Moss Study Club

Mosses are easy to overlook. They quietly carpet walls, trees, rocks and woodland floors, thriving in places where larger plants might struggle. But look a little closer and you’ll find a fascinating tiny world.

This October, we’re slowing down and looking closer with Moss Study Club!

Peer-led and designed by and for people without any formal science or ecology training, each week we’ll share a short reading list and come together on a call to explore what we’ve learned and any questions that came up for us. There’s also the option to join a WhatsApp group to share observations or photos between sessions.

How it works

• Pay for the whole month in one go (£20) or come to individual weeks (£5 each)
• You’ll get an email each week with a reading list, Zoom link and WhatsApp group invite
• Low pressure: do all the readings, skim them, or just drop in for a chat :)

Please note sessions will not be recorded, as they’re discussion-based rather than taught.

Session plan

WEEK 1: What is a moss?
Tuesday 6th October (7-8pm)
What actually makes a moss a moss? We’ll look at moss anatomy, reproduction and life cycles, and explore how these tiny plants fit into the wider plant kingdom.

WEEK 2: Mosses and their habitats
Tuesday 13th October (7-8pm)
From damp woodlands to walls and urban pavements, mosses can be found in some surprising places. We’ll explore where different mosses grow, what they need to survive and what their presence can tell us about the environment.

WEEK 3: Moss identification - looking closer
Tuesday 20th October (7-8pm)
Mosses can seem impossible to tell apart at first glance, but there are lots of clues hiding in their tiny structures. We’ll explore some basic identification techniques and share observations from the mosses around us.

WEEK 4: Mosses, people and the wider world
Tuesday 27th October (7-8pm)
Moss has found its way into gardens, yes, but also art, folklore, horticulture and environmental research! We’ll explore some of the different ways humans have interacted with mosses, as well as their roles in ecosystems and what we can learn from them.

If you’ve got any questions, please email Rob: hello@mycomanchester.com

When you sign up, please check your inbox (including spam!) for your booking confirmation.