Spring Flowers Project

The Spring Flowers Project is a joint initiative between the BSBI and the Data Centre which was kicked off in 2017, and comprises an agreement between both parties to target 20 easily identifiable spring flowers for recording, along with the provision of a special on-line recording form specifically for the project. This project is suitable for all knowledge levels and is also perfect for beginners or entry-level recorders, check out the ID Guides and species profiles in the page below.

National Biodiversity Data Centre and the Botanical Society of Britain and Ireland (BSBI) welcome your records for Spring Flowers.

 

This project is a joint pilot between the BSBI and the Data Centre which was kicked off in 2017, and comprises an agreement between both parties to target 20 easily identifiable spring flowers for recording, along with the provision of a special on-line recording form specifically for the project.

Not only does it encourage people to record their observations of early-flowering species that can be otherwise lacking in data but like all recording, is valuable as it contributes to furthering plant conservation in Ireland. Many of the spring flowers which have been chosen for the project are very distinctive, making it a good way for those new to recording to get involved.

What are the 20 Species?

  1. Bluebell (Hyacinthoides non-scripta)
  2. Common Dog-violet (Viola riviniana)
  3. Cowslip (Primula veris)
  4. Early Dog-violet (Viola reichenbachiana)
  5. Early-purple Orchid (Orchis mascula)
  6. Lady’s smock/Cuckooflower (Cardamine pratensis)
  7. Lesser Celandine (Ficaria verna)
  8. Lords-and Ladies/Cuckoo-pint (Arum maculatum)
  9. Primrose (Primula vulgaris)
  10. Toothwort (Lathraea squamaria)
  11. Wild Garlic/Ramsons (Allium ursinum)
  12. Winter Heliotrope (Petasites pyrenaicus)
  13. Wood Anemone (Anemone nemorosa)
  14. Wood Sorrel (Oxalis acetosella)
  15. Coltsfoot (Tussilago farfara) (Added in 2020)
  16. Three-cornered Garlic (Allium triquetrum) (Added in 2020)
  17. Spring Gentian (Gentiana verna) (Added in 2021)
  18. Opposite-Leave Golden-Saxifrage (Chrysosplenium oppositifolium) (Added in 2021)
  19. Common Whitlowgrass (Erophila verna) (Added in 2021)
  20. Alexanders (Smyrnium olusatrum) (Added in 2021)

Click on the picture below for a Species Profile and further information:

Bluebell (Hyacinthoides non-scripta) L. Lysaght Dog-Violet-Common-2_Zoe Devlin Cowslip-2_Zoe Devlin Dog-violet-Early-5-13_Zoe Devlin

Bluebell                               Common Dog-Violet                  Cowslip                     Early Dog-Violet

Orchid-Early-Purple-1_Zoe Devlin Cuckoo-Flower-4_Zoe Devlin Ficaria verna_Zoe Devlin Lords-and-Ladies_llysaght

Early-Purple Orchid                Cuckooflower              Lesser Celandine             Lords and Ladies

Primula_vulgaris_llysaght Toothwort-6_Zoe Devlin Wild Garlic_Paul Green Heliotrope Winter_Zoe Devlin

Primrose                            Toothwort                             Wild Garlic                       Winter Heliotrope

Wood anemone (E. W. Delaney) Sorrel-Wood-1_Zoe Devlin  

Wood Anemone                       Wood Sorrel                       Coltsfoot                Three-Cornered Garlic

   

Spring Gentian              Opposite-Leaved     Common Whitlowgrass               Alexanders
 _______________________Golden Saxifrage

Check below for more ID guides, Project Newsletters and more!

Spring Flowers Spotter Sheets:

Spring Flowers Spotter Sheet (English) 

Spring Flowers Spotter Sheet (As Gaeilge)

Project Newsletter:
Spring Flowers Project Newsletter 2022

Spring Flowers Project Newsletter 2021

Spring Flowers Project Newsletter 2020


Spring Flowers Project Presentation:

Spring Flowers Project Presentation

Records by Species

Records by Species

Recording Impact