The discovery of the local flora as reflected in BSBI vice-county datasets - a case study for Berwickshire v.c.81

Abstract

This paper reviews the achievements of botanical recording in Berwickshire over two centuries with particular reference to populations of locally-scarce plants, using graphs and tables rather than distribution maps. It concludes that, while the time available for fieldwork over two centuries has been well spent, it will be desirable to consider how populations of locally-scarce species searched for and not refound are best recorded during the next recording cycle, so that trends in these species become readily available. This might be best achieved by intensive repeat-recording of each site of botanical interest in rotation, preparing a revised site account on completion of each site survey.