Field meetings and indoor events

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).

On the morning of day one we will visit Sheringham & Beeston Regis Commons SSSI. The site is a mosaic of calcareous mire, bog, and heath, together with some woodland, scrub, grassland, small streams and a pond, which between them provide a very diverse flora which is occasionally joined by garden escapes from the adjacent housing. Over 350 vascular plant species have been recorded here; perhaps the most notable of these are Blysmus compressus (Flat-sedge), Carex dioica (Dioecious Sedge), Drosera anglica (Great Sundew), Dryopteris cristata (Crested Buckler-fern), Eleocharis quinqueflora (Few-flowered Spike-rush), Gymnadenia densiflora (Marsh Fragrant-orchid), Isolepis cernua (Slender Club-rush), Parnassia palustris (Grass-of-Parnassus), Pinguicula vulgaris (Common Butterwort), Schoenus nigricans (Black Bog-rush), Solidago virgurea (Goldenrod) and Thelypteris palustris (Marsh Fern).

The terrain is generally easy on the main footpaths, elsewhere it can be a little more challenging and can be very wet in places, so stout waterproof footwear or welly boots are recommended.

In the afternoon we will visit to the nearby cliffs (about 900 m away). Beeston Cliffs are designated as a SSSI for both biological and geological reasons. We will focus on the calcareous cliff-top grassland, both here and on the adjacent cliffs at Sheringham. Particularly notable species recorded here include Phelipanche purpurea (Yarrow Broomrape) and Silene conica (Sand Catchfly). Other species we could see that may be of interest include Allium vineale (Wild Onion), Cerastium arvense (Field Mouse-ear), Lepidium latifolium (Dittander), Lupinus arboreus (Tree Lupin), Orobanche elatior (Knapweed Broomrape), Trifolium glomeratum (Clustered Clover) and Trifolium scabrum (Rough Clover).

The terrain is generally easy but the path over Beeston Bump is relatively steep and please note that the cliffs are eroding and it is dangerous to go too close to the edge. A short walk through the town (c.800 m) will bring us back to the morning meeting point.

On day two we will visit some of the coastal parts of Holkham NNR by kind permission of the Holkham Estate. We will look at the sand dunes including the pine woodland which was planted on the dunes in the late 19th century.  These comprise an intact sequence of dune communities from fore-dunes through to yellow and grey dunes and ultimately fixed dune grassland, including dune slacks supporting Laphangium luteoalbum (Jersey Cudweed) (an ‘old’ site for the plant before its expansion into urban areas) and Centaurium pulchellum (Lesser Centaury). The western end of the site also features saltmarsh, and a range of Salicornia (Glasswort) species, along with Limonium bellidifolium (Matted Sea-lavender), several of the Limonium binervosum (Rock Sea-lavender) aggregate, Frankenia laevis (Sea-heath) and Suaeda vera (Shrubby Sea-blite). Species recorded in the pinewoods which may be of interest include Goodyera repens (Creeping Lady's-tresses) (which may have been introduced with the pines) and Hypopitys monotropa (Yellow Bird's-nest). Depending upon livestock movements and presence/absence of breeding waders, it may also be possible to visit the fresh-marsh behind the dunes to see Carex divisa (Divided Sedge) and Ranunculus baudotii (Brackish Water-crowfoot).

The terrain is generally easy, but will involve a walk of about 1 km on level ground before reaching the main saltmarsh area, and a further 1 km before reaching the dune grassland (the woodland area would involve a c.8 km round trip) We will time visiting the saltmarsh to low tides on the day, which are likely to coincide with our return trip to the car park. Stout waterproof footwear (or something that you don’t mind getting muddy) is recommended.

Botanists of all skill levels are welcome, from beginners to specialists.

Meet at 10.30 each day.

