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Brenda (on left) & Dr Chantal Helm,
BSBI Training Coordinator, at the 2024
British & Irish Botanical Conference |
Today’s interview is with Dr Brenda Harold, who created Identiplant, the very popular online
plant identification course. Brenda has been a BSBI member for 57 years, served
on BSBI Council from 2007 to 2011 and on our Training Committee from 2008 to
2017. Brenda’s achievements were acknowledged with a special presentation at
the 2024 British
& Irish Botanical Conference and I caught up with her recently on a
Zoom call to find out more about how she first got interested in botany and how
she went on to create Identiplant.LM: Hi Brenda, can you please share how your passion for
botany began?
BH: I was born with a fascination for plants although I grew
up in London with no access at all to the countryside and not knowing anyone
interested in wildlife. I wanted to be a scientist but didn’t consider biology
until I had to choose my A-level subjects, when I asked for chemistry, physics,
pure maths and botany. The school was unable to timetable that, but said that I
could swap botany for zoology. That was the moment when I realised that botany
was my greatest interest and I changed to botany, zoology, chemistry and physics.
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Brenda aged 15 months and
already showing an interest
in plants! |
After school I got a place at UCL (1961-64), and did the
most brilliant, brilliant botany degree course. I learnt absolutely everything
about plants, including microbiology and plenty of genetics. And from there I
just wanted to take botany as far as I could so I stayed on as a PhD student
with the project title: “Cytogenetic Studies in the Genus Potentilla”.
LM: And of course, you went on to join the BSBI and in 1969 you were invited to become our expert Referee for Potentilla (a photo of Brenda's Referee invitation letter, signed pp the legendary Frank Perring, can be seen below right).
BH: I became a referee so early because of the publication
of my PhD. I had been immersed in Potentilla spp. (cinquefoils) for three years
and by then I could spot one from a mile off. Having made my own Potentilla hybrids,
I knew which species would and wouldn’t cross and how their chromosomes paired,
aiding greatly in my identification abilities. It was also during this time
that my PhD supervisor, Jack Ellis, suggested that I joined BSBI, which is why
I’ve been a member for so long!
A highlight of my research actually happened
two years after my PhD, when I managed to recreate Potentilla anglica,
confirming that the species is an allopolyploid. I took over the referee
position in 1970, and on average I received half a dozen identification
requests each year. Once or twice, I received a large bundle of pressings from
someone sorting through an herbarium collection, and I had to cover the whole
floor to sort through them! As part of
my role, in 2021 I also produced two Potentilla training webinars (supported by
the National Parks and Wildlife Service): part one and part two are
still available to watch on YouTube.
LM: How did you get into teaching after university?
BH: Growing up I was certain that I didn’t want to become a
teacher so I didn’t take a teaching certificate. However, when I finished my
studentship in 1967, a vacancy arose at Westfield College for someone to teach
genetics and botany and I was invited to apply. This was an offer that I
couldn’t refuse. My first lecture at Westfield was teaching genetics to 70
first year biology students, and I was absolutely terrified. But by the end of
that lecture, I knew that I wanted to teach. I discovered that I had an ability
to explain things well, and that all that mattered was the subject and the students,
not how I spoke or what I looked like. I realised what a privilege it is to be
able to pass on such interesting material to others. By the end of term, my
real ambition was to become a senior tutor, and to move away from research.
LM: What did you do after you left Westfield College?
BH: I left Westfield after five years in 1972 and didn’t
return to full-time work until my second daughter started school. During this period
I did however do loads of part-time work, including working as a genetics tutor
for the Open University and then at Brunel University. During one of Brunel
University’s cutbacks, I was told that the university couldn’t afford to have
any more part-timers, but there was a full-time botany position available. Just
like the position at Westfield, it was the most incredible good luck, as I was
able to return to full-time work just as my daughter started school. Ensuring
excellent teaching quality was my main focus and, for example, I introduced
student feedback questionnaires after modules. I undertook a number of
positions within the Biology Department at Brunel, including Director of
Studies, Senior Tutor, and finally Deputy Head of the Department. I also became
Chair of the University Senior Tutors Committee.
LM: When did you start to become serious about field botany?
BH: Despite committing my career to botany and plant
genetics, I still lacked decent field skills. It was only in 1990, when my two
girls were becoming independent that I had time to develop my interest. I began
by creating a large photo library, which was the only way I could remember all of
the names. I first decided that I would not take any photos of orchids as
beautiful photos of them are two-a-penny! Instead, I focused on common British
“weeds” such as Chickweed Stellaria media and Daisy Bellis perennis.
LM: Two lovely species – if they were as rare as orchids, I think we’d all be knocking ourselves out about them! But which ID books were you
using at the time?
BH: I was using Fitter,
Fitter and Blamey’s Wild Flowers of Britain and Northern Europe, which I
always recommended to absolute beginners. I also used the identification keys
in New
Flora of the British Isles by Clive Stace. Due to my background, almost
from the beginning if I found an unknown plant I could eventually work out what
it was, and be confident whether I was right.
LM: I gather that even after taking early retirement from
the University in 1997, you continued to practice teaching?
