Botanic Garden

This course is intended for people who would like to begin or develop their plant identification skills. Classes take place in both the laboratory and the field, and involve hands-on experience with living plants. The course begins with an overview of plants and the evolutionary relationships of the major groups.  After this, the focus is on common species which are used to teach how to use the different types of identification key and to illustrate the diagnostic features of selected families, chosen to account for more than 85% of our native flora.  The topic material is set in an evolutionary and ecological context, in order to help you develop an understanding of species relationships and habitat preferences.

All sessions are on a Thursday, except the first, which is on a Tuesday; they run from 10am – 4pm with a one hour break for lunch.

Further information on Botanic Garden courses

Our aim is for you to:

• be familiar with the 40 plant families which together account for 85% of the native species in our flora;
• identify important genera by sight and by the use of keys;
• identify at least 350 species by sight or key;
• prepare botanical specimens and make botanical records;
• know many of the plant species typical of a given habitat.

Cost - £65 per class

Participants will gain the greatest skill and understanding in linking species wit genera and families by attending the entire course. However, classes can be taken in any number and any combination. Discounts are available to anyone who books the whole course (£500), or to members of the Friends of the Garden or LRWT for individual classes (£60 per class). 

How to get to the Botanic Garden

All classes unless specified otherwise will take place in Beaumont House at the University of Leicester Botanic Garden. This is accessed by taking the third driveway on your left off Stoughton Drive South after leaving the A6/London Road. Note that this is NOT the public entrance but is a staff entrance and the best one for you. The post code is LE2 2NA. Park in the car park and follow the signs to the classrooms.

By bus: from campus, catch the Oadby Student Village shuttle bus and get off at the Beaumont House stop.  Or from town, catch an Arriva 31/31A or Arriva 80/80A on the London Road, alight at Glebe Road, then walk round to the Beaumont House entrance.