Course: Grassland Plant Identification (Edinburgh)

A day course giving participants;

• the skills and confidence to identify the key grassland wildflowers and grasses.
• learning the key features for UKHAB survey and BNG condition assessments.
• a chance to do sampling and share ideas with colleagues.

Lying in the heart of Edinburgh, Holyrood Park is best known for its iconic volcanic outcrop, Arthur’s Seat, but there is more here than first meets the eye. This SSSI contains a wide range of lowland grassland habitats and plant communities, from acid grassland and heathland to damp, rush-filled depressions and calcareous grassland. All of these support a range of key plant species, many of which are at their peak in June.

This course will teach easy ways to identify typical and common species in these habitats, including numerous grasses, sedges and rushes, as well as some of the more unusual plants. We will also look at different survey techniques, with a chance to carry these out with other attendees, both to consolidate knowledge of the species and teach recording methods.

Please be aware that there will be some steep inclines, and toilet facilities will only be available at the beginning and end of the day.

All proceeds from the course will go to supporting our endangered species conservation work.