A Botanical Odyssey - 300 Species in 3 Days? Fully booked

FULLY BOOKED

And now for something completely different. This course represents a new departure in botany. Can we see 300 species of vascular plants in 72 hours? Well, we’re going to have a very good try! To do so we shall have to look at not only flowering plants (including grasses and sedges) but also the ferns and horsetails and visit a wide variety of habitats. Happily, North Wales contains a wide and diverse range of plant communities and we shall be visiting sites from high in the hills to the shoreline, hopefully taking in wetlands, limestone pavements and dune systems along the way. We hope to see a good mix of plants from the commonplace to the rare.

Daytime walks will be up to four miles long through stunning rural scenery in and around Snowdonia and Anglesey with fine views on good days. The terrain will be diverse, including some rocky, steep sections, but will be taken at botanical pace, so despite our overall plan, no running shoes will be required! Rain will not stop play, but field days may be curtailed if prevailing weather conditions are unpleasant. After-dinner walks will be shorter in duration and of course visit areas closer to Rhyd-y-Creuau.

If you are aged 18-25, you are eligible for a £50 discount thanks to the Generation Green project, click here to find out more.

Tutor: Chris Metherell

Chris Metherell is the BSBI (Botanical Society of the British Isles) County Recorder for Northumberland and an experienced botanist. He regularly leads field trips for the Wild Flower Society and other interested groups.

Example Timetable

Course participants are requested to arrive on the first day at our reception for registration from 4.00 - 5.15pm. An introductory talk to the Centre is at 5.45pm. Dinner is at 6pm, followed by an introduction to your course. Departure is at 4.00 pm on the final day.