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Join Plantlife’s Senior Ecological Advisor Sarah Robinson and Nev Kilkenny, a mycological expert, for a day out to get ready for our annual Waxcap Watch. This workshop will equip group leaders with the confidence to teach others how to take part in Plantlife’s Waxcap Watch in 2026.
Come and join us to learn about beautiful, colourful and sometimes rare grassland fungi in Strathblane. Nev is a very experienced mycologist and he will be leading the session, teaching how to recognise these fungi on what will hopefully be a varied and rich CHEGD (waxcap grassland) site.
This will be an opportunity for people to learn more about the species, about the Waxcap Watch campaign, and how you can host your own Waxcap Watch surveys this autumn.
We will use the opportunity to learn how to use the new and improved version of the Waxcap Watch survey app. This app allows anyone to go out and survey a site for rare grassland fungi, and then feedback the data to us and relevant fungi recording groups. Hopefully you’ll feel confident enough to do some of your own surveys after this session.
The sites we’re surveying have not been fully surveyed before. We wanted to use the opportunity to engage with new landowners at sites we’ve noted as high potential, so you’ll be helping us to find new populations on the day, and we’re not exactly sure what we’ll see.
Facilities: There are no toilet facilities on site.
Refreshments: Volunteers are asked to bring a packed lunch and water on the day.
At least one. We expect there to be high demand for this workshop so in return we’d like you to commit to carrying out at least one Waxcap Watch survey. Obviously if you do more, that’s even better!
These workshops are designed to support people who want to take part in Plantlife’s Waxcap Watch survey. We see it as a good use of our time to upskill volunteers who will then go out and do the survey in 2025 and beyond.
You can find out more about our annual Waxcap Watch, here.
This session will be on grassland terrain and will be off paths. There may be some steep slopes.
For a chat about access and your specific needs please contact our Senior Ecological Advisor Sam Jones, here.
For the comfort of everyone and smooth running of the event, we do not allow dogs at Plantlife events.
By taking a part in our survey you will help us to:
Much of this app is based on the work by Gareth Griffith, John Bratton and Gary Easton. Original publication: Griffith, G.W., Bratton, J.H. & Easton, G. (2004) Charismatic megafungi; the conservation of waxcap grasslands. British Wildlife. October 2004, pp 31-43.
You are responsible for your own health and safety; Plantlife do not accept any liability or responsibility for the wellbeing of surveyors. Similarly, they do not accept any liability or responsibility for damage to, or loss of, personal property.
We always recommend visiting sites and undertaking surveys with someone else and taking the following precautions:
– Check the forecast and make appropriate arrangements. If the weather changes you may need to rethink your plans.– Take care on uneven or slippery ground and keep to footpaths where necessary.– Take a mobile phone and let someone know where you are going and when you expect to return.– Most fungi are non-toxic; even toxic ones are safe to hold. However, always wash your hands after handling fungi.
England and Wales
Grassland fungi can be found across a variety of different sites, many of which are publicly accessible, such as playing fields, parks or cemeteries. Where there is no open access, keep to public rights of way (footpaths and bridleways). If you plan to carry out a survey on private land, please make sure you obtain the landowner’s permission to access the site.
Scotland
Make sure you follow the Scottish Outdoor Access Code when carrying out this activity.
Where possible, we would highly recommend using the Survey123 app to complete the survey. It is much more convenient to use, especially when filling in the survey outdoors. The Survey123 app allows you to view and/or edit surveys you’ve already submitted, submit surveys while offline, and save answers to avoid re-entering the same information.However, if using the app is not feasible, you can alternatively follow this link and then select ‘Open in browser’ to launch the survey in a web browser on your computer. If you choose this option, we recommend looking over the survey form first to see what information you will need to record when carrying out your survey.
You can still access and fill out the survey without mobile data but you must download the Survey123 app in order to do this.When connected to Wi-Fi or mobile data, download the Survey123 app, as well as the Waxcap Watch survey. You can then begin capturing survey information without a data connection. Upon completingthe survey, you will be given the option to ‘Save in Outbox’, please select this option (see below). In doing so, all your survey results will be stored locally on your device.
