Field Identification Skills Certificate (FISC) with the Field Studies Council

The aim of the FISC is to measure botanical skills in real-life situations. BSBI are keen to make people less fearful of being assessed through the FISC. The great thing about the FISC is that you cannot fail, you can just achieve different skills levels. No one can identify every plant, so you do not need to worry that you might not be perfect.

Your FISC Assessor will talk you through the FISC process at the start of the day, and will be there to answer any questions you have or anything you need clarifying.

The FISC Assessment

There are three separate elements to a FISC:

Testing your identification of vascular plants (so no bryophytes or algae). There are two lab tests, followed by a field test:

• The first lab test is ten fresh specimens that should be identified without using any books or keys.
• The second lab test is twenty fresh specimens that may be identified using any books or keys, but no reference collections or on-line resources may be used.
• The third test is in the field – after lunch you will spend approximately two hours surveying a small site and recording the vascular plant species. At the same time, a Gold Standard Surveyor (a botanical expert) will also survey the same site. What you have identified is then compared against the Gold Standard Surveyor’s list of recorded plants to work out what skill level you have.

Because there is no failing, you don’t have to be brilliant to take a FISC. The outcome will be an electronic certificate from the BSBI showing your level of skill, with advice about what sort of activity you are competent to undertake and what further studies you need if you wish to progress up the skills ladder.

More details on FISCs are available on the BSBI FISC webpage, including the FISC Booklet which answers in detail many of the questions you may have on FISCs.

Please note: If you book a place on this course on behalf of someone else, please make sure that you supply us with the name and email address of the attendee(s) so that we can send them information and their results directly.

Depending on the FISC that you attend, there will be a different FISC Assessor running the test day.

Dr Phil Wilson

Phil Wilson has been a freelance vegetation scientist, studying Britain’s plants and vegetation, since 1991. His PhD focused on the ecology and conservation of the arable flora and he worked with Plantlife for several years on some of our rarest plants. He also manages a small farm in East Devon, but enjoys travelling round the country.

Hannah Gibbons

Hannah Gibbons is an Ecologist specialising in habitat and botanical survey and habitat management advice. She has been providing plant identification training courses for 15 years and when possible focuses on vegetative (non-flowering) identification as this provides skills all year round. Hannah currently works part time for the National Trust but has worked for a number of conservation organisations in the South West. She especially enjoys grassland habitats, arable plants and sedges.

Jake Brendish

Jake is an Aberdeenshire-based ecologist with a focus on botany, ornithology, and bats. He is passionate about providing in-field botanical training and is a member of the BSBI’s Outreach Committee for Scotland.

This is an example timetable for the day, and may be subject to change but gives you a good idea of what to expect. In exceptional circumstances (e.g. bad weather forecast in afternoon) we may swap the field test and lab tests around, but we will let you know this as soon as possible on the day of the FISC.

Lunch is not included, so please make sure that you bring your own packed lunch and any refreshments you will need for the field test.

You will need your own transport to travel to the field sites.

10:00 – 10:30 Arrival and welcome
10:30 – 10:45 Introduction to the day
10:45 – 12:30 Lab tests 1 & 2
12:30 – 13:00  Lunch
13:00 - Depart for field visit
13:30-15:30- Field test
15:45 - Return to Venue (you may be able to depart from the field test)
16:30 – 17:00 -Summary of the day and depart

Discounted Rate for Student or Volunteer Bookings

A discounted rate of £145 is available for those who are: retired, students, unwaged, or volunteers.

Students must be currently registered on a course. A volunteer is defined as a person undertaking regular voluntary activities within the environmental sector but who is not employed in a professional capacity in an ecological and or botanical field. Examples include volunteers undertaking practical conservation activities, recording and survey, mapping, skills and training, leading and coordinating events etc.

Anyone requesting the discounted rate will need to email [email protected] and self-certify that they meet the criteria. We will then book you a place and send you an invoice. As there is a lot of demand for these courses, we recommend that you email us as soon as possible if you would like a space.

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 plan the course.

What to Bring

• A hand lens
•  ID guides e.g. Stace: New Flora of the British Isles, and a picture guide such as Collins Wildflower Guide. We cannot guarantee that there will be any ID books available if you do not bring your own.
•  Outdoor clothes (allowing for all weather), waterproofs, sturdy shoes.
• Weatherwriter/Clipboard with cover, pens.
• Please bring a watch as no phones are allowed during the FISC
•  Packed lunch and drink for the field test.
• A bag to carry your personal items.