Wildflower Identification for improvers

Join this Wildflower Identification for improvers course at Tyland Barn to sharpen your plant ID skills and gain confidence using botanical keys. The session is ideal for people who already know several common species and have a basic grasp of floral structure, but who want to become more effective at identifying flowering plants accurately.

The day begins in the classroom where you will study specimens closely while working through identification keys as a group. You will focus on relatively simple flowers to build confidence, then, weather permitting, spend time outdoors in Tyland Barn Nature Park applying what you have learned. Exercises are carried out together or in pairs under the supervision of the tutor so you can practise techniques and ask questions as you go.

Led by Ros Bennett, botanist and ecologist, the course emphasises the key features botanists use to group look-alike plants. You will develop a working knowledge of essential botanical terms, a deeper insight into flowering plant classification, and improved ability to use scientific keys for accurate identification. The practical approach is designed to give you shortcuts for recognising common families and genera and to make independent field identification more straightforward.

Whether you want to improve your skills for wildlife recording, gardening or simply to enjoy plants more fully, this improvers course will help you feel more confident and effective when identifying wildflowers in the field.