July 2026

 

SCOTTISH GROUP

Saturday 4th July 2026

Mountain trek for Woodia ilvensis

 

Leader:  Andy MacGregor

A stroll in the hills to find Britain’s rarest native fern (details to follow). To register please email: scotland@britishfernsociety.org.uk

June 2026

 

CULTIVAR GROUP

Saturday 7th and Sunday 8th June 2026

South Oxfordshire and Wiltshire

On Saturday a visit to Alistair Urquharts garden and a special private garden growing many special plants but includes ferns. Sundayis a visit to Niels Frames ferny allotment, the estate he work in and his very special gem filled small garden near Swindon.

Contact Julian Reed for meeting location and times.

 

 

North West Group

Saturday 13th June 2026

Edge Hill University Fernery Open Day

Leaders: Kieran Heggs & Alison Evans

Location: Biosciences Building, Edge Hill University, Ormskirk, L39 4AH

A showcase of the Plant Heritage National Collection at Edge Hill University (Ferns: British Natives and Naturalised Introductions). The day will consist of talks about the projects going on in the Edge Hill Fernery, plans for the future and from Kieran, Alison and local Plant Heritage Coordinator John Wilkinson. There will be a plant sale and chances to talk about the collection and ferns more generally. We start at 10am and hope to end at around 2pm.

RSVP to Kieran Heggs for more details.

 

 

SCOTTISH GROUP 

Saturday 13th and Sunday 14th June 2026

Dumfies and Galloway Weekend

 

Leaders: Liza Downie & Chris Nicholson

We have a tour of Logan Botanic Gardens (RBGE), led by garden manager Alan Hannah, booked for the morning of Saturday 13th June. 

On Sunday 14th June we will visit Threave Garden and Nature Reserve (NTS), near Castle Douglas. 

 

When we know who intends to come, and when, we will discuss possibly meeting for meals on Friday and Saturday evenings. We will try to arrange shared transport where possible.

If you are interested in joining us, please e-mail Liza at lizadownie@protonmail.com.

 

Logan Garden, Port Logan, Stranraer, Dumfries and Galloway, DG9 9ND (entry fee £9.70/£8.10 concession; free to RBGE members/staff)
Threave Garden and Nature Reserve, Castle Douglas, DG7 1RX (entry fee £10/£8 concession; free to NTS members)

 

 

EAST ANGLIA GROUP 

Saturday 27th June 2026 11:00am

Cockshoot Broad and Winterton Dunes field visit. 

Target species include Thelypteris palustris, Ophioglossum vulgatum and Polypodium vulgare.

 

To register please contact Peter Blake via eastanglia@britishfernsociety.org.uk

 

SOUTH WALES GROUP

Saturday 27th June 2026

A visit to two woods in Monmouthshire

A day’s visit to two contrasting woods near Chepstow in Monmouthshire. We will meet at 10:30 at Great Barnets Wood near Chepstow and move to Croes Robert Wood near Trellech for the afternoon. This is organised by the South Wales Group and to find more information and be sent any updates, contact Brian and Sue Dockerill on southwales@britishfernsociety.org.uk

 

May 2026

SCOTTISH GROUP

Sunday 17th May 2026

 

Holyrood Park, Arthur’s Seat, Edinburgh

Visit to survey the colony of Adder’s tongue (Ophioglossum vulgatum) in Hunter’s Bog. Also expect to see several species of Equisetum, as well as Forked spleenwort (Asplenium septentrionale)

Leader: Bridget Laue email: scotland@britishfernsociety.org.uk

 

EDUCATION GROUP

Friday 22nd May 2026 13:00 - Sunday 24th May 2026 17:00 

 Ten students from across the UK attended the Ferns: Ecology and Identification HAU course at the Field Studies Council Rhyd y Creuau, North Wales

A two and half day course introducing you to the world of pteridophytes, including ferns, horsetails, clubmosses, and quillworts. Hosted by the Field Studies Council and part of the Harper Adams University Master's programme this residential course places a strong emphasis on field idenfication and accurate biological record creation.

 

Yorkshire and Northwest Fern Groups

Sunday 30th May 2026 - 09:30am Callis Wood, Hebden Bridge, pm Bride Stones Moor, Todmorden 

This meeting is planned to coincide, hopefully, with the optimum time to see Botrychium on Bride Stones Moor above Todmorden (SD 9327 263) where we will meet up with the Bradford Botany Group in the afternoon. In the morning we will visit Callis wood (SD9831 2690) to see Vandenboschia speciosa. The gametophyte was first found at this site in 1989 by Fred Rumsey, Don Farrar and Clive Jermy and the large sporophyte was later discovered in 2018 by the Yorkshire Fern Group.

Itinerary: Meet at 9:30 am to set off walking at 9:45 on New Road at (SD 9864 2706) just beyond the traffic calmed section by the wall. There is a steep uphill road walk before taking the wood path to the site. (Gate, SD 9831 2690) Walking is moderate with some steepish areas.
At the site there is a stream with boulders and steep sides. Access to some areas requires caution and agility due to years of accumulated vegetation and leaf litter in the crevices. Wellingtons highly recommended to transverse some of the stream (Could be brought to the site in a separate bag) otherwise sturdy boots needed and the usual outdoor gear.
Afternoon: Drive to the second site to meet up at 13:30 (to be re assessed) with the Bradford Botany group. Park on the layby at SD 9375 2681 on Eastwood Road. It is suggested we have lunch after parking up, prior to looking for Moonworts. The terrain on Bride Stones is light, and walking boots are fine.

The turn round schedule is tight, in order to get to the Bride Stones, meet at 1:30. Thus I may have to alter the meeting time at Bride Stones, but I will feed back on this.

 

SOUTH EAST AND WESSEX grouP 

Sunday 30th May 2026 - 11:00am

 

Moonwort Monitoring, Linwood and Beaulieu Heath

Meeting at Appleslade Bottom Car Park (Grid Ref SU 1845 0919) This is near the Red Shoot Inn Post code BH24 3QT

 

The first site we are to look at has some Botrychium lunaria at a site we have been monitoring for a number of years. It would be good if we could see how many, and see if we can find any more in the area.

Lunch at the pub or in the car park.

Then meet at Beaulieu Heath Inclosure Car Park, (Grid Ref SU 358 004)
Two species of Ophioglossum growing near each other and Botrychium lunaria if we're lucky.

 

Finally to Boldre for Tea and cakes at the “Basil’s”
14 Royden Lane Boldre SO41 8PE The post code might take you 150m north of our house.

 

April 2026

Saturday 18th April 2026 10:30am

Annual General Meeting

The AGM will be held by Zoom, starting at 10:30. To register for the event and receive a link please click here. A link to the AGM will be emailed to you just before the event.

 

The 123rd BPS AGM Agenda can be found here (AGM Agenda PDF)

 

Scottish Group Meeting

Sunday 19th April 2026 6pm

Evening talks

 

Talks including: Heather McHaffie: “An introduction to eight common ferns” and Kevin Bannon: “Restoring the historic Palm House at the Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh”

There will also be a chance for general discussion, including our plans for the 2026 season.

 

NATIONAL MEETING

Saturday 25th April 2026 10:30am

BPS Annual Spring Meeting, Learning Centre at RHS Harlow Carr, Harrogate

We're returning to Harlow Carr for our National Spring Meeting. The Theme of the Day is: What's New in the Fern World! We'll have a series of talks, tour of the gardens, book and plant sales, merchandise, a chance to pick up some of the remainder spores and catch up with old BPS friends and meet new ones.