Field meetings and indoor events

This will be a day learning fern ID. It is aimed at the Dryopteris affinis group, but we will look at all ferns. We will visit more than one site, and it should be fairly level walking. Location to be confirmed. Email Paul Green for more information and joining details.

Wallasea Island lies more or less at sea-level at the confluence of the Rivers Crouch and Roach. It was formerly a site of intensive agriculture, but under the management of the RSPB and with the deposition of vast amounts of substrate from the Crossrail excavations, it is being transformed. A range of habitats is being created over several square kilometres, and coastal realignment is taking place, with the removal of a section of seawall. This is allowing the development of an extensive transitional intertidal zone, a rare thing in Essex where transitional zones are usually prevented from developing by the presence of seawalls.

Our visit is timed to fall between the sensitive bird breeding and wintering seasons, and is optimal for many of the late-growing coastal plants of the region in particular the Chenopodiaceae. The habitats are continuing to mature, and, because of the site’s location and recent history, we should expect the unexpected.

This is a day-long meeting. Access to the site is really only possible by road. The site is quite isolated, with no nearby shops or hostelries, so please bring everything that you will need for the day. There is a portable toilet located at the carpark. The terrain is moderate. It is largely flat, but we will encounter steep-sided seawalls, borrowdykes and ditches, and the intertidal zone may be uneven or muddy.

The purpose of this meeting is to acquaint participants with some of the up-and-coming, as well as the long-established weeds, of urban Ireland. As a transport hub with a mainline railway, both used and disused canals, and a port area developed for recreation, it has a rich urban flora, including Potamogeton trichoides (Hairlike Pondweed) at its first confirmed Irish site, Galinsoga quadriradiata (Shaggy-soldier) and two species of Erigeron (Fleabanes). Our aim will be to refind and quantify some of the less common species and foster interest in a sometimes neglected aspect of the Irish flora.

Meet in car park at Newry Railway Station (Grid Ref J069279) at 11.00 am. Please let John know what time you will arriving and whether you will be travelling by train or car. Packed lunch advised!

This residential meeting is aimed at all BSBI members, especially County Recorders and referees, who make botanical records. There will be a mix of talks, walks and workshops, with plenty of time for general discussion.

More information to follow on the Recorders' Conferences & Meetings webpage.

Scotland's leading botanical event of the year features talks on plant taxonomy, a year in the life of a conservation botanist, and how to get the most out of the Plant Atlas; workshops on willow-herbs and montane willows; exhibits, networking, the results of the BSBI Photographic Competition and more! To view the programme and book your space, please visit the Scottish Botanists' Conference webpage.

Our biggest indoor event of the year features a full day of talks on urban botany, research on rare plants and resources for botanists; exhibits, posters, a quiz and flash talks; a demo by Prof John Richards, BSBI Referee for Dandelions; a behind-the-scenes tour of the Natural History Society of Northumbria's archive; Summerfield Books pop-up shop and more! Free to attend, free for exhibitors. More details, programme & booking link here..

Our Winter Talks take place at 7.30pm on a Wednesday of each month from December to March on Zoom.

Rebecca Hilgenhof, Postgraduate Programme Coordinator at Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh, has spent the past 4 years constructing an online multi-access identification key to the mega-diverse genus Solanum (1,242 spp. total) of the nightshade (Solanaceae) family using the software Xper3. The key currently covers over 60% (572 spp.) of species including all non-spiny species and crop wild relatives of the cultivated tomato and potato along with spiny species from Africa and Asia, which includes the cultivated eggplant. Each of the 52 morphological character (incl. geography) assessed in the Solanum key and their states are explained in written and with photographic plates making the key user-friendly for expert and non-expert users.

Book now

The fifth England Annual Meeting and AGM will be an afternoon Zoom meeting. In addition to a short AGM, there will be a mix of short talks, a keynote talk by Daisuke Kurose (CABI) on the biological control of invasive plant species and the Chair’s address on “Where and what do I record?” – which will cover more than plants. More info here: England Annual Meeting.

