Cambridge University to ‘blitz’ city

The ‘BioBlitz’ will begin on Cambridge’s Coe Fen this Friday at 1pm, with members of the public invited to count as many species of plants and insects as possible in the space of 24 hours.

They will be joined by scientists, students and experts from the University’s Department of Zoology – as well as organisations including the RSPB and Open University.

The search for Cambridge’s biodiversity will see participants joining in with a range of activities, including: hands-on sessions with invertebrates, birds and skunks, bat walks and surveys, moth-trapping, studies of museum handling collections and related craft activities, butterfly-themed activities, bug hunts and bird surveys.

The idea of the BioBlitz originated in the United States of America but this is the first ever to be held in Cambridge. The project is taking place nationwide, in celebration of the 2010 International Year of Biodiversity, and has already been confirmed in over 20 locations around the country, from Dundee to Devon, with thousands of people taking part.

The initiative is aimed at promoting an increase in national awareness of biodiversity issues.

Ros Wade, from the University’s Museum of Zoology, said: “We are thrilled to be taking part in this new and exciting project exploring Cambridge's biodiversity.

“I am always amazed by the range of animals you can see when you really start to look, even in a city environment like Cambridge. And we have some interesting animals we are keeping an eye out for, like a species of snail that hasn't been seen on Coe Fen for more than 40 years.

“This is a great opportunity to discover a different world that exists within the city of Cambridge, with the expertise of people from a wide range of natural history organizations in the region.”

All are welcome to come along and take part in the event, or to volunteer as a biodiversity expert or adviser. Daytime activities will be operated on a drop-in basis but night time activities must be booked in advance.

The range of organisations and departments involved in the BioBlitz includes: STEAM TEAM Cambridgeshire, Shepreth Wildlife Park, RSPB, Cambridge Bat Group and Bat Conservation Trust, The Open University, Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Biological Records Centre, Museum of Zoology Cambridgeshire Mammal Group, Wildlife Trust for Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire, Northamptonshire and Peterborough, Anglia Ruskin University, Cambridge City Greenways Project, Cambridge Natural History Society, BirdTrack and the Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology.

For further information visit www.museum.zoo.cam.ac.uk or call 01223 766766.