Southampton BioBlitz 2015
A hawthorn tree was planted earlier this week by the Mayor of Southampton, Councillor Linda Norris, Deputy Vice-Chancellor Professor Adam Wheeler and pupils from Cantell School in a ceremony marking the beginning of Southampton BioBlitz 2015 and the joint commitment of the City of Southampton and the University of Southampton to caring for local wildlife.
Taking place this Saturday 6th June, the second Southampton BioBlitz is about to bring together the local community with experts to find and record our local wildlife. This is a family outdoor event organised by the University of Southampton, Southampton City Council, University of Southampton Students' Union (SUSU) and Southampton Natural History Society.
Last year’s first ever Southampton BioBlitz saw over a hundred people taking part. In 2015 the event returns bigger and better with guided walks searching for bats, birds, butterflies and much more. It will kick off at 10am at the student union building with stalls from Southampton City Council Natural Environment Team, Hampshire Wildlife Trust, Southampton Natural History Society and others and with some hands on craft activities, microscopes, touch table etc.
A fast survey of all forms of life in a natural space will be conducted during the day, aiming to find as many different species of plants, birds, insects, fungi, mammals, and everything else as possible! Recording local biodiversity in this way will make it possible to observe how plant and animal populations are changing over the years. The grand total of species recorded will be revealed at 4pm.
One of the event organisers, Professor Marcus Grace from the University's Education School says 'We can only properly protect our wildlife if we know what's actually there to protect! This is why biodiversity will be recorded on the University campus with the hope that BioBlitz marks the beginning of a long-term monitoring plan'.
In the run-up to the event there have been a series of 'mini-BioBlitzes' at local schools, with pupils exploring the wildlife in their own school grounds. Some of them will be able to display their findings at the Bioblitz to parents and other attendees tomorrow.
Check the Southampton BioBlitz blog for further information.
