Plant identification is a skill that takes years to hone and develop, yet it is important in understanding diversity in biology while in school. This is highlighted when studying ecological succession in A-level biology where students are often unable to notice the different species, which leads to the production of poor-quality data, potentially frustration and the development of misconceptions. Here we present a strategy to improve recognition of plant species ahead of fieldwork, using a simple card game called Dune Battle. This has been shown to improve the quality of data obtained independently by students, which reduces the demand on teachers to facilitate identification.