This course is included in the Botanical Skills for Ecologists training package which comprises four days of in-person botanical training aimed at trainees, apprentices and early career attendees and includes –

12^th May 2025:  Plant Identification for Ecologists

13^th May 2025: Understanding the Vegetative Key, an essential tool for ecologists for extending the survey season

14^th May 2025:  Grass Identification for Ecologists - Please book below

15^th May 2025: Introduction to National Vegetation Classification Surveys Introduction to National Vegetation Classification Surveys

The courses can be booked individually using the links above or you can book all four courses for a special discounted rate of £500! 

If you would like to book all four courses please contact training@cieem.net to check availability and book. 

Description

Grasses (along with Sedges and Rushes) form the foundation for many of the UK’s plant communities. They are extremely useful botanically as they can tell you much about a site’s ecology, both past, present and in the future. Being able to reliably identify which species you have found can aid your identification and classification of plant communities (Phase 1, UK Hab and NVC) as well as aid in conservation decisions for a site.
Unfortunately, grasses do not have large obvious ‘flowery’ bits so many people are put off attempting to identify them. By observing those characters which help identify each species we will be able to understand why a species is what it is; in time we will also learn short-cuts as to how to recognise individual species. The course will cover what a grass is, structures, identification techniques, use of keys and what habitats the individual species occur in. Use of microscopes in the classroom will back up those characters that we have looked at in the field using hand lenses. Given the short duration of the course we will concentrate on the commoner and also more important members of this family and focus mainly on floral rather than vegetative characters.
FISC levels 2 and above.

Who Should Attend?

Local Authority ecologists
Ecological consultants
Conservation officers and staff within SNCOs and NGO’s.
Students
Environmental managers,
Land Managers
Wardens
Rangers

Knowledge Level

Beginner - Intermediate

Prior Knowledge

No existing knowledge, or experience is essential, but attendees will gain the most from this course if they have some prior understanding of the parts of a plants and associated terminology, have used a key (not necessarily botanical) and have some prior knowledge of UK flora.

Field Identification Skills Certificate levels (1) 2 and above

Learning Outcomes

• Be able to distinguish between Grasses (Poaceae), Sedges (Cyperaceae) and Rushes (Juncaceae), both vegetatively and floral characters.
• Distinguish the flowering and vegetative parts of a range of Grass taxa and identify a range of common grasses to genus/species level using a botanical key.
• Recognise and name the major parts of a grasses; with reference to how they can be used in practical botanical identification (naming of parts and botanical glossary).
• Utilise a standard flora (e.g. Hubbard revised), with an understanding of how to use this and other keys more effectively.

Refreshments

Please bring your own packed lunch and refreshments.

Delegates can contact Preston Montford direct if they wish to book accommodation - Preston Montford – Field Studies Council