On 24th June Stuart Hedley, county plant recorder, led the second of our plant ID training sessions in the field at a site in Urishay. Participants split into small groups to carry out quadrat surveys and get to grips with common meadow plants, including some trickier species like cat’s ears and the hawkbits. This time, as well as in an established meadow, we also practiced plant identification in a semi-improved sward. This plant community is similar to what those beginning a meadow restoration this year might expect to see. Carrying out baseline surveys in this type of grassland is still important and exciting, as it will enable us to monitor the change in these meadows’ biodiversity with ongoing restoration.

You can find resources on our website for distinguishing between ‘problem pairs’ of plants, as well as recording forms for your surveys.