What are BSBI botanists up to this month?

Keying out over lunch, Flintshire
Image: M. Clymko

I'm constantly amazed by the energy and enthusiasm of BSBI members and the wide range of botanical activities they get up to! Just look at some of their recent posts (scroll down list on right of screen). As well as going out recording what grows in their local patch, and helping people key out what they find, our members are:

taking lovely images of orchids and other plants in flower just now, and of BSBI recorders in the field: I just had to share the image on the right, from the BSBI Cymru Blog! 

telling us more about individual plants like these Fly Orchids in the Avon Gorge, or the wildlife of unusual habitats, like this old lead mine;

Cystopteris fragilis recorded in VC42
Image: J. Crellin

carrying out some interesting botanical experiments in their back gardens and reporting back on them!

working with other organisations, like Wildlife Trusts and the Wildflower Society, to put on great joint meetings for local botanists;

seeing other nice wildlife and encouraging members to submit those records to the relevant person;

sharing their personal thoughts on more controversial issues - like biodiversity offsetting - and inviting you to leave them a comment and join the debate;

attending BSBI national workshops and offering some great feedback;

Working on botanical specimens
Image courtesy of Birmingham Museums Trust

sharing the notes and sketches they make as they get to grips with plant ID, often after a long gap;

offering botanical ID challenges and reminding us how much fun it can be learning about botany!   

counting orchids for Natural England and passing on info about regional volunteering opportunities for botanists, like the chance to work on botanical specimens this summer in Birmingham. [I rarely post about VC55 stuff on this page, to avoid any hint of favouritism, but just had to share these two!]