Our Winter Talks take place at 7.30pm on the first Wednesday of each month from December to March on Zoom.

Owen Mountford is responsible for the Fenland Flora Project and works for the UK Centre for Ecology & Hydrology. More on the Fenland Flora Project including annual updates can be found here.

This is a new one-day workshop for anyone engaged in or considering working on a training event. This could be running or assisting with a beginners’ or specialist workshop, leading a field meeting at local or national level, giving a talk to non-botanists, acting as an Identiplant tutor, and so on. As well as an introduction to the psychology of learning, there will be plenty of opportunities for participants to assess different styles of teaching, try their hand at planning workshop programmes, hone their communication skills, and find out how their own voice comes across in real-life training situations. No charge, but places are limited, so booking is essential.

We will be aiming to record regional rarities in this important, but increasingly degraded, series of ancient woodlands. Several of our target species, such as Melampyrum pratense (Common Cow-wheat), Achillea ptarmica (Sneezewort), Carex pulicaris (Flea Sedge), Eleocharis acicularis (Needle Spike-rush), Genista anglica (Petty Whin) and Pedicularis sylvatica (Lousewort) are now restricted to a very small number of highly fragmented populations and may become regionally extinct in the near future. This meeting is suitable for beginners and for more experienced botanists. Please bring a packed lunch.

Meet at 11:00am outside the Water's Edge Pub, Reservoir Road, Ruislip Common (TQ08648919).

This residential meeting is aimed at all members who would like to progress to making botanical records, and to existing recorders, VCRs and referees who will support them. There will be a mix of talks, walks and workshops, with plenty of time for general discussion. More info and a booking link here.

This will be a walk to see the spring flora of this extensive area of dunes which stretch for over 8 km. There is a good mixture of tiny annuals to see such as Cerastium semidecandrum (Little Mouse-ear) and Myosotis ramosissima (Early Forget-me-not). Small perennials include Viola canina (Heath Dog-violet), and the endemic Rumex acetosa subsp. hibernicus (Irish Sorrel). These dunes hold the largest population of Asparagus prostratus (Wild Asparagus) in Ireland. We should also see Erodium lebelii (Sticky Stork's-bill).

Meet at 10:00am at the public car park on the sea front at Kilmore Quay (S965031).

Tramore dunes are located on a long spit reaching across the bay between Brownstown Head to the east side and the Metalman to the west. They are some of the tallest fixed dunes in Ireland and are backed by saltmarsh to the north. We plan on walking the dunes in the hope of seeing some rarities including Vicia lathyroides (Spring Vetch), Viola canina (Heath Dog-violet) and Vulpia fasciculata (Dune Fescue). Other species we are likely to see include Ononis repens (Common Restharrow), Cakile maritima (Sea Rocket), Anacamptis pyramidalis (Pyramidal Orchid) and Salsola kali (Saltwort).

This may be a long walk as the dunes are 3 km long from the parking spot to the tip of the spit. Please bring sturdy boots, a packed lunch, water, suitable clothing (hat, waterproofs etc.) and a hand lens.

Meet at 10:30am at car park at Tramore Beach, on the spit (S5949601021).

This trip will explore Abbeyleix Estate Oak wood. These woods have been described as the finest and largest remnant of lowland old Oak woods left in Ireland and the display of bluebells will be spectacular! We will get the opportunity to visit the oldest Oak tree in Ireland, reputedly 700 years old, and see many other veteran Oaks. We will also investigate some patches of Hazel woodland and wetter woodland areas where the River Nore flows through the estate.

This is a private estate but we have been granted permission to arrange a visit. There will be some additional details needed to gain entry to the estate, so booking is essential. Dress for the weather. Bring a packed lunch.

This meeting will explore some Burren flora found in this area including Helianthemum oelandicum (Hoary Rock-rose), Gentiana verna (Spring Gentian), Arenaria norvegica (Arctic Sandwort) and other Burren specialities. Booking is essential as numbers will be limited.

