Join our bioblitz

ONE of the joys of spending time in nature is that there is always something new to discover, and always the possibility of something rare turning up.

We were very excited recently to find a firecrest along the river between the Centenary Field and Black Rocks.

This beautiful little bird is similar to the tiny Goldcrest but is more colourful, with stripes around the eyes.

We’ll be taking a close look at the wildlife in this area on April 29 when we hold our second annual bioblitz at the Centenary Field.

Part of the City Nature Challenge, an international event, a bioblitz sees people work together to find and record as many wildlife species as possible in one place.

We’ll be leading nature walks throughout the day focusing on birds, trees, wildflowers, butterflies and bugs, starting with the dawn chorus and ending with bats.

Our walks are free and families are welcome (children must be accompanied by an adult).

There will also be stalls, workshops and activities including arts and crafts, bat detection, making footprint tunnels and den building.

We’ll be showing people how to use the iNaturalist app to identify and record the wildlife they see.

We’re hoping to raise some money with a nature books and plants stall. If you have any to donate, then bring them along!

Money raised will be used for our projects to improve local wildlife habitats. This year we’ll be organising monthly conservation sessions at the Glebeland, and creating a wildlife garden at the back of the Brockeridge Centre.

We hope you can join us at the bioblitz.

For more details join the Frampton Cotterell Nature Facebook group or email framptoncotterellnature@gmail.com.

David Hanks