Due to Covid-19 we have had to cancel courses from March to 1st August, we hope you will find an event later in the year that you can attend.
Grasses are tricky because they lack showy flowers and their leaves are all very similar but they are important in most plant habitats. We will begin with the structure and terminology of the grass plant, then visit local sites to become familiar with the common species that are found in different types of grassland. Course fee includes FSC fold-out chart -Grasses Identification Guide’
Please bring a packed lunch with you.
Tutor: Brenda Harold
Brenda Harold has tutored many wild flower courses for different organisations, is an active Wildlife Trust Volunteer and a keen plant photographer using her slides to illustrate talks and courses. She is a qualified botanist and a retired university lecturer.
Example Timetable
09:30 - Arrival, tea, coffee
10:00 - Welcome and introduction. Course outline, aims and objectives.
10:15 - Structure and terminology of grass plants, with examination of specimens. The ecology of grasslands.
12:00 - 13:00 Lunch break
Drive to Chorleywood Common (car share)
13:00 - Site visit, with practice in grass identification and comparison of species on different soil types
15:30 - Return to Centre
15:50 - Course summary
16:00 - Course ends
This is an outline programme and may be subject to change according to the weather, requirements of the group or access restrictions to field sites on the day of the course. Our courses include some classroom sessions but field visits may be a few hours long and involve walking over uneven ground.
What's Included
Before You Attend
What to bring
- Packed lunch
- Field notebook and pencil
- A x10 hand lens- if you have one
- Any field guides that you have. A Field Guide to Grasses, Sedges and Rushes by Dominic Price, published by The Species Recovery Trust, is recommended.
- Suitable outdoor clothing and footwear. We will walk about 2 miles on level or moderately sloping ground, but it is always advisable to wear good walking shoes or boots and long trousers when walking through long grass.
Sorry this course has ended