Native Plants of Ponds and Marshes in South Devon

Slapton is a perfect place for exploring the plants of the range of wetland habitats that inhabit and border the Ley.  The emphasis of the course will be learning how to identify these interesting species and to distinguish between the lookalikes amongst them – such as the sedges, rushes and willows.  By July, the Ley should be putting on a grand show of colour with a wealth of species including Purple Loosestrife, Hemp Agrimony, Marsh Woundwort, Amphibious Bistort and Water Crowfoot all in full bloom.  Accurate identification of any plants usually necessitates close inspection with the aid of a hand lens.  And this opens up another dimension and insight into this very special habitat.

Note:  Although we shall seek out some of the more robust submerged, aquatic species (that are so important in enriching the oxygen levels of the water), this course will not have time to focus on or distinguish between the more obscure aquatics –  notably the many different fine-leaved pondweeds.

Ros Bennett

Ros Bennett is a botanist and ecologist.  She was formerly a full-time tutor at Flatford Mill (another Field Studies Council centre) and then organiser and leader of courses for FSC Overseas.  She has written books on flowers and trees and has taught courses on plant identification to all age groups, and both amateurs and professionals

Slapton Ley is a stone’s throw from the unspoilt and picturesque coastline of South Devon. Slapton Ley Field Centre is located on the Start Bay coast. It’s surrounded by the 210-hectare Slapton Ley National Nature Reserve that includes the 4km long Slapton Sands beach and the largest freshwater lake in the Southwest.

The centre is located within the South Devon National Landscape close to Dartmoor National Park and is within easy reach of the M5 and mainline train station at Totnes. It is located within landscaped grounds with seating areas, shelters, kitchen garden and wildlife areas.

Arrival Day

Check-in is between 1600 and 1800. If you are arriving after 1800, please advise us so we can ensure you are advised of access codes, room key location, and room location.
You will meet the tutor at Dinner, and you will have your first session a quarter of an hour after Dinner.

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  Expert Tuition
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  Free Wi-Fi
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  Full Board Accommodation
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  Hot and Cold Drinks
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  Picnic Lunch

Full board accommodation and picnic lunch is available for resident bookings only.

Refreshments are included for all, but non-resident bookings are advised to bring lunch with you.

What to bring

Please bring the following with you if you can
•     A hand lens x 10 magnification, available on loan, or the tutor can supply these at the first meeting (at c. £9.00)
•     Two pairs of fine pointed forceps (if you have them) and / or two mounted needles.  (Available on loan)
•     Wellingtons/waterproofs.  (Available on loan from the Centre.
•     A notebook, pencils and pens
•     A lunch box/salad box and flask/drink bottle

RECOMMENDED BOOKS
All the flowering plants of pond and wetland habitats occur (along with the rest of our flora) in most good picture field guides.  We recommend the following:
• New Flora of the British Isles by Stace (CUP ideally 4th edition)
• Collins Flower Guide by Streeter (Collins ideally 2nd Edition 2016)
• Grasses, Sedges, Rushes and Ferns of Britain and North-western Europe by Francis Rose (Viking).
But there is nothing like the one that you are accustomed to using,
A few Field Studies Council publications focus exclusively on aquatic and waterside plants.  These should be available to purchase at the Centre and include:
AIDGAP identification guide to: British Water Plants £10
Fold-out ID chart: Waterside Flowers £4
Fold-out ID chart: Water Plants Guide £4