Our 'Beginning Botany' short courses are an ideal introduction to the green kingdom, looking at the incredible diversity and adaptability of plants. For something more focused, our one-day workshops are a great way to acquaint yourself with many of our native plants and fungi. They allow you to brush up on your identification skills, as well as finding out a little bit about the ecology, ethnobotany and importance of many of our native species.
You can view our forthcoming botany courses below.
If you would like to get more serious about field botany - perhaps as part of your job or university studies - you can join our Certificate in Practical Field Botany course. To take your studies to a postgraduate level we offer an MSc in the Biodiversity and Taxonomy of Plants.
Forthcoming botany and science courses
Winter Tree Identification
Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh Sat 4 Feb 2012
Winter identification of deciduous trees relies upon things like the shape, colour, position and arrangement of buds.
Make a Herbarium Specimen
Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh Sun 18 Mar 2012
The herbarium is a reference library of dried plant specimens. This hands-on workshop demonstrates the skills required to produce these important and attractive plant records.
Planet, Plants and People - Facing up to the Biosphere Crisis
Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh Tues 17 Apr — Tues 26 June 2012
We are facing a ‘biosphere crisis’ caused mainly by excessive per capita resource consumption and over-population, and resulting in global warming and other problems. Why are we failing to cope with the crisis? Part of each class will be devoted to understanding the problems, and there will be plenty of time to discuss alternative solutions. Taught by Kerstin Price, Geoffrey Harper and Chris Minty.
RBGE Certificate in Field Botany
Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh Fri 1 — Mon 18 June 2012
This intensive course introduces a wide range of practical field botany skills, including survey techniques, collection, identification, preservation and curation of botanical specimens.
Scottish Ethnobotany
Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh Sat 16 June 2012
Our native plants are incredibly versatile. Spend a day looking at the traditional uses of Scottish native and patterns of plant use.
RBGE Certificate in Field Botany (Kindrogan) *ILA
Sat 14 — Sat 21 July 2012
This 7 day course will provide an introduction to the range of practical field botany skills involved in carrying out field collection, surveying, identification, preservation and curation of botanical specimens. Will suit amateurs and professionals.