Trees: Winter Broadleaf Identification

This 1-day course is aimed at the keen beginner and improver alike. The course introduces use of the latest winter tree identification guides, including John Poland’s new ‘The Field Key to Winter Twigs’ (2020) and Bernd Schulz’s ‘Identification of Trees and Shrubs in winter using Buds and Twigs’ (2018), as well as the well-loved Field Studies Council ‘Guide to the identification of deciduous Broad-leaves trees and Shrubs in Winter’.

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

• Distinguish the major ‘vegetative’ parts of a range of deciduous tree and shrub taxa and identify a range of common plants to genus/species level using  botanical keys.
• Recognise and name the major types of characters e.g. leaf bud arrangement, leaf scar forms, different buds types, and other key identification structures that are widely used within the ‘Poland’ key.
• Utilise a standard flora (e.g. Poland 2019), with an understanding of how to use these keys more effectively.

Who Should Attend? – Amateur and professional botanists/naturalists/ecologists, Local Authority ecologists, ecological consultants, conservation officers and staff within SNCOs and NGOs, students, environmental managers, land managers, wardens and rangers.

Knowledge Level – Beginner – intermediate. Level descriptors can be found on the following webpage: Framework and Course Level Descriptors

Prior Knowledge – No existing knowledge or experience is essential, but attendees will gain the most from this course if they have some prior understanding of the parts of a plants and associated terminology, have used a key (not necessarily botanical) and have some prior knowledge of UK flora. Field Identification Skills Certificate levels 2 and above.

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.

Mark Duffell

Mark Duffell is an experienced botanist with a lifetime’s interest in plants. He currently splits his time between running Arvensis Ecology (conducting botanical surveys and teaching botanical identification to undergraduate and postgraduate University students, consultants and environmental organisations) and has worked as a Lecturer with MMU on their MSc in ‘Biological Recording and Ecological Monitoring’.

This timetable is subject to change, but it should give a clear outline of what to expect.

• Please arrive in time for the course to start promptly at 10:00
• The course will end at 17:00

Morning:

• Welcome and introduction to the course.
• Presentations and practical workshop on identification of deciduous trees and shrubs using winter ID features e.g. leaf arrangement, form of buds, shapes of leaf scars.
• Introduction to various keys available to field botanists for the identification of deciduous trees and shrubs

Afternoon:

• Using the various botanical keys, we will work through a series of samples, learning how to use the key. Working as a whole group, as well as in smaller groups and individually.
• Depending on the weather, we may go out to the local area to use the key on fresh material.

Lunch break and breaks as required – lunch and accommodation are not included. Refreshments (tea and coffee) will be provided.

• 
  Expert Tuition

The course includes:

• Classroom learning covering the theory of the species
• 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.

Accommodation and meal options

We would recommend that when purchasing accommodation and/or travel, you should take out your own insurance.

For some course runs at Field Studies Council Centres, there may be the option to book accommodation with your course. Please email [email protected] to enquire about availability.

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, find out 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 plan the course.

Please Bring:

• Notebook and pencil
• Your preferred botanical identification books and guides (there will be a class set of John Poland’s 2019 ‘Winter Tree Key’ to share )
• Your refreshments & lunch
• Sensible footwear and clothing for being outdoors
• If you have any specimens you don’t know, then bring them along and we can tackle them together

If you have them:

• Hand lens  - (x10 or x20 magnification)
• Dissecting kit (scalpel and forceps)

Recommended Literature

• The Field Key to Winter Twigs. Poland, J. 2020. BSBI
• Identification of Trees and Shrubs in Winter Using Buds and Twigs. Schulz, B. 2018. Kew Publishing

Useful Field Studies Council Publications

• Winter Trees: a photographic guide to common trees and shrubs. Price, D. and Bersweden, L. 2013. Field Studies Council
• A Guide to the identification of deciduous Broad-leaves trees and Shrubs in Winter. May, A. and Panter, J. 2000. Field Studies Council