Fens and Bogs: Plants and Processes

This course aims to demonstrate the variation in plant communities of fen and bog habitats, and investigate the eco-hydrological processes that have given rise to them. It will include wetland plant identification, NVC sampling, measurement of basic environmental variables, and discussions about wetland management.

Fens and bogs incorporate a great diversity of vegetation types, from acidic rain-fed raised bogs, to herb-rich fen meadows and mossy calcareous flushes. Fens and bogs also support many interesting plants, including insectivorous butterworts, orchids, scarce sedges and colourful mosses.

The fens and bogs surrounding Malham Tarn provide a fascinating opportunity to investigate how natural processes and the past activities of people have influenced their development.

This course will combine lectures and field excursions to develop an understanding of the plants, plant communities, and environmental variables that characterise different fens and bogs. Students will learn to identify key plant species, collect quadrat data, and investigate simple variables such as pH, conductivity and peat stratigraphy.

There will also be discussions about wetland water supply mechanisms (WETMECS), and the influence of management practices upon the conservation interest of fens and bogs.

This course will suit professionals who want to broaden their understanding of wetland habitats as weel as those with a general interest in wetlands. Field excursions will involve some strenuous walking across uneven ground.

Ros Tratt is a freelance ecologist, and part-time lecturer at the University of Sheffield Institute of Life-long learning. She has many years’ experience of wetland ecology, encompassing a wide variety of fens and bogs throughout Great Britain.

Further Information

View your basket