Starts 11.00am - contact Phoebe O'Brien for meeting location.

Joint with the London Natural History Society

Historically, Hounslow Heath was one of the most species rich lowland heaths in England. Species such as Damasonium alisma (Starwort) and Mentha pulegium (Pennyroyal) are long extinct. Recent habitat restoration work has saved the remaining species from extinction but they remain highly threatened. We will be aiming to record species such as Betonica officinalis (Betony), Calluna vulgaris (Heather), Danthonia decumbens (Heath-grass), Logfia [Filago] minima and Filago germanica [vulgaris] (Small and Common Cudweed), Genista tinctoria and G. anglica (Dyer's Greenweed and Petty Whin), Trifolium subterraneaum (Subterranean Clover) and Ulex minor (Dwarf Gorse), most of which are restricted to fewer than 5 sites across Greater London. This meeting is suitable for beginners and for more experienced botanists. Please bring a packed lunch.

Meet at 11:00am on the corner of Simpson Road and Hanworth Road, Hounslow Heath Open Space, Hounslow (TQ12927400).

The Isle of Wight has a diverse and spectacular flora that includes an impressive assemblage of scarce and rare native plants as well as interesting aliens. During this weekend meeting we hope to see an exciting range of the Island’s flora across different habitats.

Our first day will focus on the west side of the Island, where we will explore the flora of unimproved chalk downland and chalk costal cliffs around Freshwater Bay. The meeting is timed to enable us to see many of the Island’s specialities associated with these habitats such as Gentianella anglica subsp. anglica (Early Gentian), Lobularia maritima (Sweet Alison), Matthiola incana (Hoary Stock), Orobanche picridis (Oxtongue Broomrape) and Pilosella peleteriana subsp. peleteriana (Shaggy Mouse-ear-hawkweed). The second day will concentrate on sites in the east of the Island. We intend to visit the rich dune grassland of St Helen’s Duver where, if the season is conducive, we shall see a rich array of Trifolium species including Trifolium suffocatum (Suffocated Clover) and a good selection of dune grasses. In addition, we will explore the coastal cliff top grasslands around Sandown that are home to specialities such as Phelipanche purpurea (Yarrow Broomrape) and Silene nutans (Nottingham Catchfly). There may be opportunities to see other rarities for which the Island’s flora is famous, such as Melampyrum arvense (Field Cow-wheat) and Fumaria reuteri (Martin’s Ramping-fumitory). However, please note, we will be too early in the season to visit the site for Clinopodium menthifolium (Wood Calamint).

Meet on Saturday in the (free) National Trust carpark on Afton Down, east of Freshwater (SZ351856) at 11:00am.

Booking is essential and numbers are limited to 20. Participants will need to organise their own accommodation but there is plenty of accommodation available on the Island, although early booking is probably worthwhile. Red Funnel, who sail from Southampton, do car ferry/accommodation deals. Car sharing should be possible and is encouraged where parking is limited.

Tarn Moor is a rich botanical site on the Orton limestones of Westmorland and is a mosaic of base-rich and acidic areas. More than 25 different species of Carex have been recorded here with Carex capillaris (Hair Sedge), C. diandra (Lesser Tussock-sedge), C. dioica (Dioecious Sedge), C. elata (Tufted Sedge) and C. hostiana (Tawny Sedge) probably the pick of the bunch. There are also numerous non-Carex sedges and records for 3 Carex hybrids, two of which we should certainly see. Many other attractive species, including Primula farinosa (Bird’s-eye Primrose) and a fine array of orchids, are frequent and should be at their best in early June. If time allows we will also look at some drier limestone grassland near the village of Orton where C. ornithopoda (Bird‘s-foot Sedge) grows.

