UKC

Working towards my assessment later in the year.

My biggest knowledge gap is all things environmental. I'll be going to any CPD workshops that I can but could do with some reading material. 

My flora, fauna, and geology knowledge is virtually none existant.

Would appreciate reccomendations of any books or useful online resources that people know of.

Thanks

'Hostile Habitats - Scotland's Mountain Environment: A Hillwalkers' Guide to Wildlife and the Landscape ' seems to be the usual answer for a single book & is a good starting point.

Thanks!

I'll second that recommendation.  Terrific book, easy to read and written by people who have been to many places hillwalkers and climbers frequent.

Depending on which area of the country you're most active in, you could see if there's a book about it in the Collins New Naturalist series.  Though perhaps a little harder going if you haven't any background, they are often good.  Dated but not so's they're worthless, far from it, and can be bought cheaply second hand.  One word of caution; I really didn't get on with the revised version about the Lake District, the original is far better.  

For geology, many people think Granite and Grit is a good book for the hillgoer.  I didn't, for what I think are good reasons, but am happy to recommend it on the basis that others like it.

More if I think of other things.

T.

I don't want to disuade you from gaining knowledge, as that is always a good thing, but when I did my ML one instructor at PYB encouraged us to read up on flora and fauna because that was his thing.  We studied all evening and the next day tried to impress the next instructor.  He could not have cared less and knew even less than us.

That’s disappointing to hear. There’s always exceptions but the vast majority of assessors will be keen to hear your environmental knowledge. I love it, I always learn loads on an assessment!

I read The Walker's Guide to Outdoor Clues and Signs by Tristan Gooley. Not only is it exceptionally interesting but I've used loadsof parts of that book whilst out with groups. I couldn't recommend it enough. 

https://blackwells.co.uk/bookshop/product/The-Walkers-Guide-to-Outdoor-Clue...

If you're a member of the MTA there's an excellent series of recorded zoom lectures in the members area.

Two of the key works have already been mentioned - Hostile Habitats, and Granite and Grit. I'd add Mike Raine's Nature of Snowdonia which is also excellent.

I find that rather than reading up in advance, I prefer to take photos of things I see when out and then look them up when I get back. There are now also apps where you can take a photo in the app and it identifies it for you. 

Rock rambles in snowdonia, gives you an overview of history, geology, flora and fauna, all whilst following routes in the hills. Someone else may know a similar title for the lakes, but I've not seen one.

It's worth learning, it'll open a whole new world to you, not just enable you to demonstrate the knowledge on assessment. You'll never look at a bit of rock the same again. 

Paul Gannons Rock Trails series are great for geology: https://www.paulgannonphotos.co.uk/product/rock-trails-snowdonia/

Thanks for all the replies

Another good book is Scottish Plant Lore - Gregory J. Kenicer (ISBN: 9781780276908)

It gives a nice background into the plants which makes for better chat than just reeling off names and also has some lovely line drawn illustrations.