Annual Summer Meeting 2025

This year’s annual summer meeting will be held in the Scottish Borders town of Melrose, a small attractive town which is well-placed for visiting an exciting range of varied botanical sites. Of special interest are the numerous basin mire fens, many of which are calcareous, which together form the largest concentration of this botanically rich habitat in the UK. Several nationally rare and scarce plant species occur including Hierochloe odorata (Holy Grass), Calamagrostis stricta (Narrow Small-reed), Corallorhiza trifida (Coralroot Orchid), Potamogeton coloratus (Fen Pond-weed) and Carex approproquintata (Fibrous Tussock-sedge). Also of note are several marl lochs with a diverse range of Potamogeton species and charophytes. Field trips may also be arranged to some special coastal sites and mountain sites within an hour’s drive in the neighbouring counties. There will be something for members of all levels of experience and we particularly welcome beginners. It is a social occasion as well as a botanical meeting. All those interested are welcome to attend.

Depending on numbers attending, we may need to change the programme and the number of choices. Participants are advised to read the BSBI Guidance for participants at field meetings, and we will be following the policies described there.

There will be field excursions on Monday afternoon, Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday morning to suit a range of interests, along with evening talks and a quiz. Excursion destinations may change at short notice due to prevailing conditions. Wellingtons are likely to be required for some of the mire sites. For those wanting to do recording, there are quite a few “Shanklins” [monads with no records] in the area and there are even more with few records. Any records from the area made casually or deliberately during the week would be welcomed, particularly of more difficult to identify species. You can use the BSBI app or traditional record cards or notebooks for these records.

For those who are resident at the HQ, breakfast will be available from 7:30. We are not organising packed lunches, but you will be able to make arrangements with the hotel (£8), or make your own; there is a Co-op, fruit shop and bakers near to the hotel. We encourage participants to eat at the HQ hotel for the evening meal. There is a choice of two (£19.95) or three course meals (£23.95). The hotel would like us to pre-order meals, but you need to pay the hotel individually. It will be possible to do this when you book. We will circulate a menu to participants about a week in advance of the meeting and ask you to select your choices. The quiz will be in a pub quiz format and we would like folk to submit a couple of questions (or more!) nearer the time.

Provisional programme:

Departure times and arrival back times may vary from those given here for some excursions. It may be possible to re-run some of the half day visits planned for Monday or Thursday on the other days if there is demand. All travel is by car and we will pay drivers moderate mileage expenses. Excursions are graded from green (easy going) to red (difficult terrain). More detailed descriptions are further down the page and we ask you to select where you want to go each day, in order of preference, when you register.

Monday afternoon, August 4
14:00 Local walk(s) from hotel.
18:00 Return to hotel
19:00 Evening meal at hotel
20:30  Talk: an introduction to the local area

Monday 4th August excursion options: Kittyfield, Blackpool & Beanrig Moss, Lindean Resevoir & Murder Moss, Cauldshiels Loch & Faldonside Loch, Recording trip

Tuesday, August 5
09:00 Depart from hotel for excursions
18:00 Return to hotel
19:00 Evening meal
20:30 Talk: Scottish Plant Recovery Project

Tuesday 5th August excursion options: Grey Mares Tail, Arthur's Seat, Aberlady Bay, Berwickshire Coast, Alemoor, Recording trip to a "Shanklin"

Wednesday, August 6
09:00 Depart from hotel for excursions
18:00 Return to hotel
19:00 Evening meal
20:30 Botanical quiz evening

Wednesday 6th August excursion options: Williamhope & Glenkinnon Burn, Branxholme Lochs, Peniel Heugh & Smailholm Crags, Makerstoun, Synton Loch & Ashkirk Loch, Recording trip

Thursday, August 7
09:00  Depart from hotel for excursions
13:00  Return to hotel, meeting ends.

Thursday 7th August excursion options: Jed Forest, Gaitheugh, Selkirk Common & Gala Rig, Bowhill, Recording trip

After dinner and the talks/quiz, there may be identification workshops to discuss interesting or difficult specimens that have been found during the day. Bring your own floras etc., as we will only have our own personal copies.

Excursion details

There is also the possibility on any day of small groups heading off to record areas with few or no records to date. Destinations for these will be finalised on the day.

Each group will have an experienced leader and we’ll aim to have at least one other experienced botanist to help with questions and to keep the group together.

When you register, there will be a form which we would ask you to fill in to choose your top preferences for each day of the excursions. If you register your choices early, we should be able to accommodate your first choice, as it will be on a first-come, first-served basis. Those who do not register their choices or who register late may have to settle for a second preference site.

Please register before 30^th June. Our base for the meeting will be the George & Abbotsford Hotel in Melrose (rooms from £70 per night), with additional rooms available at the Kings Arms (rooms £150 per night). Please book accommodation with the hotel directly via phone or email (mentioning the BSBI ASM) before 30^th June (we recommend securing your accommodation before registering for the ASM). If you try to book online, their system will say the hotel is fully booked due to our block booking. There are also lots of alternative places to stay locally if you prefer.

The contact details for the hotels are:

George & Abbotsford Hotel, High St, Melrose TD6 9PD
Tel: 01896822308
Email: enquiries@georgeandabbotsfordmelrose.co.uk

The Kings Arms Hotel, Coast & Country Pubs, High Street, Melrose, TD6 9PB
T: 01896 820 101
W: www.coastandcountrypubs/kingsarms

We’ve made a block booking with these hotels and we would encourage you to stay at them. There are also other hotels, B&Bs, camp sites etc in the area and you are welcome to make your own arrangements.

Contact: Beccy Middleton (local details) or Jonathan Shanklin (general inquiries) for further information.