All sedge enthusiasts are welcome, whether experienced or not, but numbers will be limited to 15 to minimise damage to fragile habitats. This is a repeat of the overbooked 2023 meeting and priority will be given to those who could not be accommodated last time.

This will be a full day meeting so please bring a packed lunch. The distance covered will not be great, 5 or 6 kilometres, but parts will be very wet so wellies or waterproof boots are essential. Although Tarn Moor can be idyllic at this time of year please come prepared for less clement conditions. There are no facilities at Tarn Moor but later in the day we will visit Orton which has a shop, cafes and toilets.

The aim of this botany walk will be to identify as many different species of grasses (Poaceae) as possible, taking advantage of the variety of habitats encountered on the way. This is an ideal day to practice knowledge of grass identification and observe a variety of floral and vegetative characters.

The walk will follow the coastal path on rights of way and there will be full consideration of the conservation value of the habitats visited. Last year we observed nearly 50 taxa of Poaceae, including a range of common grasses, seaside species and rarer taxa such as Koeleria macrantha (Crested Hair-grass), Bromopsis inermis (Hungarian Brome), and Anisantha madritensis (Compact Brome).

All grass enthusiasts welcome, however complete beginners at grass identification should expect a steep learning curve. Numbers limited to 20. All participants come at their own risk. The distance is about 3.5 miles but expect to walk more including some steep coastal slopes. Meeting 10:00am on Marske-by-the-Sea main square by the roundabout (Marske-by-the-Sea TS11 7LD, NZ63472228) with a chance to use the public toilets, shops and cafes, for a prompt departure at 10:15am. Please bring packed lunch and drinking water as we will not be arriving into Saltburn-by-the-Sea until later in the afternoon. Saltburn has public toilets, shops, etc. as well as trains and bus services to get you back to Marske.

Primarily this is to see dune succession and the related flora which occurs as the dunes change from the beach to the land. Also, to see the unique Great Slack and how it is formed, an area stretching behind the dunes which is freshwater in winter and dry in summer. This meeting is ideal for beginners using the Pocket Wildflower Guides to Wildflowers and to Grasses and to improvers as there is a rich dune and saltmarsh flora. There are also some very rare and scarce species to be seen for some more detailed identification. There is no difficult terrain, just sand dunes and grassland. Entry to carpark is £2. There are good toilets, picnic benches and a snack shack.

The purpose of this meeting is to record an NPMS square, visit different habitats on the island, record SHARPP species, and enjoy the island, especially on midsummer's eve. The group is staying at the self-catering Millhouse hostel, which has room for 10-12 people, but is already fully booked. Additional people can join the meeting, but they will need to arrange their own accommodation. We will eat at the hostel on some evenings, but the organiser is hoping to arrange some evening meals at local cafes and fish & chip van one night! There may be an opportunity to share travel on the ferry to reduce costs.

Please note, hostel accommodation for this meeting is now fully booked.

Joint with the London Natural History Society

This is a return visit to cover the remaining areas of this large site that we were unable to see last year. Syon Park has the last remaining extensive stretch of semi-natural and un-embanked landscape adjoining the Thames in Greater London. We aim to record the flora in this important landscape and rediscover, hopefully, some lost treasures such as Sium latifolium (Greater Water-parsnip), Cyperus longus (Galingale), Mentha pulegium (Pennyroyal) and Persicaria mitis (Tasteless Water-pepper). Please note, the terrain is unlikely to be easy going and may be flooded depending upon the tide. If this the case, we will focus on exploring other areas of the park. This meeting is suitable for beginners and for more experienced botanists. Please bring a packed lunch.

Meet at 11:00am in front of All Saint's Church, Church Street, Isleworth (TQ16787605) on the Thames Path route.

We will explore the Lough Talt area where several uncommon species occur in lakeside fen and on the slopes of Crummus mountain. Target species will include Marsh and Butterfly Orchids, Eriophorum latifolium (Broad-leaved Cottongrass) and some aquatics. It will be flat walking across marshy ground in places. Please bring a packed lunch and appropriate gear.

