##BUC2026
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bsbibotany.bsky.social
Great to have @drmgoeswild.bsky.social & Lauren Baker at #BIBConf25 talking about how @bucbotany.bsky.social is transforming & reinvigorating student botany!
Check out the recording of their talk:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=a0bK...
And get ready to support #BUC2026!
January 28, 2026 at 1:36 PM
bucbotany.bsky.social
🌱🌾🌲🌍🌿🍄🌺🌳🌴🌷🪳🥦 At December's @bsbibotany.bsky.social Jonathan Mitchley @drmgoeswild.bsky.social & Lauren Baker @cubotanicgarden.bsky.social explained the impact that Botanical University Challenge #BUC2026 is having on students in UK & Ireland. Big, positive, impact!
www.youtube.com/watch?v=a0bK...
2 slides from talk about impact of BUC. One picture with about 22 people involved in , or touched by, BUC who were at the BSBI conference where the talk was presented. Some text from BUC newsletter about the talk. Hear talk at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a0bK5gpacgU Read it form QR code in picture
January 27, 2026 at 11:01 AM
bucbotany.bsky.social
🌱🌾🌲🌍🌿🍄🌺🌳🌴🌷🪳🥦 Immediately after #BUC2026 will be Fourth Student Botany Festival at University of Reading. Two days for students from all over UK & Ireland enthusiastic about plants to meet, talk & learn. Preview of plans in current issue newsletter. @drmgoeswild.bsky.social
2 pictures Uni Reading campus. Modern buildings, trees, people, plants. Start of article about plans. Follow QR code for full article.
January 25, 2026 at 10:40 AM
bucbotany.bsky.social
🌱🌾🌲🌍🌿🍄🌺🌳🌴🌷🪳🥦 Semifinal & final Botanical University Challenge #BUC2026 will be at University of Reading in August. Whole event held here one day 2019. Only 6 teams. Memories from @drmgoeswild.bsky.social in recent issue of our newsletter. How many teams will be in #BUC2026? Definitely over 30 !
Pictures teams and competition in Botanical University Challenge 2019. Group of around 24 students, and start of text of article about the event. QR code for full text.
January 24, 2026 at 10:19 AM
bucbotany.bsky.social
🌱🌾🌲🌍🌿🍄🌺🌳🌴🌷🪳🥦 To get in the mood for Botanical University Challenge #BUC2026 (starts streaming YouTube 14:00 GMT 11 Feb), here's a question from last year!
Picture flower purple shades with yellow-white centre. 5 petals lobes. But where would you expect to find it growing: wall, plant, bog, seaside, newly disturbed ground?
January 23, 2026 at 10:51 AM
bucbotany.bsky.social
🌱🌾🌲🌍🌿🍄🌺🌳🌴🌷🪳🥦 Read about student enthusiasm for woodland fungi in latest issue of newsletter Botanical University Challenge, The Thymes.
botanicaluniversitychallenge.co.uk/the-thymes/ #BUC2026
4 pictures woodland fungi on ground, moss, rotting wood. Start of text about them.
January 20, 2026 at 9:40 AM
bucbotany.bsky.social
🌱🌾🌍🌺🍄🌳🐝 More teams from Universities and Institutions in UK and Ireland registering for Botanical University Challenge #BUC2026. Until Friday 23 January for others to register.

Starting to see what teams look like - and their names. Here's University of Southampton - The Not-So-Hot Potatoes!
Team side of Uni Southampton, The Not-So-Hot Potatoes. Their faces on Potatoes.
January 19, 2026 at 9:28 AM
bucbotany.bsky.social
🌱🌾🌲🌍🌿🍄🌺🌳🌴🌷🪳🥦 Read about Big Meadow Search @bigmeadowsearch.bsky.social where people around UK record plants in meadows, road verges, churchyards & amenity grassland. Also career change to plants. Read about both in
botanicaluniversitychallenge.co.uk/the-thymes/ #BUC2026
Pictures of ground ivy, nice purple orchid-like flowers, frilled-edged green leaves. Also leaves with parasites - one eating away at inside leaving white area, other causing raised pale galls. Also start of text of interview with Laura Moss about The Big Meadow Search. https://bsky.app/profile/bigmeadowsearch.bsky.social
January 18, 2026 at 10:34 AM
bucbotany.bsky.social
Feature of Botanical University Challenge is imaginative names of teams. Most popular ones each year, by public acclaim, get a prize. The current issue of newsletter The Thymes lists winners - but where are they from? Answers on last page! #BUC2026
botanicaluniversitychallenge.co.uk/the-thymes/
Pictures some BUC teams 2021 and list of team name winners.