When you are able to reconnect to Wi-Fi or mobile data, you will need to submit your survey that has been saved in your Outbox. To do this, navigate to the survey summary page where you will see an ‘Outbox’folder. By clicking on this folder, you will be able to see the survey you filled out and can submit it by clicking ‘Send’ in the bottom right corner of the screen
Join us to hear from award-winning author Bethany Handley as she calls for us to rethink how we live alongside nature.
Join our Creative Fellow, poet Ayesha Chouglay, for an evening of poetry, place, and nature.
Join us to hear from Benton End’s Head Gardener James Horner who has led the renewal of this historic garden, once home to a collection of rare and unusual plants.
Take part in Plantlife’s National Meadows Day on Saturday 1 July 2023. This year we celebrate the value of our local species-rich grasslands, including meadows.
Come and learn about rare mountain top plants and fungi in habitat over in altitude 1000m with expert botanists.
Join us live on Instagram, where Project Manager Sam Jones will show you rare plants, and answer questions about the Cairngorms project.
Join Plantlife’s Senior Ecological Advisor Sam Jones and mycologist Liz Holden for a day out to get ready for our annual Waxcap Watch. This workshop will equip group leaders with the confidence to teach others how to take part in Plantlife’s Waxcap Watch in 2026.
Come and join us to learn about beautiful, colourful and sometimes rare grassland fungi in the Cairngorms. Liz is a very experienced mycologist and he will be leading the session, teaching how to recognise these fungi on what will hopefully be a varied and rich CHEGD (waxcap grassland) site.
Join Plantlife’s Senior Ecological Advisor Sam Jones and Nev Kilkenny, a mycological expert, for a day out to get ready for our annual Waxcap Watch. This workshop will equip group leaders with the confidence to teach others how to take part in Plantlife’s Waxcap Watch in 2026.
Come and join us to learn about beautiful, colourful and sometimes rare grassland fungi in the Cairngorms. Nev is a very experienced mycologist and he will be leading the session, teaching how to recognise these fungi on what will hopefully be a varied and rich CHEGD (waxcap grassland) site.
Join us for a relaxed, supportive morning run as part of our 20th anniversary celebration week at Ranscombe Farm Nature Reserve.
Join us for this relaxed, supportive morning designed to bring women together through movement, fresh air, and community. This isn’t about pace. It’s not about distance. And it’s definitely not about being ‘fit enough’. It’s about feeling safe, supported, and confident outdoors. All experience levels welcome.
Please email SkellyWAGS here, to express your interest in this event and they will send a booking form.
This event is part of our 20th anniversary celebration week at Ranscombe Farm Nature Reserve. It is part of the Ranscombe Connect: Community Participation for Wild Plants and Fungi project which has been made possible through funding from the National Lottery Heritage Fund.
Thanks to Lottery Players we have been able to create more opportunities for local people to get involved with Ranscombe Farm Reserve. If you are interested in volunteering at Ranscombe Farm you can contact us here.
The National Lottery Heritage Fund
Join us and for a gentle guided walk through beautiful surroundings, using just your phone to capture nature in new ways. This event is being held as part of our 20th anniversary celebration week at Ranscombe Farm Nature Reserve.
Join us to help find and count some of Ranscombe's rare plants as part of our 20th anniversary celebration week at Ranscombe Farm Nature Reserve.
Join us for this fun outdoor family session combining a nature scavenger hunt, creative mobile making, and exciting bug hunting. This event is being held as part of our 20th anniversary celebration week at Ranscombe Farm Nature Reserve.
Join us to see one of the UK's best collections of ancient and veteran trees at Cobham Wood. This event is being held as part of our 20th anniversary celebration week at Ranscombe Farm Nature Reserve.
Join us for this guided forest bathing experience as part of our 20th anniversary celebration week at Ranscombe Farm Nature Reserve.
