This course is now fully booked.
A day course aimed at the keen beginner and improver alike, providing an introduction to how to identify aquatic plants. Our day will be spent on the beautiful Montgomery Canal just south of Llanymynech and will look at the many wonderful species that can be found growing in and along it. From Yellow Waterlilies to Duckweeds, Floating Water-plantain to Water Soldiers we will see a wide variety of the species that call the Montgomery Canal home.
The day will start with an introduction to the basics of aquatic plant identification, followed by the identification of commoner species using a key. We will look at the different niches each species occupies including marginals, floating, and submerged species. Emphasis will be placed on those characters that allow reliable and accurate identification. Later on we will look at determining the more unusual species. Use will be made of the excellent ‘British Water Plants’ key and by the end of the day participants should feel confident in the use of this key. The only requirements for this course are an enthusiasm for plants and moderate walking ability.
Tutor: Mark Duffell
Mark Duffell has had a lifetime interest in plants, gaining the RHS Diploma in Horticulture and completing an MSc in Biological Recording. He now runs Arvensis Ecology, splitting his time between conducting botanical surveys and teaching botanical identification and survey techniques to undergraduate and postgraduate students, consultancies and environmental organisations.
Example Timetable
- Please arrive at the car park for 10am start.
- Walking and stopping along route for rest of day.
- Lunch break and breaks as required.
- Return to car park for around 4pm.
What's Included
Before You Attend
What to Bring
- x10 and/or x20 hand lens*.
- A packed lunch and drink.
- Walking boots and waterproofs.
- Bring along any specimens you would like help with identifying.
Sorry this course has ended