BSBI and partners launch new National Plant Monitoring Scheme

Pete, Felicity, Kevin & WFC volunteer trial NPMS methods
Image: M. Pocock

It's been a long time in the planning, but this morning the National Plant Monitoring Scheme (NPMS) was launched. This exciting new scheme is the result of a partnership between BSBI, Plantlife, the Centre for Ecology & Hydrology (CEH) and JNCC.

Regular News & Views readers will already have heard how BSBI's Head of Science Kevin Walker, Scientific Officer Pete Stroh and Projects Officer Bob Ellis were out last summer trialling various survey methods for volunteers to use on the new scheme. They did this alongside colleagues such as Oli Pescott (Research Assistant Botanist at CEH and a very active BSBI member!), the excellent Felicity from Plantlife and volunteers from Plantlife's Wildflowers Count. 

WFC volunteer, Bob Ellis & Oli Pescott trial NPMS methods
Image: M. Pocock

Ever since, the NPMS Team has been working away like crazy in the background getting everything ready for today's big launch. The new NPMS website is now live and you can find out more about why we have launched the scheme, why we need your help and how you can get involved. You can also check out a few of the resources that we have provided for you. 

There is more info in the press release and a nice article in the latest issue of Country Living magazine. You can find out about the presentation Oli gave on the NPMS at BSBI's Annual Exhibition Meeting here and download Oli's Powerpoint from this page.

You can also follow the latest NPMS action on Twitter. I hope that you already follow the BSBI account @BSBIbotany - either via Twitter or by keeping an eye on the Twitter feed on the right of this page - and I'll be keeping you updated on NPMS developments. You can also follow the new Twitter account for the scheme @theNPMS