About the Course
This one‑day, field‑based plant identification course provides practical and accessible methods for identifying the characteristic plant species of grassland and heathland habitats. With a strong focus on grasses, sedges and rushes, participants will also be introduced to a range of less common species, helping to broaden botanical understanding and confidence in the field.
Participants will be introduced to practical recording methods relevant to professional ecological work, including UKHab surveys.
This Grassland & Heathland Plant Identification Course is aimed at professional ecologists. Some prior botanical knowledge may be helpful, it is not required. The course is suitable both for those building plant identification skills and for practitioners looking to refresh and refine existing knowledge.

Your Instructor
Leif Bersweden
Leif Bersweden is a botanist, author and nature communicator known for his face‑down, bottom‑up approach to observing wildlife. Growing up in rural Wiltshire, he taught himself to identify local flora and has been championing Britain’s wild plants and the joy they bring ever since.
As instructor for the Plant Identification Course for Grassland & Heathland, Leif brings extensive experience as a botanical tutor and currently works for the Species Recovery Trust, combining practical field skills with an engaging and accessible teaching style.
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