FSC 2-day Courses Delivered: Botany Skills for Ecologist (1x) and Grasses, Sedges and Rushes: Identifying Common Species (1x).

In June and July 2026, I was fortunate to meet and train 20 professional ecologists during Field Studies Council courses. We focussed on botanical skills to identify families of flowering plants, including the notorious grasses, sedges and rushes, but we also tried to go beyond and explored a variety of plants, characters to watch out for and the link with habitat types.

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Great fun teaching and learning botany: Plant and habitat identification skills, 3-day course, June 24-26 2026, delivered from Teesside University

This CPD course delivered from Middlesbrough and visiting quality habitats in the local area was attended by a terrific bunch of ecologists, PhD students, conservationists, reserve warden, etc. Despite the heatwave, we had time to practice making sense of vegetation, this big green wall that appears impenetrable at first to the eye, and identify the individual plant species, classifying habitat types using plant species assemblages, indicator species, etc.

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J Denis Summers-Smith PhD studentship, a collaboration with the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds, featured as Teesside University’s latest good news story and picked up by the BBC

The studentship that supports PhD candidate Ed Hearn is now featuring the latest good news for the University and was picked up by the BBC! This work falls within my interest in monitoring change during rewilding and will strengthen existing research in this area. It reads as follows: The four-year project, a collaboration between the conservation team at RSPB Saltholme nature reserve and PhD researcher Ed Hearn, will examine how rewilding can reverse bird declines and shape future conservation work across the UK.

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RSPB Saltholme nature reserve introducing Tamworth pigs to rewild

A four-year project is set to analyse the benefits the presence of Tamworth pigs has on other species.

bbc.co.uk

Botanical training offered in 2026

In 2026 I am offering an even greater range of opportunities to skyrocket your botanical skills: Plant and Habitat Identification Skills short course at Teesside University: Three-day Course / 24th…

plantsbiodiversityecosystems.wordpress.com

New paper: Whole System Ecohydrological Change Following Beaver Reintroduction

Smith, M. W., A.Puttock, M. J.Klaar, H. Thomas, L.L. Handley, R. Brazier, G. Bradbury, A. Baker, A. Hanson, N. Gibbons, K. Gittens, T. Spencer, C. Bashforth (2026). Whole System Ecohydrological Change Following Natural Flood Management and a Five-Year Beaver Reintroduction Trial. Ecohydrology 19, no. 4: e70238. ABSTRACT Once-common beavers have been absent from the British landscape for centuries, but wild beaver populations have returned in recent years as part of reintroduction schemes, including releases into monitored enclosures.

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Pint of Science 2026 – Middlesbrough, UK: “Why are we speaking about rewilding?” 18.05.2026

I am still buzzing from this opportunity for Austine and I to present some of our research work on rewilding to such a lovely and enthusiastic audience. It was so nice to see a diverse crowd, including past students and colleagues. Off the Ground, the hosting venue was excellent and packed, as I understand tickets sold out. I'll come back again when it is less busy!

plantsbiodiversityecosystems.wordpress.com

Rewilding SIG PhD Conference

Join this Rewilding SIG event dedicated to presenting and sharing research between PhD students.

eventbrite.co.uk

The Rewilding Monitoring Framework

We’ve developed Britain’s first framework for monitoring rewilding progress, demonstrating its vital role in creating ecological, social and economic…

rewildingbritain.org.uk

Indicative Content to 3-day course: plant and habitat identification skills, June 2026, Middlesbrough, Northeast England

As the we are nearing spring and the sun is finally showing itself, I thought I'd provide a more information about the 3-day course I am offering in June. Full details and booking following this link. The classroom element is on Teesside University campus, and everyday we’ll visit one or two relevant site(s) of botanical interests. The exact sites and structure of the days will depend a little bit on the weather; but this will be set on the first day and communicated so that the learners know what to expect.

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Fully Funded PhD Opportunity – J Denis Summers-Smith Research Studentship: How to promote abundant and diverse bird resources during transition to rewilding | Research | Teesside University

J Denis Summers-Smith Research Studentship: How to promote abundant and diverse bird resources during transition to rewilding | Research | Teesside University Application Deadline: 13/03/2026 5:00PM Anticipated Interview Date: 17/03/2026 Staff name: Dr Ambroise Baker Start date: Successful applicants will be expected to start in May or October 2026. This PhD project aims to study early management interventions during the transition from agriculture to rewilding, with a special focus on the provision of bird habitat and resources, such as seeds and invertebrate abundance.

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Forestry England and Forest Research workshop about measuring herbivore impacts on nature recovery, held 20th January 2026, Worcester College, Oxford

This was an extremely productive and refreshing workshop, a true opportunity to brainstorm with a range of practitioners. Organised by Forestry England, Forest Research and CEH, this one-day meeting demonstrated some of the challenges and opportunities when it comes to understand the impacts that large herbivores may have on nature recovery landscapes such as those led by Forestry England. taking part energised and strengthened my enthuse in relation to monitoring change during rewilding, a piece of work I have been developing at Teesside University in collaboration with PhD candidate Austine Otabor and the RSPB at their site of Wild Saltholme. Thank you to the organisers for putting up such a great workshop.

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Plant and habitat identification skills, 3-day plant identification course, June 24-26 2026, Middlesbrough, Northeast England.

I am thrilled to offer a new 3‑day botany course from Teesside University. The Plant and Habitat Identification CPD Masterclass is an in‑person course taking place in the Tees Valley in the Northeast of England in June 2026 – More details following this link. The idea behind this course is to offer participants skills, practice, and access to resources that will help them gain independence in their learning…

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British & Irish Botanical Conference 2025 organised by the BSBI: Edge Hill University, November 29 2025

Fantastic time at #BIBConf25, catching up in person with BSBI friends, making new botany friends, hearing from early career people, listing to interesting talks and debates, ... 150% BSBI fun with a full range of exhibits, talks and posters, ... well over 100% on the account that there was sooo much to see and learn! I was fortunate to be allocated exhibit no 8 and brought information about mint (genus Mentha) and I got lots of tips from people on how to develop this work. The poster I presented can be downloaded from here.

plantsbiodiversityecosystems.wordpress.com

Botanical training offered in 2026

In 2026 I am offering an even greater range of opportunities to skyrocket your botanical skills: Plant and Habitat Identification Skills short course at Teesside University: Three-day Course / 24th-26th June 2026. Sharpen your botanical expertise with our CPD masterclass in plant and habitat identification. Perfect for ecologists aiming to deliver BNG surveys, boost their FISC scores, or advance their careers, this structured course blends hands‑on field learning and classroom sessions with access to an extensive range of resources.

plantsbiodiversityecosystems.wordpress.com