National Plant Monitoring Scheme (NPMS)
The National Plant Monitoring Scheme (NPMS) is a partnership between the Botanical Society of Britain and Ireland (BSBI), Joint Nature Conservation Committee (JNCC), UK Centre for Ecology and Hydrology (UKCEH), Plantlife and the Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs (DAERA).
Purpose of NPMS
The NPMS is a long term monitoring scheme designed to collect data to provide an annual indication of changes in habitats by looking at plant abundance and diversity.
How it works
Volunteers are recruited and supported to survey 5 plots in a 1 kilometre square close to where they live. The plots will be surveyed twice a year, in late spring and again in late summer. The kilometre squares have been identified by stratified random sampling and the plants have been chosen as positive and negative indicators of the health of individual habitats. There are 3 levels volunteers can participate at depending on confidence and knowledge and support will be provided through training courses as well as email and telephone communication.
For more information including newsletters, training and events as well as how to get involved, please visit the NPMS website.