January 17, 2026 at 10:03 AM
bucbotany.bsky.social
🌱🌾🌲🌍🌿🍄🌺🌳🌴🌷🪳🐝🧬🥦 Botanical University Challenge 2026 #BUC2026 starts on-line 11 February. Teams of 4 students on degree programmes should register by 23 January- deadline extended. See website for more details. botanicaluniversitychallenge.co.uk/buc2026/ @bsbibotany.bsky.social
Students at Student Botany Festival 2025. Text about sign-up https://botanicaluniversitychallenge.co.uk/buc2026/
January 15, 2026 at 9:56 AM
bucbotany.bsky.social
Students do not have to be on a Plant Sciences degree programme - just any degree programme, keen on plants and willing to work in a group of 4 representing their institution in a plant knowledge quiz. Also team registration date now 23 January. #BUC2026
January 14, 2026 at 6:27 PM
bsbibotany.bsky.social
Just 2 days left for teams of students on #PlantSciences degree programmes in Britain & Ireland to register for #BUC2026!
First round of Botanical University Challenge is on 11 Feb online so save that date.
@bsbibotany.bsky.social is proud to be a @bucbotany.bsky.social supporter again this year!
bucbotany.bsky.social Botanical University Challenge @bucbotany.bsky.social · 22d
🌱🌾🌲🌍🌿🍄🌺🌳🌴🌷🪳🐝🧬🥦 Botanical University Challenge 2026 #BUC2026 starts on-line 11 February. Teams of 4 students on degree programmes should register by 16 January. See website for more details. botanicaluniversitychallenge.co.uk
Picture of careers showcase from Fourth Student Botany Festival 2025. Woman talking to student with posters of information behind.
January 14, 2026 at 2:50 PM
bucbotany.bsky.social
Read about the amazing student plant society at Prifysgol Aberystwyth University. Phyteclub - best student society prizes, revitalized glasshouses, brought plants back to prominence. QR code or botanicaluniversitychallenge.co.uk/the-thymes/ #BUC2026 @aberuni.bsky.social
Text about article in The Thymes https://botanicaluniversitychallenge.co.uk/the-thymes/
January 14, 2026 at 8:57 AM
bucbotany.bsky.social
🌱🌾🌲🌍🌿🍄🌳🌴🌷🪳🐝🧬🥦 🧪Content January 2026 The Thymes, newsletter of #BUC2026 ? Includes Lindsay-Anne Heald from BSBI writing about a new initiative to increase wild plant video content on TikTok.

botanicaluniversitychallenge.co.uk/the-thymes/

@bsbibotany.bsky.social
part of The Thymes content
January 13, 2026 at 9:43 AM
bucbotany.bsky.social
🌱🌾🌲🌍🌿🍄🌺🌳🌴🌷🪳🐝🧬🥦 🧪 Big month for Botanical University Challenge #BUC2026. New issue newsletter The Thymes available QR code or download: botanicaluniversitychallenge.co.uk/the-thymes/

Also new 23 January deadline for university teams UK & Ireland to sign up. Competition starts 11 February!
Part front page newsletter Botanical University Challenge newsletter The Thymes. New issue January 2026. Download from QR code or at https://botanicaluniversitychallenge.co.uk/the-thymes/
January 12, 2026 at 12:21 PM
bucbotany.bsky.social
🌱🌾🌲🌍🌿🍄🌺🌳🌴🌷🪳🐝🧬🥦 This botanical question might be more difficult. About distribution of plant species in the UK and Ireland. Which one of the 5 listed do you see right at the coast around almost all the islands of UK and Ireland? #BUC2026
Map of plant distribution in UK and Ireland. Shows it is present right at the coast almost everywhere, and occasionally inland. Names of 5 plant species it could be. Which one, though. Possible plants are 1.Common Sea Lavender Limonium vulgare; 2. Thrift Armeria maritima; 3. Sea Holly Eryngium maritimum; 4. Cotton grass Eriophorum angustifolium; 5. Common Scurvygrass Cochlearia officinalis agg.
