Overview

This course is aimed at anyone new to studying this fascinating group of plants, and will concentrate on the principles of grass identification. The course will give you an opportunity to learn and practice your identification skills, and to build up a collection of specimens and associated notes.

This course can only be undertaken between May and September when flowering grasses are available. If you book at another time of the year the course materials will be sent to you in early May.

Get 10% off all online courses by Ecology Training UK Ltd (ETUK)
if you book and pay online using this code: 8ZV1BNQH21AS.

The course will cover the following topics:
  • Grass structure, terminology and features commonly used for ID
  • Grass families and clues to their ID
  • How to use keys and field guides to identify species.

Course outline:

Part 1

  • What is a grass?
  • Grass anatomy
  • Features used to identify grasses
  • How to use keys

Part 2

  • Common grasses – identification
  • Practice using Keys and identifying your samples

Part 3

  • Field visit with the tutor
  • Tutor showing field notebook

By the end of the course, participants will have learnt how to recognise some of the common species of grass found in the UK, will be familiar with grass features and structures and know how to use keys to identify grasses.

What our students say:

“I found the course VERY useful. I started doing some work on learning about grasses last summer, but got distracted and before you know it, it’s October. The course has opened my eyes to grasses, and on my morning walk today, I found myself constantly scanning the grasses and identifying/attempting to identify them. I found it interesting, and that makes it easier for me to learn. I wouldn’t hesitate to recommend the course to anybody wishing to learn about grasses.

The video was great, it make things a bit more interactive. Also, the fieldwork part of it REALLY worked for me… if I can go out and see stuff rather than just reading about it, it helps massively.”

“It has been very helpful in learning the lingo / technical terms for things which will help me enormously in using my ID guide! (e.g. I now know what a ligule is and where to find it! ).
It is also good to know that the certain species I thought I knew, such as Yorkshire Fog, were indeed Yorkshire Fog, and I have learnt some new species, too :). Thank you very much for putting this course together.”

Other information:

Where:

The course is online and can be started at any time and will take about 4-6 hours to complete.

Video run-time: 1hr 58 mins – allow time to stop and take notes and look at your samples.

What you need:

You will need a grass ID book, one of these or similar:

  • FSC Chart Guide to Common Grasses.
  • Francis Rose 1989 – Colour identification Guide to the Grasses, Sedges Rushes and Ferns of the British Isles and north-western Europe –Penguin Group
  • C.E Hubbard 1992 – Grasses A guide to their structure, identification, uses and distribution in British Isles – 3rd Edition – Penguin Group

You will need to collect 5-10 grass samples before you start the video that you can refer to.

A hand lens or magnifying glass would be useful.

You might also want to have a hardback sketchbook and some sticky tape to put your samples in.

How will I be assessed?

You will have to identify 10 grass species and send evidence (e.g. photograph/video) that you have done this.

There is also an end of course quiz.

Once you have successfully completed these two assessments you will receive a Certificate.

Price: The course costs £105 (plus VAT) or £95 (plus VAT) if you book and pay online using the code 8ZV1BNQH21AS. This does not include the price of the core text. 

How to book: You can book on-line at https://ecologytraining.co.uk/course/grass-id/.

Once you have booked, we will e-mail you to confirm that your booking has been received and you will then be able to start the course straight away. 

If you are a company, you request an invoice by emailing ecologytraininguk@gmail.com. 

Who is Ecology Training UK? 

ETUK is one of the leading ecology training providers in the UK and strives to provide a range of field and online courses suitable for conservation and ecology consultancy. We provide a range of online courses including Habitat Management, Habitat Restoration, Managing Woodlands for Biodiversity, Reptile and Amphibian ID, Mammal ID, Invasive Species, Surveying for Protected Species, Phase 1 habitat mapping, and various bat courses. Most courses are UK-biased.  

The company is run by Sue Searle BSc PGDip MCIEEM who is a principal ecologist and senior tutor with over 20 years experience in the ecology sector. We are passionate about wildlife, wild places and encouraging people to progress their careers! 

Get 10% off all online courses by Ecology Training UK Ltd (ETUK)
if you book and pay online using this code: 8ZV1BNQH21AS.