PhD (University of Birmingham)

MSc (Wolverhampton University)

BSc (Wolverhampton University)

Having worked for the Shropshire Wildlife Trust and the Nature Conservancy Council in the 1980s and as an independent ecological consultant in the early 90’s, Sarah joined the university in 1995.

• Programme director for the MSc Biological Recording and for the University Certificate in Biological Recording and Species Identification.
• Module leader on the core modules for both of the programmes including Managing Data for Biological Recording, plus a range of botanical identification modules including Identifying Difficult Higher Plants, Aquatic Plant Identification and Woodland Plants.
• Module leader for the Biodiversity Field Techniques module BIO238 in Year 2, which takes place at Preston Montford Field Centre in Shropshire.
• Teaches on the first year module Environmental and Plant Biology BIO 142 and also on the second year Ecology module BIO234.
• Responsible for running a series of day schools throughout the year on species identification and techniques of biological recording, at the University's Shrewsbury base at The Gateway Centre.

For a list of possible PhD projects offered by Dr Whild www.findaphd.com/search/customlink.asp?inst=birm-Biol&supersurname=Whild

Research Theme within School of Biosciences: Organisms and Environment

Identifying and calibrating field identification skill levels.

Sarah’s research focuses on the way biological recording can be developed as a standardised, repeatable method for quantifying change in vegetation communities particularly in aquatic habitats. Lists of species can be used as 'units' in ecology, and processed mathematically to characterise ecosystem change in response to external factors such as management and climate.

For biological recording to be used this way, we need to combine reliable identification with sophisticated database processing and some complex analyses. These skills are a rare combination and on the biological recording teaching programmes, she leads a multidisciplinary team of 30 visiting lecturers who are experts in species identification, data processing and analysis to deliver the MSc programme in biological recording.

She studies the way field biologists learn to identify species and the processes they use to conduct field surveys. As part of this research, Sarah runs an accreditation scheme (Field Identification Skills Certificate, or FISCs) for the Botanical Society of the British Isles, defining the various levels of ability and showing what is needed to progress up the 'skills pyramid'.

Sarah is chair of the Botanical Society of the British Isles’ Training and Education Committee and is a trustee of the Field Studies Council. 

She is a member of the BSBI’s Research Grants panel and is a trustee of the BSBI.

Whild, S.J., Lockton, A.J. et al. 2009. The Flora of the Stiperstones. Shropshire Botanical Society & the University of Birmingham, Shrewsbury.

Whild, S.J., Lockton, A.J. & Godfrey, M. 2006. The Flora of Haughmond Hill. Shropshire Botanical Society & the University of Birmingham, Shrewsbury.

Whild, S.J. & Lockton, A.J. (eds). 2005. New Flora of Attingham Park. Shropshire Botanical Society & University of Birmingham, Shrewsbury.

Lockton, A.J. & Whild, S.J. 2005. Rare Plants of Shropshire, 3rd edition. Shropshire Botanical Society, Shrewsbury.

Whild, S.J. & Lockton, A.J. 2003. Carex muricata subsp. muricata (Cyperaceae) in Shropshire. Watsonia 24, 528-531.

Whild, S.J., Meade, R. & Daniels, J. (eds.) 2001. Management of water and trees on raised bogs. Papers and transcripts from a conference held at Hanmer, 10-12th June 1997. English Nature Research Reports No. 407, English Nature, Peterborough.

English Nature. 1998. A strategy for the conservation of the Meres & Mosses of Cheshire, Shropshire and Staffordshire. English Nature, Shrewsbury.

Consultancy reports

A review of environmental and biodiversity training in the UK. 2002. Field Studies Council, Shrewsbury.

The status of Grasswrack Pondweed, Potamogeton compressus, in Britain in 2002. English Nature, Shrewsbury.

A botanical audit of the Long Mynd. 1999. English Nature, Shrewsbury.

A review of River Corridor Survey procedures. 1999. Environment Agency, Bristol.

Botanical review of Shropshire Wildlife Trust reserves. (numerous volumes) 1998-2001. Shropshire Wildlife Trust, Shrewsbury.

An ecological survey of the Montgomery Canal. 1999. British Waterways, Gloucester.

Brown Moss Rehabilitation Plan. 1996. Shropshire County Council, Shrewsbury.

A Strategic River Corridor Survey of the River Windrush. 1996. The Environment Agency, Thames Region.

A River Corridor Survey of the River Roden. 1995. National Rivers Authority, Severn-Trent Region.

Wem and Cadney Mosses Peatland Rehabilitation Plan. 1995. English Nature.

A Survey of the Rivers Vyrnwy and Tanat. 1994. National Rivers Authority, Severn-Trent Region.