This Wildflower Walk is a structured field meeting suitable for anyone from complete beginners upwards. We will be walking alongside the River Dee, looking at the plants we come across and learning how to identify them by 'finding the family first'.  A copy of the booklet explaining the strategy we use – Pocket Guide to Wildflower Families by Faith Anstey – will be provided to use on the walk and will be available to buy on the day.

Places are limited, booking essential.

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.

Identifying plants from leaf rosettes and seed pods in winter, Murlough NT NNR, Dundrum, Co. Down

Identifying trees and twigs in winter for complete beginners, Drumnaph Nature Reserve, Maghera, Co. Derry.

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.

Using Poland & Clement The Vegetative Key to the British Flora, Murlough NT NNR, Dundrum, Co. Down.

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 Field Fleawort 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.

Using Poland & Clement The Vegetative Key to the British Flora, Drumnaph NR, Maghera, Co. Derry.

Joint with the London Natural History Society. Meet at the entrance of Abbey Wood Station (TQ473790) at 11:00 (11:00-16:00).

The ancient woods surrounding Lesnes Abbey are the only remaining place in Greater London where Narcissus pseudonarcissus subsp. pseudonarcissus (Wild Daffodils) thrive. In addition to general recording, we will also be looking for populations of other Ancient Woodland Indicator species such as Anemone nemorosa (Wood Anemone), Carex strigosa (Thin-spiked Wood-sedge), Ceratocapnos claviculata (Climbing Corydalis), Euphorbia amygdaloides subsp. amygdaloides (Wood Spurge), Luzula pilosa (Hairy Wood-rush), Melica uniflora (Wood Melick), Moehringia trinervia (Three-nerved Sandwort) & Veronica montana (Wood Speedwell) all of which are increasingly uncommon or rare in Greater London. Suitable for beginners and experts.

Contact Mark Spencer to reserve a space.

The Irish Spring Conference will be held at the National Botanical Gardens, Glasnevin. Further details will be on the Irish Conferences web page.

Identification of Verbascum species in the UK isn't always easy, especially with non-native species and hybridisation. We will start with an overview of the distribution and identification of the genus before looking more closely at the native and more frequent alien species that have been recorded in Britain & Ireland.

This webinar will be led by Mike Crewe, BSBI expert Verbascum Referee, Norfolk.

Time: 7.30 - 8.30 pm.

Mints are a challenging but rewarding group which are often neglected by recorders. In this webinar Ambroise Baker (Teesside University) will help attendees improve their Mentha recording by providing an overview of the Mentha diversity encountered by field botanists in Britain and Ireland, discussing the recording challenges and reviewing some of the more ambiguous key characters.

Time: 7.30-8.30pm

This fieldtrip will explore habitats and vegetation along the River Barrow at St Mullins. We will follow the River Barrow towpath and investigate some of the vegetation (scrub, wet grassland) along the margins of the path. There will be opportunities to investigate some of the adjacent broad-leaved woodland and enjoy the spectacular scenery along the valley.

Time: 10:30 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.
Meet at the St Mullins Barrow Way Trailhead.  There is a carpark at this location.
Contact Lisa Dowling for meeting details and for booking.

The week-long annual Carmarthenshire Recording and Monitoring Meeting will include visits to sites around the county. The meeting will cater for both experienced and less proficient botanists and will provide an opportunity for the informal development of identification skills. Arrangements will be flexible, some days the group may stay as one body, other days smaller groups will visit different sites to monitor rare or scarce species or update grid squares not visited recently. Day outings will be tailored to individual needs to cover all fitness abilities.

Glynhir Mansion is located about 2 km east of Llandybie on the western flank of Mynydd Du (the Black Mountain) at SN640151. The River Llwchwr runs through the estate and at one point plunges over a 10 m waterfall into a humid, rocky gorge where Dryopteris aemula (Hay-scented Buckler-fern), Hymenophyllum tunbrigense (Tunbridge Filmy-fern) and Asplenium trichomanes subsp. trichomanes (Maidenhair Spleenwort) are among the ferns growing on the cliffs. There will be ample opportunity in the timetable to visit the site. Large parkland trees provide the setting to the mansion, including Tilia cordata (Small-leaved Lime), and there remains much scope for further discoveries to be made in the vicinity.

