A two-day course covering the basics of habitat assessment, particularly looking at key indicator species of a range of different habitats.

Please note, in 2027 we are running Habitat Indicator Species courses on 14/15th June, 17/18th June and 9/10th September.

A two-day course giving participants

the skills and confidence to assess habitats, both in terms of type and quality.

the ability to identify indicator species

an overview of some key UKHAB, Phase I and NVC communities

a chance to do quadrat sampling and share ideas with colleagues

a chance to see a broad range of lowland habitat types including improved and unimproved grassland, calcareous grassland, wet meadows, acid grassland, heathland and mire communities

The purpose of much botanical survey is to tell us what is going on in the landscape around us – is it being over-managed, or unmanaged? Has the land been subject to agricultural improvement? What type of soil is it? Is it a habitat which is likely to support a wide range of species?

This course will focus on how to identify the key indicator species for improved and semi-improved grasslands, floodplain meadows, calcareous grasslands, acid grasslands, dry and wet lowland heath and mires. There will be reference to, but not in depth discussion of, Phase I, UKHAB and NVC communities.

Whilst aimed at beginners, these courses are more likely to be enjoyed with a basic level of prior plant ID skills, and they form an ideal follow-on from the training courses earlier in the year.

Lifts available from Salisbury station 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 A Field Guide to Bryophytes and The Photographic Guide to Winter Trees and Shrubs.

Schedule

Day 1: This day will focus on calcareous and neutral grasslands, covering species-rich chalk grassland, species-poor improved grassland and marshy grassland on the Avon Floodplain

10.05 Arrive on site - Old Sarum.

10.15 First tutorial session – improved and SI grassland

10.45 Mesotrophic and chalk grassland

12.30 Lunch (or shorter if weather bad)

1.15 Wet grassland on the Avon Valley

3.10 Calcareous Grasslands at Camp Down

3.45 Return to Old Sarum

c. 4:00 End

Day 2: This day will focus on acidic habitats, covering the key species which make up acid grassland, dry and wet heath, and mire and bog habitats.

9:45 Arrival on site - New Forest

10.00 Acid Grassland/Dry Heath and damp flushes

12.30 Lunch (or shorter if weather bad)

1.20 Heaths and bogs (+dry heath)

c. 3:30 Depart

What to bring

Water, snacks, firm boots (some steep banks). Please wear long trousers for the second day to minimise exposure to ticks (on this day there is a short amount of walking involved, and some ground will be boggy).

Please bring packed lunch on both days

£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).

Ice creams should be available both days!

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

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

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

Hugely Important Information

The second day of the course is in the New Forest, so if you are booking overnight accommodation you may wish to stay nearer there (if you find somewhere nice it's a fantastic chance to go out for an evening and listen to Nightjar). Please do not come to Old Sarum on the second day as you will miss a significant part of the morning driving on to the New Forest.

On the first day the gates to Old Sarum do 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.

Directions

Day 1

Old Saru

Description supplied by the event organiser.