The National Plant Monitoring Scheme

Species spotlight. Selfheal - Prunella vulgaris is common, forming patches with creeping runners on neutral to calcareous soils in grasslands, woodland rides & lawns. Oblong flower heads with small purple flowers & purplish bracts are held erect on square stems. Photo Sue McBean

Species spotlight. Carline Thistle - Carlina vulgaris is found in dry calcareous grasslands. It has purple tinged stems & composite flowers surrounded by a ring of pale bracts that open & shine golden. Dark purple florets wither leaving conspicuous orange scales. 📷 Ava Marley

Species spotlight. Broad-leaved Dock - Rumex obtusifolius is our commonest dock. It has large leaves with heart shaped bases & leaf veins are rough with tiny finger-like projections below. In fruit tepals usually have a few teeth & one rounded wart. Photo: Ava Marley

Species spotlight. Common Ragwort - Jacobaea vulgaris has yellow daisy-like flowers & highly divided stem leaves. Flower heads are often held in dense, flat-topped clusters, unlike Oxford and Hoary Ragwort which have a looser, more open arrangement. Photo Ava Marley

Species Spotlight: Red Clover - Trifolium pratense is common in all types of grassland. It has almost stalkless flower heads, with a pair of leaves just below, unlike the very similar looking but rarer Zigzag Clover which has a stalk to the flower head. Photo Suzanne Farmer

Species Spotlight: Harebell - Campanula rotundifolia is found in dry, sunny, low nutrient habitats on both acidic & alkaline soils. Although the basal leaves are rounded in shape they wither early, & the upper leaves are narrow & linear-lanceolate. Photo: Sue McBean

Species Spotlight: Bulrush - Typha latifolia grows in tall dense stands, favouring nutrient-rich & still water margins. Leaves are wide & glaucous, & there is no gap between the brown cylindrical female flower spike & the male flower spike above. Photos S. Farmer & N. Esselin

Species Spotlight: The leaves of Common Milkwort Polygala vulgaris are alternately arranged, unlike the similar looking Heath Milkwort which has its lower leaves in pairs. The leaves increase in size from the woody base towards the tip of the stem. Photo: Plantlife

Species spotlight. Marsh Arrowgrass - Triglochin palustris grows in damp vegetation usually on alkaline soils, & is slender & grass-like. Flowers are small, in a long spike. Fruits break up into 3 segments, unlike Sea Arrowgrass with fruits breaking up into 6. 📷: S. Shuttleworth

NPMS training North Wales 18th September in Bala, Gwynedd. Come along and learn all about how to get involved in botanical recording for the National Plant Monitoring Scheme. Still a few places available see our training events page for more details https://ow.ly/v8wu50ZAUp4

Don't miss our autumn events! 2nd Sept NPMS habitat training 📍Broughshane, Co. Antrim 17th Sept NPMS habitat training 📍Drumnaph, Co. Derry 18th Sept Intro to the NPMS & survey methods 📍Bala, Gwynedd 8th Oct Digital plot creation & data entry 📍Online More info https://ow.ly/JmuQ50ZG4it

Species spotlight. Red Bartsia - Odontites vernus has very similar leaves to Yellow Rattle. To differentiate them when they are not flowering, look at the stems, which are often washed purple in Red Bartsia & lack the black streaks seen in Yellow Rattle. Photo: Ava Marley

Botanical Skills N.Ireland NPMS Habitat Training 2nd Sept Broughshane, Co. Antrim. Learn how to record plants, recognise NPMS habitats, set up survey plots & much more. An opportunity to ask questions about monitoring your own square. More info & booking https://ow.ly/uo0T50ZAUjy

Botanical Skills N.Ireland NPMS Training 27th Aug Cookstown Co. Tyrone. Join this practical workshop for beginners, existing volunteers, or anyone interested in getting involved with the National Plant Monitoring Scheme (NPMS). More info & booking https://ow.ly/hGSx50ZAU4H

Species spotlight. Flowers of Hop Trefoil - Trifolium campestre may be differentiated from similar Lesser Trefoil by the standard petals, which are broad and flatter in Hop Trefoil but fold sharply downwards in Lesser Trefoil. Both ripen to hop-like heads. Photo: Ava Marley

We're in for yet more dry conditions please take care if you're out on your survey plots. Data will be important in showing the effect of this unprecedented summer on our plant communities, but please only head out if it's safe to do so and be alert to the risk of wildfires.

