A partnership of local organisations co-ordinated by Coastwise is planning a bioblitz at Woolacombe on 7th* September 2013.
A bioblitz is a count of the plants and animals in a given location within a specified number of hours. For us this will mean a Saturday spent creating a picture of the marine and terrestrial biodiversity of a swathe of several key habitats from land to sea, focussed on Woolacombe.
Our aim is to make this a big event – 1000 people for 1000 species, – to celebrate the UNESCO North Devon’s Biosphere new decade by putting people at the heart of activities, a community effort guided by experts, a contribution towards conservation through growing local knowledge and awareness.
A full programme of public events will run throughout the day, recording, photographing, learning about and identifying plants and animals. The resulting data will be submitted to national databases and form part of the pack of learning material that will be developed from the event.
We will be using the Biosphere Foundation’s superb new 8m portable dome and trailer, equipped with microscopes and other field studies equipment, providing a basecamp for the experts on hand to help and advise.
Would you like to get involved? Do you have any suggestions for us? For example would your organisation welcome the opportunity to recruit new members and volunteers? Planning is at an early stage. Please give us your views, tell us how you would like to contribute, and send us any suggestions, any funding/sponsorship advice to cover the modest costs, or ask for more information.