15 Jul Supporting Professional Development: Sedge and Rush ID training
During June and July, ecologists from across the company took part in sedge and rush ID training in Oxfordshire and Northumberland. The training forms part of our long-term plan to upskill all our ecologists in botanical ID and survey techniques.
In Oxfordshire the training was organized by BSG Senior Ecologist Joe Grainger-Hull and Technical Director Tom Flynn and led by Judy Webb, a local expert on alkaline fens. The training took place at Lye Valley SSSI/LNR, a lowland calcareous valley fen in Headington, Oxford which supports 28 sedge species, including 22 Carex, two cottongrasses (Eriophorum species), black bog-rush, few-flowered spike-rush, and flat-sedge.
Judy showed the group the habitat preferences of various sedge and rush species and how to differentiate and identify them. The ecologists then explored the area in order to apply some of this learning, identifying the key characteristics of each species and enjoying the other flora and fauna present. Other highlights of the day included marsh helleborine, looking at the difference between sharp and blunt-flowered rush, a banded general soldier fly looking for a place to lay its eggs, a juvenile common lizard and slow worm.
Mike Perkins of Serotina Ecology led the training session for the Newcastle team around Fontburn Reservoir and the Wallington Estate in Northumberland. The outdoor session took place on blanket bog, upland fens and flushes as well as heath and focused on sedge, grass and rush identification and gave the ecologists an opportunity to examine a range of plant specimens both in a classroom setting and in the field. Highlights of the day included flea sedge, bottle sedge and floating club rush.
Feedback from attendees included:
“Mike led a very engaging session which tested our skills navigating keys as well as developing our understanding of these plant groups, their habitats and distributions. It was both informative and enjoyable.” Hannah Breadin, Principal Ecologist, Newcastle
“The training was very informative and introduced me to some sedge species that I had not encountered before. It was beneficial to be able to compare species in the field and discuss key identification characteristics. I will be practicing my sedge ID skills next time I am out on site!” Chloe Thompson, Ecologist, Oxford