The cost of the week from lunchtime on 26 May to breakfast on 2 June, including bed, breakfast, packed lunches and evening meals, will be approximately £600 and will be limited to about 15 participants. Accommodation for part of the week will be charged pro rata. A limited number of en suite rooms are available on a first-come first-served basis. Participants not requiring accommodation will also be welcome on a day to day basis. A 35% deposit will be required by Glynhir on booking.

There is further information on the Carmarthenshire web page.

Initial bookings, preferably by the end of January, to Kath and Richard Pryce.

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.

This is a training field meeting in conjunction with the previous day’s Plant Families workshop in Perth. Thus the emphasis will be on training in ID skills for beginners and improvers. However, KInnoull Hill is an interesting site geologically and botanically. It has some broad-leaved woodland, where Lysimachia europaea (Chickweed Wintergreen), Pyrola minor (Common Wintergreen), Circaea lutetiana (Enchanter’s-nightshade), Epipactis helleborine (Broad-leaved Helleborine) and Neottia nidus-avis (Bird’s-nest Orchid) have been recorded. There is an area of open heath and spectacular base-rich cliffs where Myosotis ramosissima (Early Forget-me-not), Dipsacus fullonum (Teasel), Allium vineale (Wild Onion), Cerastium semidecandrum (Little Mouse-ear), Agrimonia eupatoria (Agrimony) and Echium vulgare (Viper’s-bugloss) are found.

Broomrapes are among the most enigmatically beautiful plants. They are parasitic, therefore lack leaves and chlorophyll, and they have aroused curiosity for centuries. In recent years, broomrapes have sparked interest among plant enthusiasts in a similar way to orchids. In this talk Chris Thorogood (Oxford Botanic Garden and Arboretum), international broomrape specialist and author of the BSBI Handbook 'Broomrapes of Britain & Ireland', will introduce some broomrapes from around the world, then focus on the species found in Britain and Ireland and how to identify them.

Time: 7.30-8.30pm

Meet at front entrance of Woolwich Underground Station (TQ438790) at 11:00 (11:00-16:00). This potentially bracing walk along the Thames Towpath towards Tripcock Ness will take in complex mixtures of coastal grazing and saltmarsh remnant species as well as diverse assemblages of urban neophyte plant communities and habitat creation schemes. In addition to general recording, we will also be looking for populations of Apium graveolens (Wild Celery), Bolboschoenus laticarpus (Inland Club-rush), Cochlearia anglica (English Scurvygrass), Cynodon dactylon (Bermuda-grass), Inula conyzae (Ploughman's-spikenard), Juncus compressus (Round-fruited Rush), J. gerardii (Saltmarsh Rush), Lotus tenuis (Narrow-leaved Bird's-foot-trefoil), Myosotis ramosissima (Early Forget-me-not), Plantago maritima (Sea Plantain), Securigera varia (Crown Vetch), Trifolium subterraneum (Subterranean Clover), Tripolium pannonicum (Sea Aster) & Triglochin maritima (Sea Arrowgrass), all of which are increasingly uncommon or rare in Greater London. Suitable for beginners and experts.

This workshop aims to introduce identification of common grasses to beginners and improvers who already have a basic grasp of plant ID. There will be a mix of classroom study and fieldwork, much of it in small groups with expert tutors. The programme will be based on Start to Identify Grasses by Faith Anstey, a copy of which will be included in the cost of the workshop: £40 (50% discount for BSBI members and full-time students). Places are limited, booking essential.

Joint with Plantlife.

