In this issue: Aquatic Plant Project; BSBI Summer Meeting; win a wildlife holiday; read about the NPMS; check out Green-Winged Orchids & more...
Welcome to our May BSBI eNewsletter.
In this issue: the Aquatic Plant Project is back; find out how our Green-winged Orchids are faring; there's a chance to book for our Summer Meeting, a great giveaway on our social media platforms, an opportunity to support BSBI members in hardship and a new report about the National Plant Monitoring Scheme; but first: field meetings season has started.
Field meetings galore!
We have a great selection of field meetings coming up in the next few weeks, wherever you are based and whatever your area of interest:
Meetings aimed at beginners - one in London, two in Edinburgh, inc. at Arthur's Seat (pictured).
Training meetings in Perthshire and Cumbria, and a recording meeting in West Inverness-shire.
General meetings in Co. Laois, Donegal, Somerset, Middlesex and Caernarvonshire.
Bookings are now open for a webinar and two field training days as part of Ireland's Aquatic Plant Project (APP) - and former Welsh Officer Polly Spencer-Vellacott is back as APP Events Co-ordinator!
Our England Officer Pete Stroh has been working flat out on captions for the forthcoming Atlas, but he managed to escape for a few hours last week to count Green-winged Orchids, as part of a long-running monitoring project in Hunts.
So, was it a good or bad year for Pete's local population of Green-winged Orchids? Find out how he got on and why he needed not one but two tape-measures to get the job done.
Have you signed up yet for the National Plant Monitoring Scheme, in which BSBI is a partner? If not, check out the latest report - it may convince you that this is the year to get involved!
On this page, you can see at a glance if there's a square available near where you live or where you go on regular holidays.
Already registered and about to carry out your first survey of the year? Why not share a pic of your plot on social media?
Following our announcement of Greenwings Wildlife Holidays as our newest corporate supporter, we're happy to be offering one BSBI Twitter or Instagram follower the chance to win a £100 one-day wildlife holiday.
The trip will include a search for the iconic British Swallowtail butterfly, alongside its equally unique food plant. Other fenland plants known in the area include Fen Orchid, Cowbane and Marsh Pea. Entry closes at 12 noon on 16th May.
Sponsor Julie to support fellow members in hardship
BSBI Finance Manager Julie Etherington is running her first ever half marathon on 19th June to raise money for the newly-launched BSBI Hardship Fund.
This new initiative aims to help existing members who find themselves unable to renew their membership due to unforeseen financial difficulty; the Fund will cover all or part of their subscription for one year.
Bookings are now open for this year's BSBI Summer Meeting - a chance for botanists (beginner or expert, member or non-member) to meet up and look at interesting plants in interesting places.
The event runs from Friday 15th to Monday 18th July and we'll be based at FSC Malham Tarn in Cumbria.
You can opt for the all-in package (£200 which includes registration, food and accommodation) or create your own bespoke package.
This month Lynne has been enjoying the sight and scent of native bluebells - her latest blogpost includes a link to help you separate native and garden hybrid bluebells.
She has also been seeing how conservation management has benefited Bird's-eye Primroses at Gait Barrows NNR, and she checked out the orchid counts at a National Trust site near her Cumbria home.
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