Grass, sedge and rush identification - Salisbury and The New Forest

Please note, in 2027 we are running also running this course on 25/26th May.

A 2-day course giving participants:

the skills and confidence to identify a wide range of grasses, sedges and rushes.

a simple way to identify grass species

an understanding of grasses as indicator species

a crib sheet listing the key features of the 90 most common species

a chance to see a wide range of lowland habitat types

These training days will give participants the confidence to identify a wide range of grasses and sedges (using largely non-flowering features) commonly encountered in a range of habitats.

The first day focuses on grasslands and calcareous habitats, looking at common species, as well as more specialised indicator species of meadows and unimproved grassland.

The second day will look at the species to be found in damp and acidic habitats, including heathlands, acid grasslands, bogs and mires.

Each day will cover roughly 30 species and will be run on the basis of people having no previous knowledge. In general, the mornings will involve teaching the species and the afternoons will involve revising and being tested on them.

The workshops will be carried out in several locations from the stunning New Forest to the hill-forts surrounding Salisbury, and provide the opportunity to discuss some of the conservation management issues of these habitats, as well as the difficulties of identifying grasses in grazed and mown habitats.

Lifts available from Salisbury on request - see Directions section below.

All proceeds from the course will go to supporting our endangered species conservation work.

About the tutor

Dominic Price is a highly regarded botanical tutor and has been running courses for all levels of ecologists since 2007. He is director of The Species Recovery Trust and specialises in the conservation of endangered species. He is the author of A Field Guide to Grasses, Sedges and Rushes and co-author of The Photographic Guide to Winter Trees and Shrubs.

What to bring

Notebook/clipboard

Hand lens (there will be some to purchase on the day)

Packed lunch for both days

Sturdy clothing for all weathers, and footwear appropriate for bogs on the second day

Plenty of liquids

£4 for parking at Old Sarum - contactless payment usually available or £4.20 via the Ringo app (download in advance). Parking is free for English Heritage members displaying a valid car sticker.

Forestry England are now charging at its New Forest car parks. At the time of writing this stands at £8.20 for over 4 hours via Ringo app (download in advance, payment has to be made by midnight on the day). Up to date information can be found at Parking Information | Forestry England (https://www.forestryengland.uk/new-forest/parking-information).

The recommended text for the course is 'A Field Guide to Grasses, Sedges and Rushes' by Dominic Price. Available to purchase on the day, as an 'add-on' on the ticket options, or in advance here (https://www.speciesrecoverytrust.org.uk/shop).

Please visit our training resources (https://www.speciesrecoverytrust.org.uk/resources) page before the course and take the Buzzfeed grasses quiz (https://www.buzzfeed.com/speciesrecovery/the-gigantic-grass-identification-quiz-uk-1rucb), and Buzzfeed rushes and sedges quiz (https://www.buzzfeed.com/speciesrecovery/sedge-and-rushes-quiz-1rucb) to test your knowledge prior to attending the course.

There are loos at Old Sarum on Day 1, as well as a small kiosk selling hot drinks and ice creams (and swords, just in case you have sword requirements).

On Day 2 there is a toilet and an all important ice cream van.

Please inform us of any relevant medical requirements/conditions we should be aware of prior to the course.

Lifts available from Salisbury station on request.

Day 1 Old Sarum

We apologise that the site does not open until 10am, so please do not attempt to enter the site before 10:05am as it very quickly blocks the access track if there is a delay in site opening. If you are coming from far we appreciate it is hard to time this, but there is a pull-in just to the south of the site (opposite the Harvester) where you can wait, or a small Co-op or large Waitrose further south on the edge of town.

10:05 Arrive on site

10:15 Tutorial starts

12:30 Lunch break

15:45 Departure (or earier if weather poor)

Day 2 Whitefield Moor

09:45 Meet at Whitefield Moor car park

10.00 Course starts

12:30. Lunch break

15:45 Course ends

Any problems on the day please call Dominic Price on (07968) 786390

To reduce our carbon footprint and reduce the car park spaces we use at training sites, if you can travel by train to Salisbury Train Station, or if you are staying in central Salisbury overnight, we are happy to provide you with a lift to and from the training site. Please message us before you buy your ticket/accommodation to arrange.

Directions

Day 1: Old Sarum is signed off the A345 2 miles north of Salisbury. Meet in the main ca

Description supplied by the event organiser.