This course is part of a series to help you recognise and understand grassland plant communities of acid, neutral and calcareous soils.

Book your place here.

This course covers neutral grassland and is delivered in 2 parts – 1, a recording to watch in advance that will introduce neutral grasslands and; 2, an in-person training session looking at neutral grasslands in the field. These will cover:

• An introduction to neutral grasslands 

• Geology and soils 

• Broad geographic distribution  

• Habitat descriptions and definitions 

• Identification of key indicator species for neutral grasslands 

• Neutral grassland plant communities and what they can tells us about the land  

About the Tutor

This session will be run by Sarah Robinson. Sarah is a specialist ecological advisor in the Plantlife Grasslands team, with over 30 yrs experience as a field botanist and as an agroecologist, advising farmers and land managers on habitat restoration and management, as well as coaching colleagues and delivering plant identification training.

• Understand what defines neutral grasslands 

• Be able to identify key indicator species for neutral grasslands, including grasses, sedges and rushes 

• Be able to recognise different types of neutral grasslands 

• Understand the conditions and landscape context of neutral grasslands 

• People who survey, assess and manage grasslands.  

• Participants should have some basic botanical identification skills. 

Location

The in-person session will be delivered at Swainshead Hall Farm, Lancashire, LA2 9DN; What3Words: ///romantics.stacks.damp

Parking instructions will be supplied with the booking. Parking is free

Dates and Timings

The in-person session will be delivered on 11th June 2026, 10:00-15:30.  

The introductory recording will be sent out to candidates two weeks prior. 

Book your place here.