Join us at Ranscombe Farm Nature Reserve to listen for bats using detectors and then, using UV torches, look out for hidden biofluorescence and celebrate our dark skies. This event is being held as part of our 20th anniversary celebration week at Ranscombe Farm Nature Reserve.
Join us for an in-person adventure under the stars with the Kent Branch of the Campaign to Protect Rural England (CPRE Kent) and Plantlife as we launch the new Medway Dark Skies project!
Explore the mysterious world of bats using bat detectors, then, don’t miss the special ‘Reveal’ segment where biofluorescent secrets are revealed.
Perfect for nature lovers and night owls alike – grab your friends and get ready for a memorable evening, celebrating the CPRE Kent Dark Skies project launch and Plantlife’s Ranscombe Farm Reserve.
Thanks to Lottery Players we have been able to create more opportunities for local people to get involved with Ranscombe Farm Reserve. If you are interested in volunteering at Ranscombe Farm contact us here.
Medway Dark Skies
Step away from the rush and enjoy a gentle guided walk through beautiful surroundings, using just your phone to capture nature in new ways. Learn simple techniques to notice colours, textures, light and patterns, and take more meaningful photos.
This event is part of Plantlife’s 20th anniversary celebration week at Ranscombe Farm Nature Reserve. This event is funded by The National Lottery Heritage Fund through the Ranscombe Connect: Community Participation for Wild Plants and Fungi project.
Led by Kent Wildlife Trust’s Wellbeing Team. Just bring your phone, wear suitable clothing for being outside, and enjoy slowing down in nature.
Join us to help find and count some of Ranscombe’s rare plants as part of our 20th anniversary celebration week at Ranscombe Farm Nature Reserve.
Join us at this free event to celebrate Ranscombe Farm Nature Reserve’s 20th anniversary!
Ranscombe is home to at least 11 species of orchid, 4 of these are rare species and their populations are surveyed every year.
Join our Reserve Manager Ben Sweeney to take part in surveying the endangered Man Orchid, a true speciality of the North Downs.
Depending on weather conditions between now and the day, plans may be required to change, and other rare or threatened plant species may be surveyed instead.
We will be meeting at the events area car park. To get closer to the area to be surveyed, we will be asking participants to drive in convoy further into the reserve along surfaced farm tracks, sharing cars if possible.
Thanks to Lottery Players we have been able to create more opportunities for local people to get involved with Ranscombe Farm Reserve. If you are interested in volunteering at Ranscombe Farm contact volunteering@plantlife.org.uk
Join the National Plant Monitoring Scheme (NPMS) for this easy-to-follow plant anatomy session.
Want to get more familiar with wildflowers and how to identify some of them?
This popular live webinar, with experienced trainer Sarah, will help by breaking down barriers for learning with an easy-to-follow plant anatomy session. When the terminology of plant parts is fully understood, it opens doors for a whole path of learning about all the different wildflowers we have in the UK.
Find out how to put your new skills to practise by taking part in a citizen science project – the National Plant Monitoring Scheme and hear how your help is needed. about.
Join us for this afternoon session to learn about Gilfach’s ancient trees and how they support a myriad of species such as insects, lichens, and bats.
Come and learn about Gilfach’s ancient trees and how they support a myriad of species such as insects, lichens, and bats.
Gilfach Nature Reserve has some of the best ancient and veteran trees in Powys. Join Natur am Byth and Liam Olds from Glo i Natur CIC for a session of finding, identifying, and recording ancient trees, lichens, and invertebrates. Whether you’re a beginner or an experienced naturalist, this event offers a great opportunity to share knowledge, build confidence in biological recording, and refine your identification skills.
What Will the Day Involve?
What Do I Need to Know in Advance?
Gilfach Nature Reserve
For centuries Gilfach was a working hill farm, now it’s a spectacular nature reserve tucked away in the Marteg Valley in the heart of rural Mid Wales. Still grazed at certain times of the year by livestock to conserve its wildlife richness.
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