Meet on both days at 10:30am to start at 11:00am at the parking area at the south east end of Lough Talt G402145 (signed off the Ballina to Tubercurry road R294).

This meeting offers an opportunity to develop skills in bramble identification for anyone who has started to explore this neglected group. A brief indoor session on Saturday morning will show us specimens of some species we are likely to encounter and characters helpful for their identification. We will then try out our skills in places nearby. On Sunday we will quickly refresh the id characters and visit other areas to extend the range of brambles seen and contribute to a better understanding of the groups presence in Dumfriesshire. Angus Hannah, Bramble Referee for Scotland will lead the sessions.

The 2024 Wales Annual Meeting exhibition and AGM will be based at Swansea University, Bay campus, South Wales, SA1 8EN.

The theme will be brown field and coal spoil habitats, otherwise known as open mosaic habitat on previously developed land. Or perhaps in the old days and less generously – ‘wasteland’. Some of the most diverse habitat, currently, and not just for flowering plants – invertebrate and fungi diversity is often high at many sites.

A preliminary programme is available here. Further details will be sent to participants prior to the event.

Booking and online payment are possible via the Wales Annual Meeting & AGM webpage, with an (extended)  deadline of 20th May.

This field meeting will explore areas of coastal habitat in the Glassilaun/Lettergesh areas of north Connemara. The main habitats occurring are sand dune, coastal heath and acid grassland which combine to produce a species-rich flora. Among the more unusual plant species which have been recorded from the area in the past include Erica erigena (Irish Heath), Anacamptis morio (Green-winged Orchid) and Botrychium lunaria (Moonwort)

Meeting point & location to be arranged. Booking essential.

In contrast to the meeting on Mendip in 2022, which focused on species-rich limestone grassland, this will be a visit to acidic habitats largely on Old Red Sandstone, which outcrops at the highest points of the Mendip Hills. This is also an area of centuries of lead mining and smelting industries, the complex geology and disturbance resulting in a mosaic of habitats.

At Priddy Mineries we will see species typical of Calaminarian Grassland: Sabulina [Minuartia] verna (Spring Sandwort), Noccaea caerulescens (Alpine Penny-cress), Silene uniflora (Sea Campion) and the diminutive fern Botrychium lunaria (Moonwort). Mire and heath communities include Eriophorum angustifolium and E. vaginatum (Cottongrasses), Juncus squarrosus (Heath Rush), Carex paniculata (Greater Tussock-sedge), Narthecium ossifragum (Bog Asphodel) and Trichophorum germanicum (Common Deer-grass). Typha angustifolia (Lesser Bullrush) and Carex rostrata (Bottle Sedge) grow by the pool. Limestone outcrops and grassland support calcicoles such as Polygala vulgaris (Milkwort) and Arabis hirsuta (Hairy Rock-cress). The remains of stonework support a variety of ferns, including Cystopteris fragilis (Brittle Bladder-fern). Four Asplenium spp. (Spleenworts) grow on one wall!

Stockhill is a large Forest England plantation, also on “gruffy” ground. The wide rides have a diverse flora and there is an abundance of ferns, with 26 taxa recorded across the two sites. We will see several of the Dryopteris affinis group (Scaly Male-ferns), found here on visits by members of the British Pteridological Society.

Beginners welcome. Please bring a packed lunch, wear appropriate footwear for rough ground and bring waterproofs and sun cream.

Recording and general meeting to explore the scree, limestone outcrops and (for the less adventurous) other nearby habitats around Craig y Rhiwarth and Allt Rhongyr. A great range of possible species, including Antennaria dioica (Mountain Everlasting), Carex montana (Soft-leaved Sedge), Sorbus leptophylla (Thin-leaved Whitebeam), Geranium robertianum subsp. celticum (Herb-Robert), Botrychium lunaria (Moonwort) and many more.

