Lockdown BioBlitz

Get closer to nature; support the physial and mental wellbeing of you and your family.

Every Wednesday from 13th May until the 1st of July 2020 during the height of the Coronavirus lockdown, we discovered the wildlife living in our gardens and open spaces near our homes through a series of themed Bioblitz sessions.

Lockdown Highlights

Just a few of the highlights from the Transforming the Trent Valley team during the Covid-19 lockdown – April to July 2020

Transforming the Trent Valley

Lockdown BioBlitz on social media

Share your BioBlitz photos, videos, sounds, drawings, poems and stories with us on social media using #thetrentvalley

#THETRENTVALLEY

Welcome

Welcome to the Transforming the Trent Valley weekly BioBlitz!
Nicola Lynes, Community Engagement Officer from Transforming the Trent Valley tells us more.

Our BioBlitz Themes

  • Wednesday 1st July: Camouflage – its time to explore and discover the wild world of camouflage. How many creatures can you spot that use camouflage to avoid being spotted by predators? Maybe you have spotted something pretending to be something else to avoid being eaten… a caterpillar pretending to be a leaf maybe?
Photograph copyright 2020 Steven Cheshire
(Transforming the Trent Valley)

Photograph copyright 2020 Steven Cheshire (Transforming the Trent Valley)

Photograph copyright 2020 Steven Cheshire
(Transforming the Trent Valley)

Photograph copyright 2020 Steven Cheshire (Transforming the Trent Valley)

Photograph copyright 2020 Steven Cheshire
(Transforming the Trent Valley)

Photograph copyright 2020 Steven Cheshire (Transforming the Trent Valley)

We did it!

Transforming the Trent Valley completed #30DaysWild 2020.

  • Wednesday 24th June: Buzy Bees – important pollinators including bumble bees, honey bees, solitary bees, wasps and bee mimics. Week 4 of #30DaysWild.
  • Wednesday 17th June: Sounds of Nature. Week 3 of #30DaysWild.
  • Wednesday 10th June: In the Night Garden, we discover the wildlife of twighlight and darkness. Week 2 of #30DaysWild.
  • Wednesday 3rd June: Eyes to the Sky! Discover the wildlife in the skies. Migrating birds to busy bees and butterflies.Join us this Wednesday as we dust off the picnic blanket to take a more relaxed approach to wildlife watching. Lay back and relax in your garden or local open space. Let the sounds of nature transport you to the big blue above. What can you see? Clouds, Birds, Bees, Bats, Dragonflies? Share your sightings with us on social media using #thetrentvalley.This week is also the start of #30DaysWild – find out more below.
Photograph copyright 2020 Steven Cheshire
(Transforming the Trent Valley)

Photograph copyright 2020 Steven Cheshire (Transforming the Trent Valley)

Photograph copyright 2020 Steven Cheshire
(Transforming the Trent Valley)

Photograph copyright 2020 Steven Cheshire (Transforming the Trent Valley)

Photograph copyright 2020 Steven Cheshire
(Transforming the Trent Valley)

Photograph copyright 2020 Steven Cheshire (Transforming the Trent Valley)

  • Wednesday 27th May
    Colours of Nature. Explore nature through colours. How many colours, shades and tints can you find in nature?

Exploring Colour in Nature

Join Nicola as she explores colour in nature in this four minute video.

Photograph copyright 2020 Steven Cheshire
(Transforming the Trent Valley)

Photograph copyright 2020 Steven Cheshire (Transforming the Trent Valley)

Photograph copyright 2020 Steven Cheshire
(Transforming the Trent Valley)

Photograph copyright 2020 Steven Cheshire (Transforming the Trent Valley)

Photograph copyright 2020 Steven Cheshire
(Transforming the Trent Valley)

Photograph copyright 2020 Steven Cheshire (Transforming the Trent Valley)

Photograph copyright 2020 Steven Cheshire
(Transforming the Trent Valley)

Photograph copyright 2020 Steven Cheshire (Transforming the Trent Valley)

Photograph copyright 2020 Steven Cheshire
(Transforming the Trent Valley)

Photograph copyright 2020 Steven Cheshire (Transforming the Trent Valley)

