Winter Tree Identification

During the colder months, when deciduous trees and shrubs lose their leaves, many of the features we normally rely on, such as leaves and flowers, are absent. This can make identification seem difficult or even impossible. However, many species retain distinctive characteristics in winter in their buds, twigs, bark, overall silhouette, or even persistent fruit/seeds. By learning to recognise and interpret these winter features, you can reliably identify a wide range of broad-leaved trees and shrubs all year round.

This one-day course will introduce participants to these winter identification techniques, drawing on the Trees in Winter AIDGAP by the Field Studies Council, which covers over 70 species and has been used on winter tree identification courses for more than 30 years.

The day includes practical exercises, group activities, and a guided walk in a local greenspace, where you’ll apply what you've learned to wild specimens in their natural habitats.

This course is ideal for those looking to improve their tree identification skills, including budding botanists and recorders of other groups associated with trees (such as bugs, beetles, lichens, butterflies, moths and plant galls).

What will be covered during this course?

By the end of the course, participants will be able to:

• Recognise and describe key winter identification features (buds, twigs, bark, fruit/seeds, tree silhouette).
• Use the Trees in Winter AIDGAP dichotomous key to identify a variety of common UK trees and shrubs in winter.
• Confidently identify several common woodland, park, hedgerow, and urban tree species during winter walks.
• Understand the ecological importance of trees even during their dormant phase.
• Learn how to contribute your observations to the Botanical Society of Britain & Ireland and your Local Environmental Records Centre.

Botany Specialist: Henry Miller

Henry is a PhD student at University College London, researching the distribution, ecology and conservation of aquatic plants. He has experience in plant conservation assessment, having worked as a Red List assessor at the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. He is passionate about the British Flora and co-leads plant recording for the London Natural History Society. Henry enjoys teaching plant identification and leading botanical recording walks, helping people build confidence with plants in the field.

Fees and refund policy

Non-professional Course Ticket (Free): Select this option if you are a non-professional (e.g. amateur naturalist, local group volunteer, undergraduate student or biological recorder). Tickets subsidised by Barnet Council .

Professional Course Ticket (£50): Select this option if you are a professional (e.g. ecologist, graduate student, researcher or are attending in relation to your vocation).

Ticket fees include an administrative fee of 20% that is non-refundable. This consists of approximately 10% for Eventbrite fees and 10% for time spent by the Biological Recording Company processing the order.

Further cancellation charges will also be incurred for the following:

• 20% admin fee + 10% cancellation fee for cancellations made over 90 days in advance of the date of the course.
• 20% admin fee + 30% cancellation fee for cancellations made within between 30 and 90 days of the date of the course.
• 20% admin fee + 80% cancellation fee for cancellations made within 30 days of the date of the course.

Barnet Environment Centre (Barnet)

The Barnet Environment Centre is a nature reserve and environmental education facility that provides activities, courses, and events for schools and the local community. Run by volunteer trustees, its activities include curriculum-linked learning, children's activities, and community events on a 7.5-acre site located in High Barnet.

Information about how to get there can be found on the Barnet Environment Centre website: https://www.fobec.org.uk/Location/

This event is being run as a collaboration between the Biological Recording Company and Barnet Council.