*Please be aware this event has been cancelled as there are cattle on site.* Alternative arrangements are in place; please contact Mark McCorry for further details. Existing bookers have been contacted.

This trip will explore Annaghmore Fen, which is divided between Cos. Laois and Offaly. This site is one of the largest fens in Cos. Laois and Offaly and many typical fen species have been recorded at this site. Other habitats include some Birch woodland, wet woodland and raised bog. We will explore part of the wetland area in both counties.

Meet at Clonalslee (N320211). The terrain will be rough and wet in parts. Dress for the weather. Bring a packed lunch.

The Wild Flower Society (WFS) are planning visit to Cos. Galway and Clare in July. They would like to invite members of the BSBI to attend. Contact WFS for more info.

Joint with National Trust for Scotland and Perthshire Society of Natural Science

This meeting will provide field training in the identification of grasses, sedges and rushes and repeats by popular request the training event held for several consecutive years at Ben Lawers. Copies of the booklets Start to Identify Grasses and Start to Identify Sedges & Rushes are recommended and will be available for purchase on the day. The meeting is open to all members of BSBI, NTS, PSNS and anyone else interested, whatever level they are at. After some revision on what to look for, we will split into those who want to go on up the hill (perhaps those with more experience of grasses etc.) and those preferring to stay on lower ground (and/or perhaps needing more ID guidance). Places are limited, booking essential.

This two-day meeting will be a great opportunity to get familiar with a number of Alchemilla (Lady’s-mantle) species which will hopefully include A. glomerulans, A. wichurae and the recently described A. sciura, along with various flavours of A. filicaulis and some other more widespread taxa. Day 1 will focus on various sites either side of the road down from the ski centre at Glenshee. Subject to the necessary permissions from the landowner, day 2 will be spent on the Fealar estate where we know there are good populations of extremely typical A. wichurae. The meeting will involve some walking over rough terrain. There will also be an opportunity to get specimens identified (ideally over tea and cake in the ski centre café). Places are limited and booking is essential. Participants will need to arrange their own accommodation.

Apologies, this meeting has been cancelled.

The Plant Families workshops are suitable for anyone who can tell a buttercup from a daisy but wants to learn more about plant identification within a structured framework. There will be a mix of classwork, small groups with expert tutors, and fieldwork, following the principle of 'finding the family first'. This is a tried and tested way of getting to grips with ID instead of just playing 'snap' with a field guide or wading through incomprehensible keys.

A copy of the booklet on which the course is based – Pocket Guide to Wildflower Families by Faith Anstey – will be included in the charge for the workshop: £40 (50% discount for BSBI members and full-time students). Places are limited, booking essential.

Join us for the free field meeting for beginners/improvers at Fort William the following day (28th July - link below) and put your learning into practice!

This meeting is particularly aimed at beginners/improvers and would be an ideal follow-up for anyone who attended the Plant Families Workshop on Saturday. Beginners will be helped to identify the commonest species using the Pocket Guide to Wildflower Families – and hopefully some of the more unusual ones too. A copy of the booklet explaining the principle of ‘finding the family first’ will be provided to use on the walk and will be available to buy on the day. Places are limited, booking essential.

This workshop is one of the series of ID workshops for beginners and improvers. There will be a mix of classroom training and hands-on study in small groups, including fieldwork. The course will be structured around the booklet Start to identify Composite Flowers which is based – as are all these workshops – on the concept of homing in to ID via a dedicated flowchart, rather than by exhaustive keys, and by using field characters that avoid the need for microscopic examination. The booklet will be included in the cost of the workshop. £40 (50% discount for BSBI members and full-time students). Places are limited, booking essential.

This meeting will explore the southern part of Carrowmore coastal dune complex. Habitats we will record in will include strandline vegetation, mobile & fixed dunes, and dune slacks. There hasn't been any recent recording in this site, and a couple of monads at the south end of the dunes have no records at all, so it should be interesting to see what's there. There are old records of locally rare species including Anacamptis pyramidalis (Pyramidal Orchid), Ophioglossum vulgatum (Adder's-tongue) and interestingly Viola lutea (Mountain Pansy).