Photograph copyright 2020 Steven Cheshire
(Transforming the Trent Valley)

Photograph copyright 2020 Steven Cheshire (Transforming the Trent Valley)

Photograph copyright 2020 Steven Cheshire
(Transforming the Trent Valley)

Photograph copyright 2020 Steven Cheshire (Transforming the Trent Valley)

Photograph copyright 2020 Steven Cheshire
(Transforming the Trent Valley)

Photograph copyright 2020 Steven Cheshire (Transforming the Trent Valley)

Photograph copyright 2020 Steven Cheshire
(Transforming the Trent Valley)

Photograph copyright 2020 Steven Cheshire (Transforming the Trent Valley)

  • Wednesday 20th May
    Textures, shape and form. We will explore the natural world by sharing our favourite textures, shapes and forms found in nature.
Photograph copyright 2020 Steven Cheshire
(Transforming the Trent Valley)

Photograph copyright 2020 Steven Cheshire (Transforming the Trent Valley)

Photograph copyright 2020 @PaulLGMorris via Twitter

Photograph copyright 2020 @PaulLGMorris via Twitter

Photograph copyright 2020 Steven Cheshire
(Transforming the Trent Valley)

Photograph copyright 2020 Steven Cheshire (Transforming the Trent Valley)

Photograph copyright 2020 Steven Cheshire
(Transforming the Trent Valley)

Photograph copyright 2020 Steven Cheshire (Transforming the Trent Valley)

Photograph copyright 2020 Steven Cheshire
(Transforming the Trent Valley)

Photograph copyright 2020 Steven Cheshire (Transforming the Trent Valley)

  • Wednesday 13th May
    The first of our mid-week BioBlitz days. On Wednesday 13th May, we searched for mini beasts, creepy crawlies and insects of all forms from caterpillars to woodlice, butterflies to spiders in our gardens and local open spaces. Here’s a selection of photographs shared by our Bioblitz friends.
Photograph submitted by Nettie

Photograph submitted by Nettie

Photograph submitted by Nettie

Photograph submitted by Nettie

Photograph submitted by Wal

Photograph submitted by Wal

Photograph submitted by John

Photograph submitted by John

Photograph submitted by John

Photograph submitted by John

Photograph submitted by Annie

Photograph submitted by Annie

1. What is a BioBlitz?

A BioBlitz is an intense period of biological surveying; an attempt to record as many living species within a designated area. Scientists, naturalists, and the public can conduct an intensive study over a continuous time period (usually 24 hours).

BioBlitzes are often held in urban parks or nature reserves close to cities. You can also conduct your own BioBlitz in your garden or local public open space too.

BioBlitzes are a great way to learn about nature, wildlife, then environment and your local surroundings. It’s an opportunity to discover the wildlife that lives just yards from you front or back door.

2. Who can take part?

Anyone can take part; individuals, families, and children* are encouraged to explore and discover nature so long as you adgere to current social distancing measures.
*Please ensure that children are supervised appropriately when using social media or undertaking a BioBlitz in a public space.

We are very keen to encourage families located in and around the Transforming the Trent Valley Scheme Area take part every Wednesday over the next few weeks. You can spend as much or as little time as you want conducting your BioBlitz and we will be posting various suggested activities that you can do at different times of the day, plus photos and videos of what we have seen via our social media channels.

If you live within the Trent Valley between Rugeley, Alrewas, Burton Upon Trent and Derby, along the Tame Valley from Hopwas to Alrewas or along the Dove Valley between Rocester, Uttoxetter and Repton, we would love for you to get involved.

You don’t have to be a wildlife expert, so don’t be shy or scared. The key thing is to enjoy getting closer to nature and learn more about and better understand the wildlife you live with.

3. How to BioBlitz!

All you need is some space outdoors; any open space will do so long as you can adhere to social distancing measures. Your garden, local park, or street. You can even BioBlitz just by looking out of a window!

Some wildlife ID books or access to the internet to help you identify the species you have discovered. If you share your photos with us on social media using #thetrentvalley, we and our followers will help identify your sightings too.

Transforming the Trent Valley

Lockdown BioBlitz on social media

Share your BioBlitz photos, videos, sounds, drawings, poems and stories with us on social media using #thetrentvalley