Our connection with plants and our very understanding of their uses and the dangers that they present have been developed and handed down from generation to generation and are rooted in our very existence. But in the modern world, without constant exposure, the skills of Identification are so much harder to retain.

Expand your knowledge on what the natural world has to offer

The dates for the 2025 intake of this course are as follows:

26th & 27th April 2025
Wild Spring greens are at their best in the early stages of their development but are often the most challenging to identify as they are still to develop further key characteristics that help distinguish them from other species. Wildflowers are in full display revealing the signature of the plant they belong to, sinking in with the annual rhythm of their choreographed display. We examine these further as you start your own herbarium.

31st May & 1st June 2025
Late summer flowers are blooming, and tree foliage is well developed, we take the opportunity to examine these late bloomers and have a closer look at the crown to leaf structures of both native and non-native broadleaf tree species. Observe the doctrine of signatures in plants for identification purposes and how it related to their proposed uses.

30th and 31st August 2025
At this time of year, early fruit and nuts are forming on flora, we observe the changing structure of wild plants in the transfer of energy to reproduce and the identification features this reveals. Plant defences have also matured so it's to time to be looking at strategy plans of wild plants to protect themselves from attack and how this relates to family groups.

1st & 2nd November 2025
Many plants withdraw at this time of year embarking on their own survival plan in continuing their species to emerge the following year, revealing further identification details in the seeds they produce, the dead standing stems they leave behind and an opportunity to examine the root systems they have developed.

3rd & 4th January 2026
Winter tree identification with the detailed examination of buds in deciduous trees and needles in coniferous species, family characteristics, symbiotic fungi and tree diseases, sensorial tree identification at night, combined with understanding species growth regulators and how they respond to changes within their environment and distinguishing confusion species.

7th & 8th March 2026
Observing the first signs of spring as flora slowly awakens from winter's grasp, as the first wildflowers and new growth begin to emerge, revealing the start of its annual rhythm. We begin to set the foundation of plant identification as you are guided step by step through the process. We start with safety and the legality of examining wild plants, their evolution monocots/dicots, lifecycles, flower types, and plant structures, busting botanical terminology, looking at flower anatomy Latin name meanings and useful descriptions, and recommended reference material revealed.