Our botany short course is the ideal introduction to the green kingdom, looking at the incredible diversity and adaptability of plants. For something more focussed, 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.
View forthcoming courses further down the page or download the full course prospectus from the box on the right.
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.
RBGE’s beginning botany course is suitable for ages 12 to 102.
Beginning Botany
Wednesdays, Term 1 or Term 2
7.00pm - 9.00pm, £80/£72
Aimed at the complete beginner and using living plants from the Garden, this eight-week course investigates the identification, function and ecology of familiar plant species. Useful as a pre-course to the RHS Level 2 Certificate in Horticulture.
Plant Identification Workshops
One-day workshops are a great way to find out more about different plant groups, their distinguishing features, life-cycle and ecology, and to brush up your skills in plant identification. We run courses on the following groups:
- Fern Identification
- Grass Identification
- Lichen Identification
- Moss Identification 1
- Moss Identification 2 (for those with some experience)
- Wildflower Identification
Forthcoming botany and science courses
A Beginner's Guide to British Plants
Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh Mon 20 July 2009
If you like flowers but have never tried to identify them, this is the course for you! This one week course gives a gentle introduction to recognising the commonest British plant families, with excursions and classroom excercises. Taught by Richard Milne.
Adult Education Open Evening
Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh Tues 18 Aug 2009
Meet the tutors from many of our classes, find out about new courses and sign up for the coming year.
Fern Identification at Benmore
Benmore Botanic Garden Sat 19 Sept 2009
Learn some of the simple skills to identify the most common ferns found in Argyll and around Benmore. Learn about their life cycle and useful distinguishing features, and enjoy putting your new knowledge into practice in the Garden and surrounding areas.
Identifying Fungi
Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh Sun 20 Sept 2009
An introduction to the identification of fungi; the different field characteristics of the families and their genera, how to apply these to identification keys, and good practice for collection. This practical workshop will include a tour of the Garden to
Make A Herbarium Specimen
Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh Sun 4 Oct 2009
The herbarium is a reference library of dried plant specimens. This hands-on workshop gives you a chance to learn the skills required to produce these important and attractive plant records. The day will include collecting plant material, pressing and dry
Conifer Identification
Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh Sun 11 Oct 2009
This workshop is aimed at beginners wanting to get to grips with the recognition and identification of the groups of conifers commonly encountered in Scottish gardens. We will look at the characteristics most useful in identification to constructkeys which will put to the test among the Garden's extensive conifer collection. Taught by Tom Christian.
Plants under the Microscope
Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh Sun 18 Oct 2009
Discover the hidden worlds of plants revealed under the microscope on this one day workshop with RBGE microscopist Frieda Christie and botanist Louise Olley including an introduction to microscopy, a tour of RBGE's electron microscope plus a chance to
Moss Identification: For Beginners
Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh Sun 8 Nov 2009
Learn to identify 15-20 of the common species of moss through an introduction to identification using keys. Includes a lab-based session and afternoon walk to practice some of the techniques learned.
Winter Tree Identification
Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh Sat 20 Feb 2010
Winter identification of deciduous trees relies on things like the shape, colour, position and arrangement of buds. This one day workshop is designed for complete beginners and will equip
Uncovering Evolution
Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh Sun 21 Feb 2010
Learn how to uncover the evolutionary history of plants. Discover how plants are related to each other and how we can use this information to study, name, classify and conserve them.
