With the relaxation of Covid-19 rules throughout the UK, it seems that life may finally be able to return to some kind of normality.
Within the BBS, we are looking forward to our first national field meeting since the summer of 2019. This will be based near Barmouth in North Wales, from 11th September. If you haven’t registered for this meeting, it’s not too late; see the Event details below.
Local meeting organisers are also starting to think about planning meetings for the coming season, with some further ahead with the planning than others! You don’t need to be a member to attend these meetings, so why not come along and see what it’s all about.
And for those rainy days, why not have a look through your bryophyte photos and see if you can contribute any to the new Species pages on the website. A (very) small number of volunteers are working on these pages, uploading images and writing additional identification notes. Progress is slow but we will get there!
If you have the time, why not take on one or two species and send us some tips on identifying them, notes on their habitats and distribution, take a few pictures and provide links or any other information you can think of. Send us the content and we’ll format it and upload to the website. Please let us know beforehand if you’d like to do this, so that we can ensure there is no duplication of effort. Email us at webmaster@britishbryologicalsociety.org.uk.
The BBS AGM this year will be held during the Autumn field meeting week, and it is hoped that as many members as possible will be able to attend.
Given the uncertainty over whether the field meeting would be able to proceed, the AGM will be limited to the necessary business of the Society this year. It is hoped that the usual program of presentations and paper readings will be able to resume next year.
Introduction to Bryophytes
If you’ve ever been fascinated by the colourful and multi-textured array of mosses on a stone wall, stony ground or woodland floor, and wondered what they all are, then this section is for you. The Learning area of the website will introduce you to bryophytes and get you started identifying some of the common species around where you live.
Start here
Explore your area
…without even leaving the house. Many knowledgeable and experienced BBS members have contributed to the vice-county pages, describing what can be found in their local areas and giving hints and tips on places to visit. Read all about your vice-county before you head out.
Launch the Vice-county explorer
The BBS Field Guide
This book is the only up-to-date, user-friendly guide to identifying British and Irish bryophytes in the field, with colour photos and drawings showing what species look like; notes on how to identify and to distinguish between similar species; and distribution maps and habitat notes, which will help you to decide whether you have correctly identified a plant.
Buy your copy here
Sphagnum rubellum (Red Bogmoss) shown here with S. palustre for comparison. S. rubellum is much more delicate, with a stellate appearance when viewed from above.
S. rubellum used to be regarded as a subspecies of S. capillifolium, but has been elevated to full species in the latest British list.
The BBS Autumn Meeting in North Wales will now be going ahead, and local groups may start meeting again. Please click the link below for details.
See all our upcoming eventsBorders Group: Beckbury , Shropshire
Wessex Group: Hincheslea Bog, New Forest
