Urban Grassland Conservation

How do urban grasslands support wildlife in the heart of our cities? And how can we tell a species-rich meadow from a closely mown amenity lawn? Or recognise a thriving verge from a degraded patch of turf?

Urban Grassland Conservation is a one-day introduction to the ecology, assessment, and management of grassland habitats in urban environments. Designed for those with little or no prior experience, this practical course will guide you through the fundamentals of understanding, surveying, and improving urban grasslands for biodiversity.

Through a blend of classroom learning and outdoor fieldwork, you’ll explore the diversity of urban grassland types and the species they support, from plants and mammals to pollinators and birds. You’ll build confidence in recognising key ecological features and learn how to assess habitat quality using simple, repeatable methods.

The day includes hands-on group activities, a guided site visit to a local green space, and a practical rapid assessment exercise, where you’ll apply your new knowledge in a real-world setting.

This course is ideal for community volunteers, urban conservationists, and anyone with an interest in urban nature, green space management, or local conservation action.

• Urban Grassland Types and Ecology: Explore the range of urban grasslands, including amenity grasslands, wildflower meadows, road verges, and neglected greenspaces, and learn how they function within urban ecosystems.
• Urban Biodiversity: Discover the key species groups associated with grasslands, including flowering plants and pollinators, and understand how grassland ecology influences biodiversity.
• Threats and Management Challenges: Examine the main pressures affecting urban grasslands, including development, intensive mowing regimes, pollution, soil compaction, invasive species, and habitat fragmentation.
• Rapid Grassland Assessments: Learn simple field-based methods for assessing grassland quality and conduct a rapid survey of a local site in small groups to build practical field skills.
• Practical Conservation and Community Action: Explore realistic approaches to improving urban grasslands, including habitat enhancement, community involvement, citizen science, and biodiversity monitoring initiatives.

Non-professional Course Ticket (Free): Select this option if you are a non-professional (e.g. amateur naturalist, local group volunteer, undergraduate student or biological recorder). Tickets subsidised by Barnet Council .

Professional Course Ticket (£80): Select this option if you are a professional (e.g. ecologist, graduate student, researcher or are attending in relation to your vocation).

Ticket fees include an administrative fee of 20% that is non-refundable. This consists of approximately 10% for Eventbrite fees and 10% for time spent by the Biological Recording Company processing the order.

Further cancellation charges will also be incurred for the following:

• 20% admin fee + 10% cancellation fee for cancellations made over 90 days in advance of the date of the course.
• 20% admin fee + 30% cancellation fee for cancellations made between 30 and 90 days of the date of the course.
• 20% admin fee + 80% cancellation fee for cancellations made within 30 days of the date of the course.

This course will take place at Hendon Town Hall, with the field component taking place at the nearby Hendon Grove. More information regarding the venue's facilities and how to get there can be found on the Barnet Council website: https://www.barnet.gov.uk/directories/council-buildings/hendon-town-hall

This event is being run as a collaboration between the and .

Event Venue & Nearby Stays

Hendon Town Hall, The Burroughs, London, United Kingdom

Concerts, fests, parties, meetups - all the happenings, one place.

Get App