Species spotlight Common Meadow-rue - Thalictrum flavum is found on damp, alkaline soils. Frothy masses of tiny white flower heads are held above highly divided leaves. Flowers have many stamens, with long filaments & yellow anthers. Photo: Andrew Gagg

Look out for the reddish-purple flowers of Betony - Betonica officinalis on verges, grassy heaths & meadows this month. Two bluntly toothed leaves lie just below the spike of whorled flowers, angled downwards at 45°. Photo: Andrew Gagg

Species Spotlight Sea Aster Tripolium pannonicum grows in salt marshes & other brackish coastal environments. Two varieties occur, flowers of one resembling a Michaelmas Daisy with both yellow disc & blue ray florets, the other with yellow disc florets only. Photo: Ava Marley

Species Spotlight Lesser Butterfly Orchid - Platanthera bifolia has two strictly parallel pollinia in the centre of the flower, which are close together & about 2mm long, compared to the divergent, wider spaced & 3-4mm long pollinia in the Greater Butterfly Orchid. 📷 C Harris

Today is IUCN Bog Day recognising & celebrating brilliant bogs. Do you have bog & wet heath as habitats in your NPMS square? Get to know the features in our YouTube webinar recording with botanist Ben Averis https://ow.ly/EeTz50ZmRKi Photo: Michael Scott

Training day 13th August. Join Botanical Skills Northern Ireland Project at Derrymore Demesne (National Trust), Co. Armagh for an intro to the NPMS that will give you the skills & confidence to identify key habitats using plant indicator species. More info https://ow.ly/EpNe50ZmSqR

Species Spotlight Bog Asphodel Narthecium ossifragum has spikes of starry yellow flowers arising from iris-like leaves. Turning a deep orange in fruit, it forms patches of autumn colour in mires, flushes and wet heathland. Photo: Ava Marley

NPMS Training this Friday. Join our interactive session this Friday lunchtime. We'll discuss getting started, mapping, orienteering & accessibility in your NPMS square & signpost useful tools & resources to support your surveys. More info https://ow.ly/Wbrp50ZqThv

Species Spotlight Field Scabious Knautia arvensis can be distinguished from the similar Small Scabious by the 4 rather than 5 lobes to each individual flower corolla & the rougher, less finely cut stem leaves. It also lacks papery membranes on its seed heads. Photo: Ava Marley

Zoom workshop 24th July - Getting started & plotting your NPMS site. Get support & helpful tips on locating, accessing & recording your survey plots. In this interactive session we’ll discuss techniques to help get your surveys off the ground. More info https://ow.ly/vkxf50ZmS3K

Species Spotlight Juniper Juniperus communis is a native evergreen conifer. Needle-like leaves with a broad white band on the upper side are borne in whorls of 3. Fruits are berry-like cones, ripening to purple-black and used to flavour gin. Photo: Gower Peninsula Bob Gibbons

Research using NPMS survey data indicates risks to UK plant communities from climate and land use change. Read about this and other articles in the latest NPMS Annual Report https://ow.ly/NWMO50Zm397 Photo: Karen Fisher

There are still spaces available to to join us near Helston, Cornwall on Friday 17th July. Experts from Budding Nature will lead this FREE one-day workshop focussing on coastal habitat species. Booking required. See our training events page or email support@npms.org.uk

High-quality data + local expertise: our amazing #NPMSvolunteers are collecting valuable plant data & contributing to our understanding of UK habitat health. Read how their work helps inform conservation policy in our newly released NPMS Annual Report https://ow.ly/ZGnh50ZlrRU

At a time of increased environmental pressure, volunteer-power comes to the rescue! NPMS volunteers are delivering crucial data to help us understand UK plant biodiversity & habitat health. Find out how in the new #NPMS Annual Report: https://ow.ly/SBqE50ZkChX

It's #NationalMeadowsDay celebrating these special habitats. Do you have a neutral pastures & meadows plot in your NPMS square? Last year 644 meadow plots were surveyed. Spread the love by creating a plot portrait https://ow.ly/KiZI50ZjE56 or sharing a #surveyselfie 📷 Laura Jane

A week today! Join us in South Wales in the beautiful Cwmcarn Forest for an Intro to NPMS survey methods. Get to grips with methodology, plot setup and recording. Info and booking https://ow.ly/KCQ850Zasku

