Woodland Mosses for Beginners

Woodland Mosses for Beginners is a practical one-day course designed to introduce the fascinating lives and identification of mosses. With some 750 species recorded in Britain, woodlands are one of the most rewarding habitats to explore, offering a good variety of large and attractive bryophytes ideal for beginners.

The morning session is based at Tyland Barn where the emphasis will be on the basic structure of mosses and their unusual life cycle. You will learn key identification features and gain confidence in using characteristics that are observable with a hand lens. The course focuses on techniques you can use in the field to recognise the top 20 most common woodland mosses.

In the afternoon the group travels 23 miles to Knock Wood, near Tenterden, to practise identification skills on site. Knock Wood is an excellent location for mosses, with large patches of many common species. Please note that transport to the afternoon location is not provided, so you will need to make your own travel arrangements; shared transport will be encouraged where feasible.

The course is led by Ros Bennett, botanist and ecologist, and aims to give you a basic working knowledge of woodland mosses plus the inspiration to pursue the subject further. Participants should bring a x 10 or x 20 hand lens and a willingness to learn in both classroom and field settings.