Discovering Trees – Online

During this introductory online course, you will start at the very basics of the biological definition of a tree and their place in the plant kingdom.  You will continue to build your knowledge and explore their incredible biology and ecology. Later topics take you through introducing the two main types of trees found in the UK – coniferous and broadleaf trees, looking at basic identification of the most common species you may find. This course will enable you with the confidence to progress your learning and move on to courses looking more in-depth at specific tree identification.

This is a 4-week online course covering 4 topics, for which you will complete a variety of self-led online resources and activities. Each topic is then concluded with an interactive Zoom workshop to complement the online content. Time commitment is approximately 2-3 hours a week and an E-certificate is provided upon completion.

By the end of the course, you will be able to:

• Explain how trees fit into the plant kingdom, the key differences between angiosperms and gymnosperms, and the basic structure of a tree.
• Understand the basics of tree photosynthesis, life cycles, habitats, niches, ecosystem services.
• Recognise by key characteristics some of the most common conifers in the UK.
• Recognise by key characteristics some of the most common broadleaf trees in the UK.
• Share this knowledge with friends, family and fellow volunteers.

Understand how our online courses are delivered.

Who Should Attend? – Nature enthusiasts, students, rangers, early career ecologists.

Knowledge Level – Introductory. Level descriptors can be found on the following webpage: Framework and Course Level Descriptors

Prior Knowledge – No existing knowledge or experience is needed for this course. Just a willingness to contribute and learn.

Recommended Devices – It is recommended that you access your course through a PC or laptop. Please be aware that there will be reduced functionality if you decide to access the course through a tablet or smartphone. The Field Studies Council is unable to email content directly to you/

Live Webinar Information

There are 4 webinars for this course, taking place at the end of each week. Please see the date listing below for the day and time.

Please note – webinars will be recorded and uploaded to the virtual learning platform for learners unable to attend.

Floris Stoter is a tree and woodland enthusiast with a professional background in habitat management. He spent a number of years volunteering, working in and studying conservation in the UK before moving to Holland to work as a tree surveyor. He has a particular love for trees, woodlands and ecological restoration and is currently enrolled in an environmental restoration course in order to specialise in woodland restoration. He is also developing an online course in habitat conservation for a Dutch company. In his spare time, he enjoys coppicing and pollarding in small woodlands around the city of Leiden, where he currently resides.

Week 1: What is a tree?
Self-study material available from the start date.
Week 1 Live Webinar at the end of week 1

Week 2: Tree ecology and biology
Self-study material available after week 1 webinar
Week 2 Live Webinar: at the end of week 2

Week 3: Introducing common coniferous trees
Self-study material available after week 2 webinar
Week 3 Live webinar at the end of week 3

Week 4: Introducing common broadleaf trees
Self-study material available after week 3 webinar
Week 4 Live webinar at the end of week 4

The final deadline to complete any outstanding assignments and self-study components 2 weeks after the final webinar

Time commitment: This course will require approximately 2-3 hours of your time each week. This includes covering course materials on our Moodle learning platform and the Zoom session.

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  Expert Tuition

The course has been carefully created to help you continue to build and develop your knowledge as the course progresses. With content crafted to the online Moodle Platform and bespoke to the Field Studies Council.

The course includes:

•  45-minute interactive weekly Zoom workshops to connect with the tutor and other participants
•  Expert tuition for which the Field Studies Council is renowned
•  Activities to work on independently in advance of each Zoom workshop
•  Tailored course completion certificate

Once registered, you will follow well-illustrated, user-friendly ’books’ to pick up knowledge. Quizzes and skill checks will give you instant feedback on your learning. Forums give students the chance to interact with each other as well as a place to share work.

Student Discount

This course is eligible for a student discount. If you are a current student, please use discount code BioStudent20 at checkout for 20% off all Biodiversity courses.

Natural History Bursaries

There are a number of natural history bursaries available to help with the cost of your course. To find out if you and your chosen course are eligible, find out more here.

Accessing Your Course

• Once you sign up you’ll receive an email at least 24 hours in advance of the course opening with details of how to access our easy-to-use platform, Moodle.
• Moodle can be accessed through a browser or an app.
• Webinars are via Zoom so you won’t need any new software to attend

Recommended Devices

It is recommended that you access your course through a PC or laptop. Please be aware that there will be reduced functionality if you decide to access the course through a tablet or smartphone. The Field Studies Council is unable to email content directly to you.