The “friends of fern” were founded in 1977 and have around 110 members which are fascinated by ferns. Our goal is to actively promote the knowledge and protection of ferns in Switzerland. At the same time, we would like to cultivate our horticultural interests. We understand “ferns” in the sense of “fern plants” and include not only the actual ferns (Polypodiopsida) but also the ancient group (Lycopodiopsida) with Lycopodiaceae, Isoetaceae and Selaginellaceae.
We organize several events around the year that take us to different habitats and/or to botanical or private gardens. These events serve to deepen the knowledge of ferns and to exchange ideas among fern friends; fern enthusiasts are always welcome.
Our magazine appears once or twice a year (1978-1994 Farnblätter, 1998-2019 Prothallium, starting 2021 Fern Folio), and is distributed to all members. The magazine reports on our activities and observations as well as on news in the field of fern research.
The board members of the friends of fern in Switzerland consist of the following people:
Bendel Muriel
Vice president, Events
Muriel Muriel Bendel is a train driver and a freelance biologist/botanist. She is the co-owner of feldbotanik.ch and ifarne.ch and the author of the field guide «Farne, Schachtelhalme und Bärlappe: Der Naturführer zu den Farnpflanzen Mitteleuropas».
Burger Stefanie
Member administration
Stefanie Burger is a biologist and works for the canton of Aargau in the field of nature conservation in the forest. She leads excursions in the field of forest biodiversity and forest bathing and also maintains a large vegetable garden.
Kessler Michael
President
Michael Kessler grew up in Peru and developed a fascination for the tropical flora and fauna there. He studied in Göttingen, Germany, before coming to Switzerland in 2008 as curator of the Botanical Garden of the University of Zürich. He conducts research on the diversity and ecology of ferns worldwide: systbot.uzh.ch
Maccagni Alessio
Translations
Alessio Maccagni is completing his PhD on height adjustment of plants at the University of Basel. As a passionate botanist, he is one of the founding members of the Ticino Botanical Society and has contributed to updating the Red List for the Southern Alps.
Rüegger Florence
Member administration
Florence Rüegger, who was introduced to the world of plants by her grandfather when she was young in France, is an amateur botanist who combines her passion for wild plants and photography on her travels and by guiding excursions as part of Birdlife Aargau’s botany courses. She is co-author of biofotoquiz.ch.
Schoch Tim
Webmaster
Tim Schoch is a biologist and wrote his master’s thesis about Athyrium filix-femina and Pseudathyrium alpestre. He works at Pro Natura Thurgau and, as the owner of the eco-office natürlich schoch, carries out biodiversity and species conservation projects.