Join in with wardsend bioblitz

NATURE news has been making headlines recently with Chris Packham making a call for people to get involved his Bioblitz events over the coming weeks as well as naturalist demi-god Sir David Attenborough encouraging people to take part in the world’s biggest butterfly count after recent weather conditions are set to help butterflies flourish.

In celebration of local biodiversity, Don Catchment Rivers Trust’s (DCRT) BioBlitz will be held at Wardsend Cemetery on Saturday August 11, running between 10am and 3pm.

This year's event is part of DCRT’s Heritage Lottery funded Living Heritage of the River Don project.

‘Bio’ means ‘life’ and ‘Blitz’ means ‘to do something quickly and intensively’. This year’s Bioblitz is a fantastic opportunity for wildlife experts, amateur naturalists and beginners to work together and find out the state of nature within Wardsend Cemetery.

Experts in wildflowers, birds and insects will be giving free guided walks throughout the event and be on hand during to identify visitors’ finds.

Come along for nature-themed arts and crafts, community stalls, and family-friendly activities.

Matt Duffy from DCRT said:

It would be fantastic to get the whole community together to celebrate the wonderful nature that Sheffield has to offer.”

Howard Bayley, chairman of the Frinds of Wardsend Cemetery, said:

Wardsend is such a special place. A hidden treasure of nature and heritage combined. It contains areas of woodland and heath land as well as sitting on the banks of the wonderful River Don.

We’re thrilled that the Don Catchment Rivers Trust have chosen Wardsend for this BioBlitz and are looking forward to welcoming visitors from near and far to what we know will be a great day.”

Everyone is encouraged to take advantage of this free event - potentially sparking an interest, or furthering one in natural history.

For schedule details and updates, visit dcrt.org.uk/archives/event/ bioblitz-wardsend-cemetery or join the Facebook event by searching ‘BioBlitz at Wardsend Cemetery’. The event is free and welcomes all ages.

For directions to Wardsend Cemetery please use the postcode S6 2ET.