Meet at 11:00am at public car park at south end of Doughmore Beach (Q984670)

Booking is essential as numbers will be limited.

Joint with Surrey Botanical Society and Surrey Wildlife Trust (SWT).

Join us on a walk around part of Chobham Common lowland heathland that is managed by Surrey Wildlife Trust (SWT). We will be checking on Surrey rare species such as Gentiana pneumonanthe (Marsh Gentian) and other heathland specialist plants, whilst meeting new people and having a lovely day out. All standards of botanists are welcome, including beginners.

Meet and park in the SWT Staple Hill car park at SU97356487. Please arrive by 10:15am for a 10:30am start. Terrain will be mostly flat with some slopes, it may be damp underfoot so wellies would be useful or stout shoes. Remember to bring your own lunch. Numbers will be limited. Please book your place by contacting Isobel via email. On the day she can be contacted on 07811 440892.

We will walk around the shore of Lower Lough Erne which was exposed when the level of the lake was lowered on the 1800s and which is now wooded and has been colonised by interesting plants.

We hope to see the endemic Irish Whitebeam Sorbus hibernica, native Yew trees Taxus baccata, Spindle Euonymus europaea, Guelder Rose Viburnum opulus and the only known specimen in Ireland of the hybrid willow, Salix x friesiana. We should find some spikes of the rare Yellow Bird's-nest Monotropa hypopitys, a few Bird's-nest Orchids Neottia nidus-avis which will be past their best, and see the rare Mackay’s Horsetail Equisetum x trachyodon.

If time permits, we will also visit Lough Scolban, a few kilometers to the NW of Castle Cauldwell, to look for aquatic plants.

This field trip is suitable for beginner to experienced botanists and is limited to ten people.

Meet at the car park in Castle Cauldwell Forest (GR H016603) at 10.30am. We should finish between 3.30 and 4.00.

Bring packed lunches, wear suitable footwear and be prepared for wet weather. There are no toilets at the site.

We have a great programme lined up on topics relating to Lough Neagh and the flora of the Northeast of Ireland, including the Cooley Peninsula and Rathlin Island. More information here.

All current information for the conference can be found on the Scottish Botanists' Conference page. All are welcome; there will be a wide range of talks, including on conservation initiatives for threatened species such as Small Cow-wheat and One-flowered Wintergreen, a year in the life of a mountain botanist, a look at invasive species in Scotland including Rhododendron and Giant Hogweed, and annual updates from the BSBI and Botanical Society of Scotland.

Getting started with Flower Anatomy
Jen Farrar, BSBI Northern Ireland Botanical Skills Officer

In this webinar we will be looking at and describing the structures found in the parts of a plant involved in flowering and reproduction.

The webinar will focus on the most important parts of a flower and flowering stems when describing the flowering parts of a plant and help to build confidence when using a key.

Topics covered will include basic flower structure; basic structure of female reproductive organs; basic structure of male reproductive organs; symmetry; fused and unfused organs with a focus on the female reproductive organs; the position of the ovaries; flower stems; flower arrangement types; novel organs such as the epicalyx and the reduction in floral organs with examples.

Timing

The webinar will begin at 7:00pm. You will only be able to view the video and audio of the speaker and panellists but a Q&A feature will be live throughout for questions, which we will try to get through in the course of the evening

 This webinar is made possible thanks to DAERA-funding for our Botanical Skills Project in Northern Ireland.

We return to the Natural History Museum, London, for our main indoor event of the year! A day of talks, exhibits, posters, a behind-the-scenes tour of the world-famous herbarium, a chance to catch up with botanical friends old and new.... Here's the provisional programme.

