This course is fully booked.
Do you know how to identify trees in London’s parks and gardens? There is a great variety of trees in our Parks and we will focus on the native and broadleaved trees. An introduction to the classification, identification and naming of trees, you will learn how to identify them using practical studies and sharpen your observational skills. There is a great variety of tree species in Regent’s Park, so the park is ideally suited to learning how to identify trees. There will be an introduction to the classification, identification and naming of trees. We will be looking at both native and introduced trees. The outdoor sessions will be based on practical studies with the aim of sharpening observational skills. Teaching will be interactive with high student participation, encouraging students to share observations, make comments, ask questions and engage in discussions. Based in The Regent’s Park.
At the end of the course, students should feel comfortable identifying the genus of many of the trees and also a number of the species.
Tutor: Bettina Metcalfe
Bettina Metcalfe is a self-taught dendrologist and tree enthusiast with a keen interest in the trees in historic parks and gardens. She has used her knowledge to help document trees in major collections. Bettina is an experienced teacher and has been leading public tree walks in London for six years. She is an active member of the International Dendrology Society (IDS).
Example Timetable
09:30 – Registration
10:00 – Welcome, introductory talk, course outline and objectives covering Tree categories, taxonomy, leaf morphology
10:30 – Outdoor session - Identifying genera
12:00 – Lunch
13:30 – Outdoor session - Identifying some genera to species level
15:15 – Refreshments
15:30 – Review and summary, questions and how to take your interest further
16:00 – Course ends
All timings are approximate. 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
- Sensible clothing for the weather
- Appropriate footwear
- Lunch and Drinks (refreshments are provided)
Optional
- A hand lens x10
- Tree ID guide(s)
Sorry this course has ended