Habitat Surveying: Using UKHab

Interpreting and understanding habitats is the first stage in protecting them. No habitat or species management should be undertaken without first understanding the baseline habitat communities and species present on a site. The UKHab is the perfect tool for this initial assessment.

There will be classroom-based presentations, activities and discussions to introduce the potential applications of UKHab and the methodology.

As much time as possible will be spent in the field, where you will become increasingly independent in classifying and mapping a wide-range of commonly encountered habitats, as well as linear habitats such as hedgerows and smaller point features. There will be a mix of direct tuition, whole group discussion, and practice independently or in small teams.

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

• Understand the potential applications of UKHab.
• Understand the UKHab methodology, including the field key.
• Plan a thorough and efficient UKHab field survey.
• Categorise and map a wide range of commonly encountered habitats using primary and secondary codes.
• Understand how to interpret habitat data in relation to relevant legislation and policy.

Who should attend? – although anyone who wishes to develop their understanding of plants and habitats is welcome, the following may find the course particularly helpful: graduates, ecological consultants, environmental managers, wardens, rangers, Wildlife Trusts, land managers, rangers, statutory agency staff, conservation practitioners, students, local authority staff.

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

Prior knowledge – although no habitat survey experience is necessary, working Botany skills are required for this course. Our ‘Discovering Botany‘ and/or range of botanical in-person courses are recommended prerequisites.

PLEASE NOTE: There is no accommodation or meal facilities provided with this course. Refreshments (tea and coffee) will be available. 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. We would recommend when purchasing accommodation and/or travel you should take out your own insurance.

Bookings will close if course capacity is reached.

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

This course is delivered by more than one expert tutor. Your tutor will depend on the location of the course you book.

Laurie Wildwood

Laurie Wildwood is a professional Ecological Consultant and botany tutor who, with his refreshing approach, aims to inspire adults and children to explore and appreciate the natural world. His professional background is in ecology, conservation and habitat management.

Julie Riley

Julie Riley MCIEEM is a Consultant Ecologist with extensive experience of working in the environmental sector, specialising in botany and habitat surveying. Julie is a certified UKHab trainer and has extensive experience of working with and training on JNCC Phase 1 habitat surveying, UKHab surveying and Biodiversity Net Gain work.  Julie holds a FISC Level 4 botanical certification and enjoys helping professionals, volunteers and members of the public to improve their plant identification skills.

Michael Liley

Michael was formerly a Conservation Officer with Worcestershire Wildlife Trust. He is a botanist and ecologist, covering all habitat types found within the UK. He is an experienced biological surveyor specialising in grasslands. His other specialisms include site condition monitoring and land management advice.

Gabrielle Cruttenden

Gabrielle Cruttenden ACIEEM is a consultant ecologist, whose career has evolved alongside Biodiversity Net Gain (BNG), which she now specialises in. She has helped develop BNG processes for consultancies, from site survey through to management and monitoring plans, and has extensive experience of both conducting and auditing BNG assessments. Gabrielle also holds a Field Identification Skills Certificate (FISC) Level 4 in botanical identification and enjoys volunteering with her local botany group.

Please arrive in time for the course to start promptly at 10:00 am.

There will be a one-hour lunch break during the day. Lunch is not included so please bring your own food. Refreshments (tea and coffee) will be provided.

The course will finish at  17:00 pm.

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  Expert Tuition

The course has been carefully created by expert tutors and educators to help you continue to build and develop 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 and 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.

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.

What to bring:

• Desirable to bring any personal field equipment you have such as a clipboard or weather writer hand lens, notebook and pencil, botanical ID guide, binoculars and Tupperware/plastic bags for collecting specimens.
• A digital download (on phone or tablet) or print out of UKHab V2 documents, available from the UKHab ltd. website. You can register on the UKHAB website here.
• Please dress appropriately for the weather as much of both days will be spent outdoors in grassland and woodland.
• Plant ID books and preferred field guides.
• A hand lens if you have one.

Recommended Literature

• Flowers of walks and waysides
• Tree name trail
• Grasses guide
• Hedgerows guide
• Phase 1 survey guide: Grassland and marsh
• Playing field plants guide
• Woodland plants guide
• Grassland plants 1 guide
• Describing flowers
• Grasses AIDGAP (for more advanced students)

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.