Dryopteris in Northern Ireland (and further afield)
Alison Evans, Associate Tutor at Edge Hill University

Identification of the male ferns and buckler ferns is not always easy. We will start with diagnostic pointers for the range of Dryopteris species recorded in Northern Ireland, then focus in more detail on the male ferns. We can then consider taxa that occur in other parts of the UK and Ireland, and may be waiting to be recorded in Northern Ireland!

Timing

The webinar will begin at 7:00pm. You will only be able to view the video and audio of the speaker and panellists but a Q&A feature will be live throughout for questions, which we will try to get through in the course of the evening.

 This webinar is made possible thanks to DAERA-funding for our Botanical Skills Project in Northern Ireland.

Join thousands of fellow plant-hunters across Britain and Ireland in our annual quest to find out which wild or naturalised plants are able to bloom in midwinter. Your data are helping us learn more about how our plants are responding to a changing climate. The New Year Plant Hunt is also a great way to shake off the winter blues and get outdoors with friends, family, solo or joining a group hunt.

Grasses, Sedges and Rushes for Absolute Beginners
Jen Farrar, BSBI Northern Ireland Botanical Skills Officer

In this webinar we will be looking at the vegetative and flower characteristics of grasses, sedges and rushes.

The webinar will focus on clearly showing how the leaf and stem, flower and flowering stem characteristics vary across the three groups and how to tell them apart.

The groups will then be studied individually and in more depth the leaf and stem and flower characteristics of each that are important when identifying a plant to genus and species.

Timing

The webinar will begin at 7:00pm. You will only be able to view the video and audio of the speaker and panellists but a Q&A feature will be live throughout for questions, which we will try to get through in the course of the evening.

 This webinar is made possible thanks to DAERA-funding for our Botanical Skills Project in Northern Ireland.

Getting Started with Cotoneasters
James Common is a BSBI Joint Vice-County Recorder for North Northumberland (VC68) and works as Senior Naturalist with the Natural History Society of Northumbria (NHSN).

Alien cotoneasters are an increasingly prominent part of the UK's flora, with over 100 species now recorded in a naturalised state across Britain and Ireland. Despite this, they are poorly studied, largely on account of difficulties in telling these diverse, variable but increasingly common shrubs apart. James Common, BSBI Joint Vice-County Recorder for North Northumberland (VC68) has now spend two years attempting to record the species growing wild in North East England. In this introductory talk, he will explore the identification of 10-15 of the species likely to be encountered across Ireland, and share tips and resources designed to inspire botanists to take their first steps in getting to grips with these difficult yet fascinating plants.

Timing

The webinar will begin at 7:00pm. You will only be able to view the video and audio of the speaker and panellists but a Q&A feature will be live throughout for questions, which we will try to get through in the course of the evening.

 This webinar is made possible thanks to DAERA-funding for our Botanical Skills Project in Northern Ireland.

Our Winter Talks take place on Zoom.

Anna Lacey studied natural sciences for her undergraduate degree but then spent the past 20 years as a science producer at the BBC. In September last year, she decided to scratch the itch of doing some of her own research by enrolling on a PGCert in Ecological Survey Techniques, from which a study of Tephroseris integrifolia emerged.

She will be talking about this research and what she discovered, through the only demographic study of an extant population of field fleawort in the UK, whilst also reflecting on what it's like doing a botanical study as an enthusiastic-but-novice botanist, and what it's like trying to learn about botany/ecology/conservation as a 40 year old.

This day course is mainly aimed at sedge beginners but due to the richness of the site it will also suit intermediate sedge enthusiasts. We will start with the features of sedges most useful at identifying them. Work with a range of sedge specimens indoors and then move out onto site in the afternoon. Numbers will be limited to 14.

This will be a full day meeting so please bring a packed lunch. The distance covered will not be great, but parts will be very wet so waterproof boots or wellies are essential. Although Tarn Moor can be idyllic at this time of year, please come prepared for less clement conditions. The indoor meeting has toilets and facilities to make tea and coffee. There are no facilities at Tarn Moor.

For full information and to book, visit the event page.