Anyone interested in finding out more about the wildlife at nature reserves in Christchurch, and helping to identify the species found there, can join the ‘Bioblitz’ taking place in and around Steamer Point Nature Reserve from 10am on Saturday 27 June to 10am on Sunday 28 June. The event will be based at the information centre at the end of Penny Way, off Seaway Avenue.
This is the third annual bioblitz, organised by the Christchurch & East Dorset Councils’ Countryside Team, after successful events in previous years discovered500 species at Stanpit Marsh.
Abioblitz focuses on finding and identifying as many species as possible in a specific area over a 24 hour period. Members of the public are invited to come along to some or all of the events to help add to the wildlife inventory for the area.
The Saturday daytime events include guided botany walks, pond dipping, dragonfly identification and a minibeast hunt. The evening will include a bat talk and walk from 8pm and finish with a late night moth trap.
Sunday morning begins with a dawn chorus walk at 6am, with early risers treated to a fully organic cliff-top breakfast. The finale will be a review of the overnight sightings from the trail camera and the grand opening of the previous night’s moth and mammal traps.
Wildlife experts will be on hand to help everyone identify and record their finds and there will be something for the whole family.
As well as an important recording effort and audit of the health and well-being of the area, the event is designed to promote public interest in biodiversity.
Countryside Officer Robin Harley said: “A bioblitz is a fun way to encourage more public participation in wildlife recording and raise awareness of the rich natural diversity on our doorstep. With the help of the public we aim to conduct a detailed field study of the reserve that will add to everyone’s knowledge of the local area.”
Most events are free to attend but some, including the breakfast, will require booking in advance.
Further information will be available at www.facebook.com/christchurchcountrysideservice
Anyone interested in taking part can contact Christchurch Countryside Service on 01425 272479 (answerphone) or email [email protected].
