Are you interested in getting serious about botany? Identiplant could be the answer.
TCV has partnered with the Botanical Society of Britain and Ireland (BSBI) to deliver the online Identiplant course in Scotland to a wider audience.
Find all the information you need about taking part here.
What is Identiplant?
The Identiplant course is a unique, online tutor-led course, very popular across England but is relatively unknown in Scotland. The TCV Identiplant hub is providing a new pathway in Scotland to develop beginner plant enthusiasts towards becoming skilled botanists who are able to make valuable contributions to the field.
Is Identiplant for me?
Identiplant is for people who want to get started with serious botany. It has been created to take near beginners to an intermediate level.
Identiplant is intended for people who already have some knowledge of plants and are ready to advance. You might currently identify plants by matching pictures and remembering names but want a more systematic approach. Through Identiplant, you’ll use scientific names, written descriptions, and keys – tools used to identify plants based on their characteristics.
How is Identiplant taught?
Identiplant is a unique online course, taking a structured plant family approach. The detailed content builds the knowledge of students allowing them to make accurate plant identifications.
Students are supported in completing the course by a personal Tutor. There are 15 units, each covering a particular topic and from unit 4 onwards, most of the individual units cover specific plant families that are common in the UK.
What tasks will I complete for Identiplant?
Students are tasked with hunting for specific widespread plants from a ‘wanted list’ in their local area throughout the season. They will complete Question sheets associated with each unit in order to demonstrate their understanding of the material. These are sent back to their personal course Tutor for feedback.
How much time do I need to complete Identiplant?
About 3 hours per week between February and September should be sufficient to study the units and write up the answers, Additional time may be required to go out and find the plants.
What equipment do I need for Identiplant?
The only equipment required is The Wild Flower Key by Francis Rose and a x10 hand lens.
What qualification do I get by completing Identiplant?
Students who complete the Question sheets are awarded a Certificate of Completion. The course is not accredited but is accepted as Continuing Professional Development (CPD).
The most important outcomes will be recognition by other botanists and the knowledge and confidence to progress, either independently or with a local botany group, to higher levels of competence in plant identification.
What does Identiplant cost?
The course fees are £310 for the year. Students accepted onto Identiplant may find that they are eligible for grants and support from a number of organisations towards the cost of undertaking the course, including the BSBI’s Training Grant. For those undertaking Identiplant as part of CPD, their employer may be willing to cover all or some of the course fees.
How do I enrol on Identiplant?
Further details, including sample course units, are available on the Identiplant website.
Applications for Identiplant 2025 are now closed. Applications for Identiplant 2026 will open on 1 December 2025.
