Indicator Plants for Foresters Training

Indicator Plants for Foresters Training Day – Cashel Forest, Balmaha, Drymen, G63 0AW

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Led by botanist Carol Crawford and forester Andrew McQueen.

Cost £130 for RSFS members (£155 for non-members).

Tea and coffee provided from 09.30, start at 10.00, bring own packed lunch.

During this largely field-based day participants will learn to identify key plants associated with different types of woodland and open ground habitats; plants which indicate soil factors and which aid tree species selection and forest management decisions.

Ancient woodland indicators, bryophytes and links to National Vegetation Classification (NVC) and Ecological Site Classification (ESC) will be touched on. Several soil pits and soil exposures will be seen during the day and associated plants identified.

The programme, handouts and recommended reading will be sent to participants in May.

After an introduction in the Cashel Forest Centre, and a look at all the handouts, the morning will be spent in the oak, ash and riparian woodlands of nearby Ardyle Wood.  We will focus on the vascular plants which indicate the different site types, including soil conditions and NVC woodland communities. Ancient woodland indicator species will be noted and some distinctive indicator bryophytes can be included.

The afternoon will largely focus on open ground habitats at Cashel; types of ground often used for planting. We will mostly be on the hill, viewing grasslands, heathlands and mires, identifying the common plant species which indicate the main site types. Two more upland woodland communities will be seen. Again there will be some soil pits to visit, including one in more improved agricultural grassland back down near the visitor centre.