Ranscombe farm is a hotspot for arable plants and has excellent examples of chalk grassland restoration and ancient semi-natural woodland. It has been a Plantlife reserve since 2005 and is managed in conjunction with a tenant farmer. It is a key part of the proposed North Kent Woods and Downs NNR. Highlights should include various orchids: Orchis anthropophora (Man Orchid), Orchis purpurea (Lady Orchid), Ophrys insectifera (Fly orchid), possibly a rare ‘cambrensis’ form of Ophrys apifera (Bee orchid), and Cephalanthera damasonium (White helleborine), along with Salvia pratensis (Meadow Clary), Filago pyramidata (Broad-leaved Cudweed), Anthemis cotula (Stinking Chamomile), Ajuga chamaepitys (Ground-pine), Valerianella dentata (Narrow-fruited Cornsalad), reintroduced Bromus interruptus (Interrupted Brome), potentially native Malva setigera (Rough Mallow), and wild Agrostemma githago (Corncockle).

Suitable for beginners and experts.

Meet at 10am at the fenced parking area, up the drive from the main entrance at Ranscombe Farm Reserve (TQ71536749, ME2 1LA, ///arts.bind.notes), where there is a composting toilet.

Please book in advance - numbers will be limited to 20.

Joint with the Wildflower Society

This excursion will aim to visit the iconic site of Little Kilrannoch, with its ultra-mafic rocks and unique assemblage of plants including Silene suecica (Alpine catchfly), Cherleria sedoides (Cyphel), Armeria maritima (Thrift), Cochlearia micacea (Mountain Scurvygrass) and the possibly unique endemic population of Cerastium fontanum subsp. scoticum (Scottish Mouse-ear). On the way up there will be opportunities to find a good range of characteristic Scottish alpine plants and a range of unusual sedges such as Carex rariflora (Mountain Bog-sedge) and two uncommon hybrids of Carex bigelowii (Stiff Sedge). Depending on weather conditions on the day we may also explore Craig Maude, but whichever route we take the day is likely to involve some significantly challenging hill-walking over steep and boggy or rocky ground.

Meeting: 10:30 at the Glen Doll Car park (NO283761). Note that coin payment is required; there are toilets and a visitor centre.

Northumberland is well-known for its rich and extensive dune grasslands which harbour a distinctive flora in which Geranium sanguineum (Bloody Crane's-bill), Astragalus danicus (Purple Milk-vetch), Thalictrum minus (Lesser Meadow-rue) and Rosa spinosissima (Burnet Rose) and several scarce annuals are distinctive components, as are several orchid species. Associated habitats such as salt-marsh and strand-line are also of interest. We aim to spend the Saturday on Low Newton Links, including a visit to the mainland tern colony, and the Sunday on Holy Island (Lindisfarne), remaining on the island while the tide is up. The dune-slacks here have a rich flora with Pyrola rotundifolia (Round-leaved Wintergreen) and huge displays of Epipactis, including E. dunensis (Dune Helleborine). Beginners welcome. We aim to meet at a venue yet to be identified for the evenings of July 4-6.

The peaks at either end of this range – Beinn Airigh Charr to the west, and Slioch to the east – were re-surveyed in 2017, but the central mountains on the north side of Loch Maree deserve another look. Arguably, their current dearth of records is due to their inaccessibility: it’s a long walk in from either end. Search lists can be made available for participants who’d prefer single days or nights, or low-level routes only, but the main aim – weather permitting – will be to camp for two nights, to give a realistic opportunity to survey the peaks and some of the crags of Beinn Lair and Sgurr Dubh. Target species will include Asplenium septentrionale (Forked Spleenwort), Carex capillaris (Hair Sedge), Juncus biglumis (Two-flowered Rush), Micranthes nivalis (Alpine Saxifrage), Poa alpina (Alpine Meadow-grass), Poa glauca (Glaucous Meadow-grass) and Polystichum lonchitis (Holly-fern). Those tackling the high levels should be mountain-fit.

This will be a general recording event close to Lough Conn, and will explore heath, Lough Conn lakeshore and sessile oak woodland. Limited to 15 individuals.

