First time, first look at Lough Neagh before the BSBI Ireland #BSBIAutumnMeeting. The swimmers told me this was the first morning they cd swim since May as the thick green soup of algal bloom prevented them. Looking forward to today’s all-island mtg all abt plants. BSBI: Botanical Society of Britain & Ireland

Robert Northridge opening the #BSBIAutumnMeeting

A great introduction by John Faulkner to the flora of Lough Neagh, it’s state and the botanists who have studied it BSBI Ireland #BSBIAutumnMeeting

Fascinating and very concerning talk on Cyanobacteria blooms in #LoughNeagh caused by increasing nutrients, temperatures and invasive species and what society needs to do to address this. Thanks Adam Mellor AFBI NI #BSBIAutumnMeeting

.adam mellor of AFBI gave a superb talk on causes of Cyanobacteria bloom in Neagh. Nutrient overload,2/3 frm ag,1/3 WWT plants +CC driven ⬆️water temps+zebra mussels result in clear water so light gets➡️boosts blooms. Adam emphasises this is a societal problem. #BSBIAutumnMeeting

Why #Herbaria? Thanks Rhonda Ridley National Museums NI for showing their importance as a unique long-term data source in tracking changes in our flora (eg Holy Grass) & untangling taxon change (eg Alisma lanceolatum). Plus a call for more specimens) #BSBIAutumnMeeting BSBI Ireland

Nice to see birds at a botany conference - a talk on the flora of Rathlin island by Ric Else & Hazel Watson of Rathlin Stickybeak. #BSBIAutumnMeeting BSBI Ireland BSBI: Botanical Society of Britain & Ireland

Incredible recording effort and number of species found by Rathlin Stickybeak on Rathlin 6km x4km. #BSBIAutumnMeeting BSBI Ireland

Oonagh Duggan Rathlin Stickybeak BSBI: Botanical Society of Britain & Ireland It wasn't all birds! Some amazing plant species recorded on Rathlin, such as Oysterplant, Scots Lovage, Thyme Broomrape & Pyramidal Bugle. Thanks to Ric and Hazel Rathlin Stickybeak for sharing their immense knowledge of this unique island at #BSBIAutumnMeeting

Next up at the excellent #BSBIAutumnMeeting in #NorthernIreland is Alexis FitzGerald speaking about his eagerly awaited #flora of #Monaghan

A very pretty charophyte. #BSBIAutumnMeeting BSBI Ireland BSBI: Botanical Society of Britain & Ireland Charophytes are aquatic plants.

I now really want to visit Rathlin Island thanks to Rathlin Stickybeak (Hazel Watson and Ric Else)’s inspirational talk on the wildlife they’ve recorded there #BSBIAutumnMeeting

A great day at the #BSBIAutumnMeeting : Ciaran Flynn describing the unique flora of the Cooley Penisula, where calcareous and acidic habitats meet, with such rarities as Parsley Fern, Beech Fern and Bog Orchid BSBI: Botanical Society of Britain & Ireland

Great walk w/Marcus of ABC Council who’re undertaking conservation grazing at Lough Neagh. Lovely Dexter bull, cows and calves and Moiled cattle. Seemingly the Moiled love Himalayan balsam & they control it at this site. #BSBIAutumnMeeting BSBI Ireland BSBI: Botanical Society of Britain & Ireland

Excited to be here, there’s a real buzz at the #scotbotanistsconf

Fascinating & encouraging talk by Callum Sinclair Scottish Invasive Species Initiative on how sheep grazing can successfully control invasive giant hogweed. Management guidance now available. #scotbotanistsconf

Fascinating to learn that sheep can be used to control #gianthogweed in a great talk by Callum Sinclair from the NatureScot Scottish Invasive Species Initiative at the Scottish Botanists Conference BSBI: Botanical Society of Britain & Ireland Scottish Invasive Species Initiative Bot Soc Scot #ScotBotanistsConf

Another fascinating #ScotBotanistsConf ⁦Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh ⁦BSBI Scotland⁩ I find it so helpful to hear about the wider plant (and people) context that my own little bit of research fits into 😊 🌳 🌼 🐑 🏔️ 🌊

I’ve moved to Bluesky - @moschatel.bsky.social. See you there!

Some great updates in the latest National Plant Monitoring Scheme newsletter!