On the 13th and 14th June, the first ever Southampton BioBlitz welcomed over 100 people onto the Highfield Campus to explore local biodiversity.
Guided walks explored the local area
Local experts and university scientists helped nature lovers from around the city take part in the surveys and to understand local plant and wildlife. The event began with a bat walk on the Friday night, followed by a day of surveying and guided walks of birds, plants and insects at the University’s Highfield Campus and the adjacent common land. Over 227 different species were identified, including lime hawk-moths and damsel-flies, providing invaluable data for the university and City Council. It wasn’t all serious though; this was a family day out with stalls and face-painting to add to the fun.
Local superheroes taking part
The Southampton BioBlitz provided an opportunity for the local community to engage with the plant and animal life that can be found within the city. Wherever you live in Southampton, you aren’t far from open green spaces; the BioBlitz aimed to help local people to understand the breadth of wildlife right on their doorstep. If you took part in the BioBlitz or are interested in doing your own wildlife recording, find out here how you can become a citizen scientist. This event was part of a national programme of BioBlitz events, joining naturalists, scientists and volunteers to survey all forms of life in a green space. Each species discovered is recorded to help monitor the diversity of life in local parks, gardens, and nature reserves across the UK. The first ever Southampton BioBlitz was organised in collaboration by Southampton City Council, University of Southampton, University of Southampton Students’ Union and Southampton Natural History Society. A few photos from the day:
The final tally!