Course Overview
This course is part of a series to help you recognise and understand grassland plant communities of acid, neutral and calcareous soils.
The course will cover:
This course covers calcareous grassland and is delivered in 2 parts – 1, a recording to watch in advance that will introduce calcareous grasslands and; 2, an in-person training session looking at calcareous grasslands in the field. These will cover:
- An introduction to calcareous grasslands
- Geology and soils
- Broad geographic distribution
- Habitat descriptions and definitions
- Identification of key indicator species for calcareous grasslands
- Calcareous grassland plant communities and what they can tell us about the land
About the Tutor
This session will be run by Emma Ball. Emma is an ecological advisor for Plantlife’s Biodiversity Consultancy, with experience in habitat assessment and classification, as well as training others in these techniques. In her current and previous roles, Emma provides advice to land managers on best practice habitat management, particularly in relation to grasslands.
Learning outcomes:
- Understand what defines calcareous grasslands
- Be able to identify key indicator species for calcareous grasslands, including grasses and sedges
- Be able to recognise different types of calcareous grasslands
- Understand the conditions and landscape context of calcareous grasslands
This course is suitable for:
- People who survey, assess and manage grasslands.
- Participants should have some basic botanical identification skills.
Delivery options
Location
The in-person session will be delivered at Crickley Hill Country Park, Gloucestershire, GL4 8JY; What3Words: ///soaps.altering.owns
Parking is pay and display, at a flat fee of £2.50, you can pay by cash, phone, app or online.
Dates and Timings
The in-person session will be delivered on 18th June 2026, 10:00-15:30.
The introductory recording will be sent out to candidates two weeks prior.