Obituary - Jonathan Mitchley, Dr M the singing botanist

The University community was very sorry to hear of the sudden death this week of Dr Jonathan Mitchley, Associate Professor of Field Botany in the School of Biological Sciences.

 

Jonathan was a much-loved member of the University as a scientist, teacher, musician and member of the Staff Common Room. As a founder of Botanical University Challenge, he created one of the leading organisations in the UK and Ireland celebrating plant education for students, and helping young botanists of all backgrounds build friendships, professional networks and careers.

 

After growing up in Canterbury, Jonathan went to Bangor University to read botany before completing a PhD at Cambridge in grassland ecology. He then conducted research in grassland ecology, conservation and restoration in Europe at Lancaster University, and at Utrecht University.

 

Jonathan moved from his senior Lecturer post at Wye College into a new jointly funded post, split between University of Reading and Carter Ecological in 2007.  This shared post developed Jonathan as both an academic and a botanical consultant bridging theory and business, and achieved the highest examined level of botanical species identification in the UK.

 

In recent years at Reading, he was primarily involved as programme director of the ecological survey skills with placement Master’s degree course, which proudly boasted a 100 per cent employment rate for graduates in related careers. The course was awarded the CIEEM Higher Education Programme of the Year Award 2024.

 

Hugely popular with his students, he was known for singing in class and leading botany field trips dressed in outlandish outfits. His always-present hand lens, which was frequently seen on a lanyard around his neck, was used as often for reading text messages on his low-tech phone as it was for identifying rare grass species.

 

Jonathan dedicated considerable effort on outreach and science engagement with people of all ages, looking for new ways to connect people with the love of plants. He even put himself through a re-brand as “Dr M Goes Wild”, producing online videos and social media content, as well as in-person events and talks.

A talented musician and singer, Jonathan was a fixture among the University choir, where he would go out of his way to include every member in the social life that went alongside rehearsals and concerts. With a group of students and staff he was a founder of the covid lockdown choir, the Dairy Project, named after the bar at London Road.

 

This year, he oversaw the organisation of a series of sold-out concerts at the London Road campus, Music at Acacias, including one evening exclusively featuring the vocal talents of the well-know concert tenor… Jonathan Mitchley.

 

As a member of the Staff Common Room, Jonathan served a number of roles, including as Senior Steward in 2024/25. His effort to create a bespoke beer, Whiteknights Cedar Ale, as part of a series of events to mark the 50th anniversary of botany Master’s degrees at Reading in 2019, was a typical example of how he frequently found ways to find overlaps with his favourite things.

 

Jonathan was looking forward to his retirement at the end of 2026, and was planning a series of parties to mark his final few months as a full-time member of staff.

 

He was exceptionally proud to have overseen the latest Botanical University Challenge, hosted at Whiteknights in August, as part of the University’s Centenary celebrations. The annual challenge involved 32 universities from across the UK and Ireland, with Jonathan’s exuberant presentation setting the tone for a fun and successful event.

 

As he wrote on his website, Dr M Goes Wild: “Plants are just the greatest things. Plants are all around us, but we don’t always appreciate that they feed us, they heal us, and by their beauty they also nourish us heart and soul.

 

“Take a common plant, maybe a tiny little moss or a great oak tree. Look anew and let the plant and its shape, form, colour and smell speak to you. Dr M Goes Wild about plants and he wants you to be part of the joy and the wonder and the fun! You are welcome here!”