Aquatic Plants

Aquatic plants can be one of our most challenging groups of plants within the British flora. They can vary enormously not only between different species but even within a species, due to plasticity, in part determined by the changing habitats and seasonal fluctuations in water levels and quality. Aquatic Plants occur in some of our most damaged and contaminated habitats within the British Isles.

The threat from global warming, eutrophication, acidification and other pollutants need to be mitigated against, and accurate identification, recording and assessment is crucial to this. Assessing the impact aquatic plants have can be complex without a thorough understanding of the species and their individual and collective ecological niches, which this course will help you develop!

What will be covered during this course?

The course will be delivered through a combination of seminars, laboratory identification sessions and practical fieldwork. Fieldwork will involve visiting a range of habitats where the specimens can be identified within an ecological context. Specimens may be taken back to the laboratory for examination with lenses and microscopes.

• The major family groups e.g. Batrachium, Ranunculus
• An exploration of the two big families Potamogetonaceae and Ranunculaceae, that contain many challenging and difficult to identify taxa
• Comparative analysis of vegetative and flowering parts of the major species, using distinguishing characteristics
• Strategies for identifying aquatic plants including the use of dichotomous keys and other resources
• Understanding the challenges that come with recording Aquatic species, including hybridisation, plasticity and seasonality
• Using a range of dichotomous keys to identify species
• Understand the importance and role of aquatic species as indicators of key habitats and ecological niches
• Surveying and collection techniques, as well as ways to maintain the recorders health and safety
• Preparing voucher specimens of aquatic plants for refereeing, and procedures for validation

By the end of the course, you will be able to:

• Identify a range of aquatic plants to family, genus and species where appropriate, using a variety of keys, field guides and other resources
• Critically evaluate the role that aquatic plants have as ecological indicators and their use in indicating habitat type

Who Should Attend?  – Natural history enthusiasts, students, rangers, ecologists, and environmental professionals. This intermediate level course is open to anyone with some knowledge of the subject. This course is for those aged 18 and over only.

Knowledge Level – Intermediate. Level descriptors can be found on the following web-page: Framework and Course Level Descriptors.

Please Note: If we are unable to reach viable numbers for this course, we will inform you of the course cancellation 4-5 weeks prior to the course run. Please see the ‘What’s Included’ section for information on accommodation and meals options.

Bookings will close if course capacity is reached. 

Please email [email protected] if you have any questions.

Nick Law

Nick Law is an experienced field botanist currently employed as a Principal Ecologist with FPCR Environment and Design Ltd. Nick’s interests include vascular plants and bryophytes. He holds a Botanical Society of Britain and Ireland (BSBI) Level 6 Field Identification Skills Certificate (FISC) and is the British Bryological Society Regional Recorder for Warwickshire.

This timetable is subject to change but should give an outline of what to expect.
If you have booked accommodation and meals with the centre your bedroom will be ready from 3.00 pm onwards on the day of arrival and we ask that you vacate by 9.30 am on the morning of departure.
If numbers are sufficient a station pick up will be arranged at 5.30 pm from Shrewsbury Station.
Please arrive in time for the evening meal at 6.30 pm on Firiday
The course starts after dinner with a classroom session 7.30 pm - 9.00 pm
The course ends at 4.00 pm on the final day.

Time will be made available for eating packed lunches during the day

Friday
During the evening there will be a classroom introduction to the problems associated with identifying aquatic plants.

Saturday and Sunday
To involve a mixture of field trips and classroom based work during the day, and evening sessions either within the classroom or Preston Montford Centre grounds.

Monday
There will be a short field trip on Monday morning followed by a classroom-based revision session in the afternoon.

• 
  Expert Tuition
• 
  Free Wi-Fi
• 
  In Course Transport

The course has been carefully created by expert tutors and educators to help you build your knowledge and apply it within the field surrounded by like-minded individuals.

The course includes:

• Classroom learning covering the theory of the species
• Field excursions to apply new knowledge
• Expert tuition for which the Field Studies Council is renowned
• Clear objectives and progression
• Refreshments (tea/coffee)

You can rest assured that the absolute best content from an expert in environmental education will be provided. In choosing a Field Studies Council course, you will be joining thousands of people who learn with us each year.

Accommodation and meals

If accommodation is available, there will be two booking options:

• Non-Resident
• Resident (Sole Occupancy)

If you choose a Non-Resident booking, this includes course tuition and refreshments (tea and coffee), as well as an evening meal on the Friday, Saturday and Sunday before the evening sessions. Please bring your own packed lunch for each day. Please arrive for the course to start at 6:30 pm on the Friday.

If you choose a Resident (Sole Occupancy) booking, this includes accommodation with your own bedroom for Friday, Saturday, and Sunday nights and meals throughout the course from an evening meal on the Friday through to packed lunch on the Sunday. You can check in from 4 pm on the Friday.

If your booking has more than one person and you would like a shared room, please email [email protected] to inquire.

Please be aware that you are visiting a Field Centre that caters in the main for school parties; the accommodation is basic and dormitory style, but warm and comfortable. Please also note that bathrooms may be shared.

Student Discount

This course is eligible for a student discount. If you are a current student, please use discount code BioStudent20 at checkout for 20% off all Biodiversity courses.

Natural History Bursaries

There are a number of natural history bursaries available to help with the cost of your course. To find out if you and your chosen course are eligible, read more here.

There will be a member of staff with first aid training and access to a first aid kit on site. If you have special medical or access requirements, please let us know as soon as possible so we can make any necessary adjustments.

What to Bring

• Stout walking shoes or boots (some wellingtons and waders are available on hire from the Centre).
• Warm, waterproof outdoor clothing.
• A hand lens – x20 if possible, but at least a x10.
• Sealable ‘ziplock’ plastic freezer bags.
• Grapnels will be available for you to use during the weekend with an option to purchase one at the end of the weekend at material cost price.
• Sandwich box and vacuum flask/drinks container.

Recommended Reading

• Haslam, S., Sinker, C.A. and Wolseley, P. (1971) Water Plants. Field Studies Council (AIDGAP)
• Hubbard, C.E. (1981) Grasses. Penguin
• Jermy, A.C. Simpson, D.A., Foley, M.J.Y. and Porter, M.S. (2008) Sedges of the British Isles. 3rd ed. BSBI
• Moore, J.A. (2014) Charophytes of Great Britain and Ireland. BSBI
• Orton, Bebbington, A. & Bebbington, J. (2018) Guide to Commoner Water Plants. FSC
• Preston, C.D. and Croft, J.M. (2014) Aquatic Plants of Britain and Ireland. Harley.
• Rich, T.C.G. and Jermy, A.C. (1998) The Plant Crib. BSBI (Free download)
• Rose, F. and O’Reilly, C. (2006) The Flower Key. Warne
• Schou, J. C., Moeslund, B., van de Weyer, K., Lansdown, R. V., Wiegleb, G., Holm, P., Baastrup-Spohr, L., & Sand-Jensen, K. (2023). Aquatic Plants of Northern and Central Europe including Britain and Ireland (Vol. 118). Princeton University Press.
• Stace, C.A. (2010) New Flora of the British Isles. 3rd ed. CUP
• Stace, C.A.; Preston, C.D. and Pearman, D.A. (2015) Hybrid Flora of the British Isles. BSBI