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Phase 1 Habitat Survey

Summary

This course is aimed at consultants, botanists and ecologists involved in the conservation, surveying and classification of habitats in Scotland. This course is designed as an introduction to identify the characteristics of main Phase1 habitats, important habitats and vegetation communities. This will involve excursions weather permitting to a range of habitats within the JNCC Phase 1 habitat survey system. Methods or appraisal for ecological habitat assessment in relation to land-management is discussed and debated.


Description

Day 1: Morning: lectures/group discussion; part-field observation

Understanding Scottish habitats,

● Background to NVC

● Keys to identification of woodlands, mires, heaths and grasslands

● Key methods for quadrats

Ecological requirements – habitats ·

● Survey techniques and interpretation of quadrat data ·

● Different vegetation types and key species ·

● Topography, common species and habitats

● Plant identification and species indicators for vegetation communities

Afternoon: field excursion

Plant indicators for habitat identification

Day 2: Workshop and Field Day

Key methods for data collation, quadrats

Field - key plants and vegetation communities.

This is likely to include a few of the most common but also most interesting plants and communities in the areas visited. We will focus on major plant characteristics, differences for major plant groups including vascular plants, common rushes and sedges. Incidental observation and awareness for other species e.g. introduced species. Late afternoon – summing up and close.

Lectures/group discussion; part-field observation

Understanding Scottish species and habitats,

● Plant characteristics and relationship to vegetation communities

● NVC identification keys,

● Key species and associations

● Quadrat methods and analysis of data, floristic tables

● Data tables and interpretation

This is likely to include a few of the most common vegetation communities but also most interesting species and their habitats in the areas visited. We will focus on common species and plants associated with these communities. Incidental observation and awareness for other species e.g. introduced species.

Please be advised that this course will involve walking on difficult terrain for long durations. For further details on the visit please contact the training team.


Who Should Attend?

Relevant to practitioners in Scotland - Consultants, botanists and ecologists involved in the conservation, surveying and classification of habitats.

Knowledge Level

Beginner - Intermediate

Prior Knowledge

It would be an advantage to have some knowledge of:

● Use of keys

● Understanding phase 1 habitats

● Good plant identification skills


Learning Outcomes

  • Be able to identify at least 10 habitats
  • Recognise key features of plants of these habitats
  • Understand and recognise the key differences between habitats
  • Identify future targeted surveys and progress to other survey methods

Tickets


Training Ticket Member Ticket (Early Bird) £237
Training Ticket Member Ticket £284
Training Ticket Non-Member Ticket (Early Bird) £399
Training Ticket Non-Member Ticket £445

Programme


Session 1
27 October 2026 09:30 - 27 October 2026 16:30
Session 2
28 October 2026 09:00 - 28 October 2026 16:00

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