An interactive course where you will learn to identify between native and non-native conifers
When - New date tbc
Who - Course Instructor Matt Parratt
Where - Bush Estate, Penicuik, Edinburgh
Cost - £350
This course is eligible for Future Foresters and Women in Forestry Training Funds. Find out more here.
Course Description
Just three species of conifer are native to the British Isles but many non native species are a major feature of our landscape and are widely used in forestry. With the looming challenges of climate change and the increases in pests and diseases a more diverse range of species is being trialed and planted and they may not be as easy to readily identify as the more familiar ones.
Using both live material in the classroom and trees in the field you will get to know the key features required for accurate identification and then use those in a systematic approach to successfully identify the expanding range of species which are finding their way into the forestry and amenity sectors.
Learning Objectives
-
Establish the difference between
recognition and identification.
-
Introduce a systematic approach to
conifer identification.
-
Using live material to demonstrate
the key characters for identifying different genera and species of the pine
family (e.g. Pines, firs, spruce, larch, cedar), cypress family (e.g.
Cypresses, False cypresses, Redwoods and allies) commonly grown in the UK.
- Facilitate outdoor sessions consolidating key identification skills .
Learning Outcomes - by the end of this 2 day course you will be able to:
- Quickly identify the main genera of Pine, Cypress, and Yew commonly found in the UK
- Use key features within each genus to identify species commonly found in the UK
- Use a systematic approach to identifying unknown conifers and be able to identify them to at least Genus level.
- Be familiar with some of the key resources available to help in the identification process.
Establish the difference between
recognition and identification.
Location
Bush House
Bush Estate
Penicuik
Edinburgh
EH26 0PH