Equipment

Recording ferns in the field doesn't require too much equipment. Principally a notebook, field guide, hand lens, camera and method of recording your location.

hand lens

A x10 magnification should prove adequate for most field use. An inbuilt light is useful but far from essential. Learning how to use a lens is much more useul.

To use a hand lens, hold it close to your eye, and then bring the object closer to the lens until it comes into sharp focus. To keep the lens steady, hold it against your cheek with one hand and use your other hand to move the object. Ideally keep your face pointing upwards to ensure good light for viewing.

field guide

The Fern Guide :A Field Guide to the Ferns, Clubmosses, Quillworts and Horsetails of the British Isles is probably the besp place to start. A thin paperback it easy to carry in the field and walks you though a well illustrated key.

As a field key this is perfect, but the only thing pteridologists love as much as fern is books, and there are plent of other publictions that can help with identification. In due course we'll put up a comprehensive list!

cameras and phones

For general purposes a phone with good camera is suitable for general fern photography, allowing you to capture details of habitat, fern habit and general frond details.

Close up details are a lot trickier, and require a steady hand. A deicated macro lens, or camera (such as the Olympus Tough series) capable of macro work is invaluable.