Botanical identification and survey skills courses for Botanists and Ecologists

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Botanical fields skills have never been in such demand. Recent changes to vegetation survey techniques, including UK Hab surveys, now demand even higher levels of identification skills from all ecologists.

Species rich calcareous grassland.

But before accurate habitat identification can take place, accurate identification of species is essential. Once you can put a name to a species it also puts an ecological value on the plant, each species having an ecological niche and these can be used to inform the ecologist of the habitats present on site. An experienced botanist is able to understand the ecological role of different plant species and make a decision at the underlying soil’s pH, moisture levels and nutrient status, what light levels are prevalent on site, and potentially grazing and other management features.

For instance, a site may have Devil’s-bit Scabious and Common Knapweed on the site, and experience will tell the ecologist that the Devil’s-bit Scabious is generally on the wetter, more acid and lower nutrient soils on site. Likewise, prominent carpets of Pignut suggest that the grassland has not been recently ploughed and is potentially of importance along with associated species.

But if the identifications prove inaccurate then these judgements made about a site’s ecology will also often be false.

In flower, Devil’s-bit Scabious and Common Knapweed hold few challenges to separate, but when just basal rosettes they can prove more challenging, but with just a few key features they can be separated with ease (Devil’s-bit Scabious, has opposite leaves, with a prominent pale midrib, compared to Common Knapweed alternate leaves with less prominent midrib).

Many expert botanists can recognise a wide number of plant species, and if they don’t know a particular species they can typically recognise the family it belongs to, and then make a competent identification later using a key. How did they get to this stage in their careers? There are many routes. But typically, the best way is a hands on approach to identifying, learning the key features for each major plant family, followed by the same for genera. For instance, many junior ecologists will recognise the Pea family or Cow Parsley family, but may not be able to express in words the features that define these families, and how they differ from other families.

Recognition only comes from experience and repeated identifications.

This suite of courses guides the participant from initial identification of our flora, through identification using vegetative features only, and introduction to grass ID, through to a national vegetation community survey. The techniques taught are applicable to identification of our flora across Britain and Ireland, and can be employed when undertaking survey techniques including Phase 1, UK Hab and other vegetation surveys.

Day 1 focuses on plant families, botanical identification using floral features, and floral formulae. Floral formulae are a powerful way to help recognise plant families and genera. Introducing the use of keys, including the ‘industry standard’ Stace’s 2019 ‘New flora of the British Isles’, which is broken down and made approachable for the beginner and more experienced botanist.

Day 2 concentrates on vegetative features, with full use of the excellent ‘Vegetative Key to the British Flora’ by Poland.

Day 3 we look at Grass identification using both floral and vegetative features to help recognise the major genera and some of the key species that can help distinguish our grasslands and other habitats.

Day 4 takes those identification skills and shows how they can be utilised in a vegetation survey, in this case a chance to learn about how to undertake a National Vegetation Classification survey. After an initial introduction, fieldwork will focus on two local upland habitats, with a return to the classroom to identify the habitats using the ‘British Plant Communities’ books by Rodwell and use of MAVIS software.

These courses provide a scaffold of botanical terminology and identification features, provided in an approachable way designed not to overwhelm. Designed for FISC levels (1-3+), beginner to intermediate. Some prior knowledge of botanical terminology, using keys and floras and undertaking botanical surveys is useful and desirable but not essential. Each day will start with an expectation that the student has a limited knowledge in that particular subject, starting with the basics and then building on these, repeating and developing these skills throughout the day.

Harebell Campanula rotundifolia

The courses have been designed to complement each other and can be taken as a whole suite of four days or individually.

The Botanical Skills for Ecologists training package comprises four days of in-person botanical training aimed at trainees, apprentices and early career attendees and includes:

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.

Feedback from previous CIEEM courses run by Mark Duffell

  • It was very hands-on, so we were able to put the theory into practice!
  • Incredible instructor with brilliant knowledge and very patient repeating key information, very friendly and went out of his way to help. Great pace, really useful tips and the field
    element was very useful.
  • A fantastic, well-prepared, detailed and thoroughly enjoyable course. A great mix of classroom learning and practical application. Thank you
  • Mark teaches at the perfect pace, building confidence as you go along which makes the potentially more daunting aspects seem far less daunting when it comes to trying them for the first time. Mark’s knowledge and experience shine through and you know from the second the course begins, you’re going to learn so much by the end of the day!
  • Mark Duffell created a course which was methodical, and detailed which someone who has little to know botanical knowledge can understand and come out with a strong foundation from.

Meet the Trainer

Mark Duffell MSc MCIHort FLS

Mark is a passionate and skilled Botanist and Horticulturist and is always keen to promote botany as a profession and vocation. His earlier career as a Horticulturist was topped by becoming the Institute of Horticulture  Young Horticulturist of the Year 2001.

His excellent field skills have been recognised by the Botanical Society of Britain and Ireland (BSBI) as one of their ‘Gold Standard’ recorders for their Field Identification Skills Certificates (FISC). Mark now works closely with the BSBI on the FISC Development Working Group helping steer and promote FISCs to a wider audience. Also within the BSBI he is on the Committee for England, and acts as referee for non-native shrubs. He now enjoys passing on these skills to a variety of audiences through teaching for universities, consultancies, environmental organisations, voluntary organisations and private individuals both in the outdoors and in the classroom. Mark’s combination of botanical and horticultural backgrounds has created a comprehensive working knowledge of the world’s flora and major plant families.

Mark was the lead tutor for the first year core units and many botanical units on the former Manchester Metropolitan University MSc in Biological Recording and Ecological Monitoring.

When not out in the field (professionally or voluntarily) he enjoys photography and travelling off the beaten track, usually associated with hunting out a particular habitat or environment rich in flora and fauna, whether in the UK or overseas.