlands theme. Please see the Wales AGM page for further information and the draft programme. The booking deadline for residential accommodation is 21 April 2023. Please contact me if you have any queries.
Gill Foulkes, Organising Secretary
BSBI Science Strategy
Work on a BSBI science strategy has now commenced with an internal BSBI workshop in Edinburgh on 26th January. This was facilitated by David O’Brien of NatureScot and was attended by a mixture of BSBI staff and committee members with scientific expertise. It was a very stimulating day and discussions helped to identify four high-level themes that will form the basis of the strategy. Once the note from the discussions have been assembled we plan to consult members and key partners over these themes.
Kevin Walker, BSBI Head of Science
Recordings from England Annual Meeting
Recordings of the talks given at the recent England Annual Meeting are now available on a playlist on the BSBI YouTube channel. There will also be synopses in English Botanical News, along with the AGM minutes.
Jonathan Shanklin, Chair, Committee for England
British & Irish Botany 5.1 published
The latest issue of our scientific journal is out now, and features eight papers, covering subjects ranging from how phytosociology informs the conservation of species-rich meadows in hydrologically dynamic habitats, to changes in the coastal flora of the Wirral peninsula, to achene dispersal in Centaurea. Read the summary here or go straight to the full issue here.
Louise Marsh & Ian Denholm, British & Irish Botany
Field Meetings 2023
Details of field meetings for 2023 are available via the field and indoor events page. There are clickable email links that allow you to book direct with the meeting organiser. There are 50 meetings planned for the year ahead so there will be something to appeal to every botanical recorder!
Jonathan Shanklin, Hon. Field Meetings Secretary
Conifer workshop
There are spaces still available on a Conifers workshop led by Mark Duffell on Saturday 11 March at Nesscliffe Hill, Shropshire. This is a joint meeting with the Wild Flower Society and a great opportunity to learn how to tell your Spruces from your Firs, or to separate your Cypresses. Please spread the word to any friends or colleagues who are keen to get started with conifer ID.
Louise Marsh, BSBI Communications Officer
Recorder eNewsletter
Recorder eNewsletter is aimed at all BSBI recorders, referees, members and supporters involved with recording. It has 460 subscribers and you can subscribe or view it on BSBI Recorder eNewsletter webpage. I’d welcome short contributions from anyone on topics of interest to fellow readers. Recorder eNewsletter is generally published at the beginning of each month so contributions should reach me at the beginning of the preceding week. I’d also be pleased to have feedback.
James Harding-Morris, Countries Support Manager