North Pennines National Landscape

We are looking for volunteers to undertake botanical surveys on a selection of upland hay meadows that are being restored through seed addition, at locations across the North Pennines.

Time-scales: Botanical surveys are undertaken from third week of June until late July.

Methodology: Groups of two to three volunteers undertake 15 quadrats (1m x 1m square) per meadow. One meadow with 15 quadrats may take between one to two days.

 We are offering a free three-day course for beginner’s and botanists wishing to refresh their skills, in exchange for a minimum requirement of helping to survey a meadow over one full day. Beginners are advised to attend all three days, if possible. More experienced botanists can choose which days to attend based on their previous experience. You will need to sign-up to these three training days separately:

• Day One: Wildflower Identification training, Thursday 4^th June.
• Day Two: Grasses and sedges Identification training, Thursday 11^th June
• Day Three: Botanical survey training, quadrats and meadow assessments, Thursday 18^thJune.

Description of training:

We will spend the morning inside, looking at the key features of flowers and leaves, followed by looking at a few of the commonest plant families (such as buttercup, pea and daisy families). In the afternoon we will go for a botany walk along The Pennine Way, learning about other plant families (such as bluebell, geranium, carrot and rose families).

 Lunch provided in Newbiggin Village Hall, with refreshments provided.  Please let staff know prior to the event if you have any dietary requirements.

 Training will be undertaken by Dr Ruth Starr-Keddle, if you have any queries, please email Ruth: ruth@northpennines.org.uk