Grass Identification

This course is fully booked on this date but you can join the waiting list (by scrollling to the bottom of the page) in case space becomes available or it is run on another date.

Grasses are often considered to be a ‘difficult’ group of plants to identify, the aim of this introductory course is allow you to become familiar with and confident in the identification of at least the most common grass species contributing to acid, neutral and base-rich swards.

The course will include:
-An introduction to the structure of grasses including flowering parts and vegetative characters useful in their identification
-The use of keys and familiarisation with the terminology used
-Excursions to a variety of habitats around the Field Centre and the Malham area with their different associated grasses

Time will be divided between the field and the classroom with an emphasis on grass identification in the field during the day:

Suggested programme:
Friday: Introduction to course, what makes a grass a grass…
Saturday: Introduction to grass structure and use of keys. Visit to woodland.
Sunday: Visit to limestone pavement and grassland.
Monday: Visit to fen and mire.

Evenings will mainly be spent in the classroom where we will practice using keys and where microscopes will be available for more thorough examination of flowering parts and identification of more difficult species collected during the day.

Sarah Watson-Jones is trained in field biology and habitat management and has been involved in plant conservation research and teaching in Biosciences at the University of Birmingham . She now works as a Project Coordinator for Transition Llambed (Lampeter Transition Town) and as a casual tutor for Aberystwyth University.

Further Information

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