BH: Yes, after my retirement, I remained busy. I began by
attending field courses at different Field Studies Council (FSC) centres and “graduated”
to tutoring them myself. My first FSC course was a Beginner’s Guide to
Wildflowers, which Sue Dancey asked me to do. Sue was the Head of the Preston
Montford Field Centre and I’ve always had the utmost respect for her. FSC Preston
Montford was always such a happy, well-run place, which speaks highly of Sue’s
work.
LM: I’m just jumping in here Brenda to say that I couldn’t
agree more! Sue’s work at the FSC and alongside Sarah Whild on BSBI Skills
& Training Committee was hugely important in advancing and showcasing
botanical training across Britain and Ireland, not just in Shropshire! And then
what happened at WEA?
LM: Was it also during this time that you volunteered with
the Wildlife Trust?
BH: Yes, after my retirement I also became a volunteer with
Herts and Middlesex Wildlife Trust (image above left). For some years I was warden of a very small
nature reserve. My role included counting the Shetland sheep (image below right) when they visited
the reserve, which was particularly difficult as the sheep tended to lie down
under trees and blended into the landscape due to their camouflage colours! I
also joined the Trust’s team of volunteer wildlife site surveyors which
comprised about 5 experts plus about 10 beginners at various levels. We went
out in small groups to existing or potential wildlife sites throughout the
county and carried out professional-level surveys including full species lists
with indicator species noted, plus site maps and descriptions. These surveys
were really important to me as they taught me survey technique, as well as
being very enjoyable.
LM: How did your experience as a volunteer site surveyor
with the Wildlife Trust make you realise that there was a need for a new kind
of plant ID course?
BH: During the survey sessions I saw that the beginners simply
made lists of species’ common names, which were entered on to the county record
card by one of the experts at the end of the session. But more than one of the
beginners told me that they wanted to improve but didn’t know how to, so I
decided to write a course for them. This would have to be a long course since
it is not possible to acquire all the essential knowledge and observational
experience in a short day or weekend course. However, they were all on email by
2010 so I decided to email the course units to them. In 2011 then, I wrote
Identiplant, a course in 15 units starting in February and ending in September,
which I emailed to students on alternate Fridays. I had prepared the first few
units in advance but soon I was writing a new unit each fortnight. This was possible because I used all the
material from my WEA courses, which had been enjoyed by numerous students, including
all of my own photographs, drawings and notes.
Identiplant began as a small, local course, but in 2012 two
friends enabled it to become a national online course: Sue Green, a retired
maths teacher, built the website and learning platform, while Sue Dancey
persuaded the FSC to take on the financial administration. The BSBI gave us
permission to display their logo as well as advertising the course on their website
and in 2013 Identiplant was launched as an online course throughout Britain and
Ireland. It quickly spread and developed a life of its own, with students from Northern
Scotland to Jersey and the Republic of Ireland. Each student has their own
online tutor, who is an expert familiar with their own area, and the BSBI also
advertised for these. I saw Identiplant as a bridge to take beginners across
the difficult divide between learning plant names one by one to proper
systematic identification.
 |
British & Irish Botanical Conference 2022:
Ellen Goddard (on right) from
BSBI Skills & Training Committee
enthuses visitors about Identiplant |
LM: So, then you decided to hand the course over to BSBI in
2022 and we appointed Chantal Helm as our Training Coordinator to handle
administration. Was it hard to hand over your “baby” or was it a relief?! And
of course, you stayed on the Identiplant Management Team to smooth the
transition.
BH: I was very happy to pass the reins over to BSBI. Sarah
Woods, who helped with the business plan, and Steve Gater, who was a BSBI trustee at the time, were both
greatly helpful in lessening the stress of the transfer process. Since its
launch in 2013, 2,300 students have enrolled in Identiplant, highlighting its
impact in educating aspiring botanists. Many of those after the course, became
the plant experts in their area, commonly organising wildflower walks or other
botanical activities. But the best reward is seeing how much the students who
complete the course enjoy it.
LM: Yes, the feedback we receive from Identiplant alumnae –
and the huge number of applicants each year – are evidence of how successful
and enjoyable Identiplant is! So, what are your plans now that you’ve stepped
back?
 |
Brenda receiving the
Marsh Botany Award 2024 |
BH: I’ve always got a project! I spend a lot of time in my
garden, which can be complicated to manage. I also have ambitions to complete
another course which I started writing in 2018. It was never quite finished and
has been sitting on my computer ever since. And I’m still an Identiplant tutor.LM: That sounds exciting – I hope you’ll come back and tell
us more once you’ve completed that other course! For now, can I say a big thank
you to you for talking to us Brenda, it’s been fascinating to hear the story
behind Identiplant which has proved instrumental in training up so many
botanists and kickstarting so many careers. We all owe you a huge debt of
gratitude! BSBI isn’t the only organisation keen to trumpet Brenda’s achievements: we were delighted to hear that Brenda was awarded the Marsh Botany Award 2024 for her “dedication in teaching and training many cohorts of botanists, ecologists and land managers”. She joins a small but select team of botanists, including Sarah Whild and Clive Stace, who receive this prestigious annual award due to their lifetime achievements and outstanding contributions in the field of botanical research and conservation. Congratulations to Brenda on this very well-deserved award.
Finally, can I say a big thank you here to BSBI Communications
volunteer Isabelle McAllister who transcribed the interview with Brenda which
was carried out via Zoom? Watch out for future interviews between Isabelle and
BSBI staff members.
