Dr M (AKA Jonathan Mitchley)
Associate Professor of Field Botany at the University of Reading, I am both botanist and plant ecologist and I GO WILD about teaching plant identification and vegetation survey and assessment on the MSc Plant Diversity and MSc Species Identification and Survey Skills (SISS) at the University of Reading. I also carry out research in grassland ecology, conservation and restoration in Europe and I have published widely in the scientific journals. I spend half my year teaching and researching at the University of Reading and half working as an ecological consultant with RSK Ltd based in Hemel Hempstead. This combination of academia and industry gives me a special appreciation of the theory and practice of plant ecology and also emphasises the importance of being competent and confident identifying plants in the field – good old fashioned field botany – and understanding the place of plants in the vegetation communities of Britain. I have a passion for communicating love and understanding of plants in the landscape, and botany is such fun – it’s just the best time of my life!
That’s enough from me, take a look at the testimonials page to see what my students have to say about me. Take a look at the plant identification resources on the site, and while you’re at it, why not book your place on one of my courses and enrich your own relationship with plants and the landscape – and have a lot of fun along the way!
Botany is just the best ‘B’ word we have!