BSBI's Two Ians. 

Over recent months, our incoming and outgoing Presidents have been working closely together to ensure a smooth changeover when Ian Denholm takes over from Ian Bonner on Wednesday as BSBI's President.

Sir David Attenborough and Dr Ian Denholm at Rothamsted, 2008

Dr Ian Denholm spent thirty years as an agricultural scientist at Rothamsted Research, heading their Plant and Invertebrate Ecology Department, while remaining very active in field botany and within BSBI. He now combines a Visiting Scientist role at Rothamsted with a part-time academic position at the University of Hertfordshire. 

As the society’s co-referees for Orchids, Ian and Richard Bateman are the botanical experts to whom BSBI’s 3,000 members, and the wider botanical community, turn for advice on correct identification of these difficult plants. As Chair of BSBI’s Meetings Committee, Ian's team was responsible for our highly successful Mapping Conference last year at the Royal Botanic Garden, Edinburgh, and he was also the driving force behind our recent initiatives in publicity and outreach. His presentation to journalists and conservationists at the recent launch of the State of Nature report showcased BSBI as a key partner in this new coalition of conservation and research organisations supporting British wildlife.

Dr Ian Denholm

Outgoing President Ian Bonner told me, "I'm delighted to be handing over the Presidency to Ian Denholm. Under his careful leadership, I am confident the Society will continue to expand and flourish." 

Under Ian Bonner's Presidency, New Journal of Botany was launched and our Plant Unit flourished. Click here to listen to Ian being interviewed on BBC Radio Wales yesterday. He told me "It has been a privilege to have worked with so many enthusiastic and hard working volunteers and our small dedicated staff in recording plant distribution information, developing a better database and making the information available to those that need it." 

He also pointed out that, as well as a name, the Two Ians both share a connection with North Wales. Ian D comes from that Welsh town with the really long name and Ian B. is VC Recorder for Anglesey, so it is fitting that, this Wednesday, the changeover will happen at our AGM at Beaumaris on Anglesey. Photos to follow...