Staunton Harold hosts first bioblitz over May half term

Visitors exploring the wildflower meadows (Image: © National Trust/Annapurna Mellor)

This May half term, National Trust’s Staunton Harold in Derbyshire is teaming up with Staunton Harold Sailing Club to conduct a baseline survey of the many animals and plants that call Staunton Harold home and encourage families to get outdoors. Made up of woodland, wildflower meadows and nature reserves, Staunton Harold is a haven for nature and supports an array of species, from butterflies and birds to bees and wildflowers.

A bioblitz is an event to identify as many species as possible in a set location. From Thursday, May 30 to Friday, May 31, visitors will have the chance to become a wildlife explorer and help the ranger team survey and record some of these species while connecting with nature.

With a range of fun guided walks and interactive activities between 10am and 2pm, including surveying wildflowers, monitoring birds and tree shaking and sweep netting to look for invertebrates, there’s something for the whole family to enjoy.

Since taking on the management of visitor operations and nature conservation at Staunton Harold in July 2022, the ranger team have sympathetically managed this landscape to boost biodiversity, from hedge planting to bracken rolling to control invasive species.

Vicky Naylor, area ranger, says: "We’re thrilled to be hosting our first ever bioblitz to combine our aims of enriching environments and creating strong connections between people, places and nature. The results from these surveys will inform future management and help us to continue improving existing wildlife habitats."

Staunton Harold Sailing Club will be opening the club to visitors, so they can see what wildlife they can spot on the water. Paul Williamson, Commodore of Staunton Harold Sailing Club commented: "We are excited to be working with the National Trust to host this event. Staunton Harold Sailing Club is trying to make its area as nature friendly as possible. It will be great to discover more about the wildlife on our doorstep and to find out in the long term whether we are making a difference."

There will also be the chance to meet and greet the Derbyshire Amphibian and Reptile Group, Derbyshire Rural Crime as well as Police Safer Neighbourhood teams.

Melbourne, Derbyshire