Flowers of South Devon

South Devon is a great location for the botanist to explore. It is renowned for its deep flowery hedge-banks in spring and its dramatic coastline with its steep cliffs and secluded bays, its limestone promontories and long shingle beaches. Add to this the contrasting flora of the culm pastures further inland and the swamps, fens, floating islands and wet woodlands of Slapton Ley Nature Reserve and we have a wonderful range of habitats and a fabulous variety of plant species.

This course is suitable for beginners as well as those who already know many plants but don’t know why they do and who seek help in learning identification skills.

Some time will be spent in the classroom but we shall spend as much time as possible exploring the plants of the wonderful Devon countryside. The course is designed to help you identify plants in a glorious setting. This will require close examination of the flowers which provide the major big clues to the identity of any plant, but other features are also very useful to determine precise identification. We shall approach this in a systematic way using reliable methods that should stand you in good stead and give you the confidence to pursue the subject further. Plenty of help and guidance will be available. The daily excursions will involve some steep uphill and downhill walking but the pace will seldom be strenuous.

As you can imagine, Devon can be glorious on a fine day in July (but be armed with sun cream etc.) However, if the weather is poor, the coast can be exposed to the worst. You should be prepared with water- and windproof clothing (available for hire from the centre). Rain will not stop play but we are likely to return to Slapton earlier than planned and spend more time studying the plants in the classroom. Strong winds may dictate changes to the programme – cliff tops and woodlands are not the safest places to be under such conditions.

Tutor: Ros Bennett

Ros Bennett is a botanist and ecologist. She was formerly a full time tutor at Flatford Mill (another FSC Field Centre) and then organiser and leader of courses for FSC Overseas. She has written books on flowers and teaches courses on plant identification to both amateurs and professionals.

Two ladie looking in the grass with the coast behind them

What's Included

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

Before You Attend

Where to meet and at what time?

Resident participants are requested to arrive for registration by 17.00 on arrival day. The course will begin after supper. Non-residents can arrive 10/15 mins before the evening meal. There will be an introductory talk at 17.00. Supper is usually at 18.30. A non-resident booking also includes dinner during your course as teaching does progress into the evening. Breakfast, for resident participants, will be from 8:00 am. The course will end on Friday at 16.00. On the final day please vacate your room by 9:00 am, storage is provided for your luggage.

What shall I bring?

As the course involves field visits you will need a Thermos, lunchbox, waterproof clothing (available on loan from the centre) and stout shoes or boots.

Also, please bring the following with you if you can:

A x10 magnification hand lens (available on the course, £8.75)
Two pairs of fine pointed forceps and/or two mounted needles

N.B. It is not necessary to purchase any books before the course or to bring any with you. However you might like to have with you, a picture book that arranges its flowers in family order such as one or other of the first three listed below

The Wild Flower Key by Rose and O’Reilley (Warne)
The Wild Flowers of Britain and Ireland by Fitter, Fitter and Blamey (Bloomsbury Natural History)
Collins Flower Guide by Streeter (Harper Collins)
New Flora of the British Isles by Stace (CUP ideally 4th edit)

If you don’t have these items or books, they may be borrowed from the Centre.