Two weeks today! In-field NPMS Coastal Habitat Species ID workshop led by Budding Nature. Don't miss the chance to use your new ID skills on the impressive coastline at Chyvarloe, near Helston. Info and booking https://ow.ly/uREt50Zas9N

Take care in this extreme hot weather. Surveys can wait until heat levels drop, but if you are out on your NPMS square please try to spread surveys out over several days, take regular shade breaks, & go prepared Sunscreen 🌞 Hat (sombrero?) 🤠 Water 💦 Photo: Roger Butterfield

NPMS training in Northern Ireland 4th July The Botanical Skills Northern Ireland Project will be running training on how to take part in The NPMS for complete beginners & existing volunteers. Still a few spaces on this popular training event! More info https://ow.ly/qrCk50ZfQQl

Species Spotlight - Himalayan Balsam Impatiens gladulifera forms tall dense stands, usually near water. Leaves are opposite or 3-whorled, with sharp, often red gland-tipped teeth. Pink/purple flowers dangle, later developing into explosive seed capsules. Photo: Sue McBean

In-field training 17th July NPMS Coastal Habitat Species ID, Cornwall. Experts from Budding Nature will lead a workshop in Chyvarloe, near Helston. Focussing on identifying NPMS coastal habitat species. Spaces are limited so early booking is advised https://ow.ly/TtMg50Zas5U

Species Spotlight - Wood Crane’s-bill Geranium sylvaticum is a rhizomatous perennial of unimproved meadows and open woodland mainly in upland areas. Flowers are purplish with white centres and leaves are deeply cut into 7 broad, toothed lobes. Photo: Andy Jennings-Giles

In-field training 11th July Intro to NPMS & survey methods, Caerphilly. Indoor session, followed by an afternoon heading into the beautiful Cwmcarn Forest where we will practice plot set up & recording. See training events page for details https://www.npms.org.uk/content/training-events

Species Spotlight - Hedge Bedstraw - Galium album has whorls of 6-8 leaves around four-angled stems & sprays of small white flowers with four petals that taper to fine points. Similar Heath Bedstraw is found in acidic habitats, petals blunt or with tiny points. 📷Sue Harris

Species Spotlight - Dwarf Spurge Euphorbia exigua is a scarce annual arable weed found on light, often base rich soils mainly in the south & southeast. Small but bushy, it has narrow grey-green strap-shaped leaves on well-branched stems. Photo: Bob Gibbons

Don't miss our Key to Unlocking Botanical Keys workshop 17th June. This Zoom session will help you discover how keys work, how to get started , and boost your confidence with using them. Check out our training events page and register to book https://ow.ly/bfUI50Z6wVj

1 week to go to our intro session in Kent. Come along to find out all about the National Plant Monitoring Scheme and how to volunteer. Book here: https://ow.ly/ySh550Z80OG Or if not yet a registered volunteer but want to come along to hear all about it– contact support@NPMS.org.uk

It's National #VolunteersWeek could you become an NPMS volunteer like Alexandre? There are plenty of available squares waiting for new volunteers to monitor them! Head to our website to look for a square local to you. https://ow.ly/H9kw50Z6xHb

It's National #VolunteersWeek & the BIGGEST thank you goes out to our brilliant NPMS survey volunteers, verifiers, data entry & photography volunteers. We now have over 1300 squares with associated data! You make this scheme the success that it is #NPMSVolunteers #CitizenScience

Species Spotlight - Spindle Euonymus europaeus is flowering this month, in hedgerows, scrub & woods on base-rich soils. Twigs are green & four-angled. Distinctive fruits appear in autumn, pink capsules splitting to show bright orange seeds. Photo: Ava Marley

Unlocking Botanical Keys online session 17th June. Join to discover how botanical keys work, which ones to get started with, cover any tricky questions & boost your confidence. There will be a group exercise to collectively key out a specimen. More info https://ow.ly/4ph850YXwZG

Species Spotlight - Dropwort Filipendula vulgaris is found in grassland on base-rich soils. The pink buds and creamy white flowers form triangular-shaped clusters. Leaves have interspersed large and small coarsely toothed leaflets, and smell of antiseptic. Photo: Bob Gibbons

🙌Hands up if you spotted Alan Sumnall from @plantlifeuk.bsky.social and Adam Henson on BBC Countryfile yesterday talking about the NPMS and praising the efforts of the survey volunteers nationwide! There are 5 NPMS plots on Adam's Farm, surveyed by long term volunteer Chris Millet. 📷 Rachel Murphy