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Frosted fern border at Kersey's Farm


"The bright colours of flowers are admired by the least intellectual but the beauty of form and texture of ferns requires a higher degree of mental perception and a more cultivated intellect for its proper appreciation. Hence we regard the growing taste for the cultivation of ferns as proof of mental advancement." -
Abraham Stansfield, 1858. 

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Welcome to Fern World - the web site of the British Pteridological Society.
Find out about the BPS and its activities along with information about Ferns and other Pteridophytes.

About Us

The British Pteridological Society was founded in the Lake District in 1891 and soon became the focal point for fern enthusiasts throughout the British Isles. Today it continues to provide a wide range of information about ferns, through its web site and by publishing regular journals, leaflets and books, and organising formal talks, informal discussions and outdoor meetings. The international membership includes those interested in gardening, natural history and botany, both amateur and professional. It is a friendly society run on a voluntary basis.

The Objects of the Society are to promote all aspects of Pteridology by encouraging the appreciation, conservation, cultivation and scientific study of ferns, horsetails, clubmosses and quillworts through publications, meetings, the provision of grants and other appropriate means.


 
 

How to Join
Look and our Activities and Services.
Ready to join? Find out how to.

 

A World of Ferns
Read an Introduction to Ferns (and other Pteridophytes) from the book "A World of Ferns".

 

Come to a Meeting
Why not come along to one of our meetings? All are welcome.

   

What you can do to help
An invitation to members and potential members of the BPS.

 

 

Photographic Recording Project
Can you help us with this exciting new project to use repeated photos of ferns to assess past present and future change?

 

Merchandise List
The latest (November 2009) BPS Merchandise list is now available.

     

At the shows
The BPS has a presence at many horticultural shows.

 

 

BPS Event Diary
The new calendar showing national and regional events along with other meetings is now available.

 

BPS Fern Forum
The BPS has set up a new forum (bulletin board) for the discussion of all aspects of Ferns and other Pteridophytes.
   

Help to save Arduaine Garden
The BPS supports the campaign to save the gardens with its remarkable fern collection.

 

 

Editor's Blog
Read the Editor's thoughts about the web site, the BPS and Pteridology in general. To join in, just add a comment.

 

Cultivated Fern Herbarium The BPS herbarium is now at RHS Wisley. Can you help to expand it?
   
 
New!

Bulletin On-line!
The whole of Volume 6 (2002-2007) is now on-line, along with an index to Volumes 1-5 (1973-2001).

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Opening of Restored Fernery at Benmore
On 8th September 2009 people gathered at Benmore Botanic Gardens near Dunoon, Argyll, to celebrate the opening of the newly-restored Victorian fernery and to view the accompanying exhibition ‘Pteridomania - the Renaissance’.

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BPS at Southport Show
The BPS has had a presence at Southport Flower Show for many years. Southport is one of the few shows that has competitive classes for ferns.

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BPS at Tatton Park Show
The BPS made an appearance at the RHS Tatton Park Flower Show in 2009 for the first time.

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2010 Spore List
The BPS Spore Exchange list for 2010 is now available.

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The latest changes to Fern WWW can be found on the What's New page.


   

Copyright ©1997-2010 British Pteridological Society.
Any comments about these pages - please e-mail the editor:

The BPS representative for these pages at the Natural History Museum is

The BPS thanks the Natural History Museum for hosting this site on their WWW server. Please see their disclaimer

The British Pteridological Society is a registered charity:
Charity No. 1092399.

This page was last updated on 2 May, 2010