January 11, 2026 at 12:10 PM
bucbotany.bsky.social
🌱🌾🌲🌍🌿🍄🌺🌳🌴🌷🪳🐝🧬🥦 Here's an interesting question, about bog rosemary. Found in bogs, mainly Wales, northern England, southern Scotland, central Ireland in the UK & Ireland - where bogs still remain. But what is its lovely scientific name? #BUC2026
Picture pale pink bell-shaped flowers, leaves v narrow, dark green. Reddish stems. 5 options for its systematic name. Which is it? Athena, Aphrodite, Andromeda, Astraea, Astalavista. Hint: dragons!
January 10, 2026 at 10:38 AM
bucbotany.bsky.social
🌱🌾🌲🌍🌿🍄🌺🌳🌴🌷🪳🐝🧬🥦 What is the name of this commercially important plant? And if you want a second question, which plant family is it in? #BUC2026
Pictures of plant. Quite large leaves with about 5 large leaflets and a terminal one. Flowers in spike of pale purple pea-flower like ones. Is it a. Chickpea (Cicer arietinum) b. Field bean (Vicia faba) c. Alfalfa/Lucerne (Medicago sativa)d. Liquorice (Glycyrrhiza glabra) e. Soybean (Glycine max)
January 9, 2026 at 10:43 AM
bucbotany.bsky.social
🌱🌾🌲🌍🌿🍄🌺🌳🌴🌷🪳🐝🧬🥦 How about this plant-related question? The Great Exhibition in London of 1851 was in a purpose-built building designed by Joseph Paxton & Charles Fox. What plant inspired its design? 5 possible ones on the picture. Which do you think? #BUC2026
Contemporary postcard of the Crystal Palace built for 1851 Great Exhibition. But what plant inspired its structure? 5 possible answers: a. Golden Lotus (Musella lasiocarpa); b. Giant Waterlily (Victoria amazonica); c. Lotus (Nelumbo nucifera); d. Giant Rhubarb (Gunnera manicata); e. Elephant Ear (Philodendron giganteum)
January 8, 2026 at 10:23 AM
bucbotany.bsky.social
🌱🌾🌲🌍🌿🍄🌺🌳🌴🌷🪳🐝🧬🥦Another question to test your botanical knowledge. What plant family does this tree belong to? Five options - which would you pick? #BUC2026
Picture horsechestnut - bright green hand-shaped leaves, dark brown smooth bark.
January 7, 2026 at 3:09 PM
bucbotany.bsky.social
🌱🌾🌲🌍🌿🍄🌺🌳🌴🌷🪳🐝🧬🥦 Botanical University Challenge 2026 #BUC2026 starts on-line 11 February. Teams of 4 students on degree programmes should register by 16 January. See website for more details. botanicaluniversitychallenge.co.uk
Picture of careers showcase from Fourth Student Botany Festival 2025. Woman talking to student with posters of information behind.
January 6, 2026 at 11:38 AM
bucbotany.bsky.social
🌱🌾🌲🌍🌿🍄🌺🌳🌴🌷Another team has entered Botanical University Challenge 2026 #BUC2026. Students at the Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh have formed a team. First Scottish team to join in this year.
text about degree and other courses involving plants from the Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh
January 5, 2026 at 9:48 AM
bucbotany.bsky.social
🌱🌾🌲🌍🌿🍄🌺🌳🌴🌷More teams have got themselves together for Botanical University Challenge 2026 #BUC2026. Eden Project University Centre has announced its team!
List of degrees and other higher-level programmes at Eden Project University Centre that involve plants.
January 4, 2026 at 10:48 AM
bucbotany.bsky.social
🌱🌾🌲🌍🌿🍄🌺🌳🌴🌷 First rounds in Botanical University Challenge 2026 start February. Involve multiple choice questions. This is one from last year. Can you name this plant from the 5 options? #BUC2026
Picture of plant with 5 name options
January 3, 2026 at 9:07 AM
bucbotany.bsky.social
🌱🌾🌲🌍🌿🍄🌺🌳🌴🌷Yet another team signed up for Botanical University Challenge 2026 - University of York! #BUC2026 #plants #loveplants
List of degrees at University of York that include plants
January 2, 2026 at 9:15 AM