Time: 11:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.

This two day meeting will explore a range of habitats in West Galway. On Saturday there will be a walk to Mám Éan, in the Maumturk mountain range to explore bog, heath and rock outcrop areas. A number of rarer montane species such as Saxifraga oppositifolia (Purple Saxifrage), Asplenium viride (Green Spleenwort) and Thalictrum minus (Lesser Meadow-rue), have been recorded from the area in the past and it would be nice to refind these. On Sunday a number of woodland areas north of Moycullen will be visited.

Meet: L903503 (Mám Éan).

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 year’s Annual Summer Meeting will be held in the Scottish Borders town of Melrose, a small attractive town which is well-placed for visiting an exciting range of varied botanical sites. Of special interest are the numerous basin mire fens, many of which are calcareous, which together form the largest concentration of this botanically rich habitat in the UK. Several nationally rare and scarce plant species occur including Hierochloe odorata (Holy Grass), Calamagrostis stricta (Narrow Small-reed), Corallorhiza trifida (Coralroot Orchid), Potamogeton coloratus (Fen Pond-weed) and Carex approproquintata (Fibrous Tussock-sedge). Also of note are several marl lochs with a diverse range of Potamogeton species and charophytes. Field trips may also be arranged to some special coastal sites and mountain sites within an hour’s drive in the neighbouring counties.

There will be field excursions on Monday afternoon, Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday morning to suit a range of interests, along with evening talks and workshops.

Further information and booking will be made available on the ASM page on the website. Please register before 30^th June. Our base for the meeting will be the George & Abbotsford Hotel in Melrose (rooms from £70 per night), with additional rooms available at the Kings Arms (rooms £150 per night). Please book accommodation with the hotel directly via phone or email (mentioning the BSBI ASM) before 30^th June (we recommend securing your accommodation before registering for the ASM). There are also lots of alternative places to stay locally if you prefer.

This meeting, held over two days, will visit lochs, ponds and river sites in Deeside, to survey for aquatic plants and build identification skills. It is likely to be based at the Muir of Dinnet NNR near Aboyne, by kind permission of NatureScot. A brief introductory session will be held, followed by aquatic plant recording at a range of sites in the general area, most easy to access, with surveying mainly from the margins of waterbodies, with some wading (training/safety equipment provided). We also hope there will be opportunities, for those interested, for vegetation sampling in deeper water areas, which will be done in conjunction with trained members of local canoe clubs (with induction and appropriate safety equipment). Attendance on both days will build expertise, but is not essential (though the full introductory session will not be duplicated). Places are limited and booking is essential. Participants will need to arrange their own accommodation if attending both days.

This fieldtrip will explore some of the upland habitats of the Slieve Bloom Mountains around Gorteenameele. We will follow a paved Coillte track to start, before leaving the track and investigating the site of a former peat slide (over 30 years ago) that has now revegetated. The walk will continue across mountain blanket bog towards Clear Lake, close the Co. Offaly border. The walk will be strenuous in places, crossing through heavy vegetation (Heather and Purple Moorgrass).

Time: 11:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.

Meet: at the Gorteenameale. There are several laybys close by that will provide parking.

The aim is to bring together botanists interested in furthering our knowledge of Mentha diversity and distribution in Britain and Ireland. In recent Floras and atlases, there is the indication that the diversity and abundance of rarer taxa is declining or being under-recorded. However, there may also be some recording barrier and identification difficulties. The preliminary objectives for the workshop are:

• To share expertise in morphological identification using my (modest) collection of living and herbarium specimens, as well as any specimens that participants may want to bring.
• Identify gaps in our identification and distribution knowledge of native, hybrid and alien taxa, and any steps to address them.
• Initiate an informal Mentha network for BSBI members.

Please contact the leader for more information.

When available there will be more information here and on the Conference web page.

Edge Hill University, Lancashire. Save the date! Further details will be made available soon on the Conference webpage.