Description
Join James Common on a journey through the flora of North East England and discover how it changes through the seasons.
Overview
Course tutor: James Common
Course length: Feb-August 2026. Please check the shortened programme below*
Course structure: 11 field sessions at different locations across the North East
Course cost: £100 NHSN Members / £125 Non-Members
* A full programme, including meeting instructions, will be sent to all attendees via email or can be requested in advance by emailing james.common@newcastle.ac.uk.
About This Course
The flora of North East England shifts with the seasons, offering a succession of unmissable sights and striking floral displays. From the first spring bulbs and awakening woodlands to summer orchids and the mass flowering of those tricky yellow composites, each month reveals something new - and with it, fresh challenges for anyone passionate about wildflower identification.
This programme is designed to guide botanists through the changing year, highlighting seasonal spectacles while focusing on finding, identifying, and recording a wide variety of wildflowers across different habitats. Along the way, you’ll enjoy the company of like-minded enthusiasts and explore a range of beautiful destinations.
Accessibility Information
Many trips are planned with accessibility in mind and include areas of flat, even walking. However, some excursions will involve uneven ground, rough terrain, or steps, and at times we may cover several miles in a single session. While several sites are accessible by public transport, many will require personal transport. Parking is available at or near all locations, and car-sharing will be encouraged wherever possible.
These field courses are designed to be friendly, relaxed, and conversational. They are well-suited both to intermediate botanists keen to deepen their knowledge and explore new places, and to enthusiastic beginners eager to gain a broader understanding of the region’s flora.
Trip Programme:
- Ellingham Church & Woods - Saturday 14 February, 11am-2pm
- Humford Mill, Bedlington - Saturday 4 April, 10am-1pm
- Holywell Dene, North Tyneside - Saturday 2 May, 10am-2pm
- Whittle Dene, Ovingham - Saturday 29 May, 10am-2pm
- Spetchells, Prudhoe - Saturday 6 June, 11am-2pm
- Cronkley Fell, Teesdale - Saturday 13 June, 10.30am-3pm
- Watersmeet, Acomb - Saturday 11 July, 10am-2pm
- Greenlee Lough, Once Brewed - Saturday 18 July, 10.30am-2pm
- King's Law - Saturday 1 August, 10.30am-2pm
- Walltown Quarry Country Park - Saturday 8 August, 10am-3pm
- Deadwater Fell, Kielder - Saturday 15 August, 10.30am-3pm
Questions (and identification queries) are welcome at any time by emailing james.common@newcastle.ac.uk. Please read the terms and conditions for NHSN education courses before booking.
Recommended Equipment:
If you have one, please bring a botanical hand lens, along with your preferred identification guide. I particularly recommend The New Flora of the British Isles by Clive Stace or the Collins Wild Flower Guide, though any reliable guide will be useful. For your comfort and safety, please wear sturdy walking boots and pack waterproofs. On longer trips, remember to bring snacks or a packed lunch.
About the tutor:
James works as Senior Naturalist at NHSN. Outside of work, he is a passionate wildlife recorder with a focus on botany and invertebrates. As a botanist, he is a joint BSBI Vice-County Recorder for North Northumberland and an iRecord verifier for South Northumberland.