Bryophyte Team Training Day 2025

We left the desks behind this week and headed out into the bogs and fens for a hands-on bryophyte training day, focused on the fascinating world of mosses—especially sphagnum species, which play a vital role in peatland ecology.

With our team members based across Ireland, it was a welcome opportunity to reconnect in person and share experience. More importantly, it was a chance to refresh and refine our moss identification skills ahead of a busy field survey season.

Accurate species identification is at the heart of good ecological practice. Mosses—particularly sphagnums—can be subtle and tricky to identify in the field, but they often hold the key to understanding habitat quality, site hydrology, and ecological condition. Regular training helps ensure our survey data remains robust and reliable, supporting better decisions for nature conservation, land management, and development planning.

A big thank you to George Smith of Blackthorn Ecology for leading the day and sharing his deep knowledge of bryophyte ecology. His patient and practical approach made for a hugely enjoyable and informative session.

We’re heading into the season feeling recharged, inspired—and ready to get our hands back in the moss.