bioblitz at st helens duver

Let your kids go wild on the Duver with BioBlitz 2015

Thanks to Joel for sharing details of the free event. Ed


Come and help experts from the Isle of Wight Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty Partnership and the National Trust track down and record wildlife around the woods, beaches and shoreline of St Helens Duver.

Free family event
Go Wild on the Duver is a free family event looking at the Island’s wildlife both during the day and at night. The Isle of Wight Bioblitz is organised by the Isle of Wight Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty Partnership in co-operation with the Biodiversity Action Plan Partnership (BAP) and the National Trust.

The aim of the Go Wild on the Duver Bioblitz is to record as many species as possible on St Helens Duver. This year there will be the chance to search sandy beaches, rock pools, sand dunes, and coastal woods for birds, plants and insects like little egrets, thrift, mining bees, sea anemones, shrimps and blennies.

Day and evening activities
St Helens Duver will be buzzing with great wildlife activities taking place throughout the day including: art activities, wildflower and wildlife walks, bug hunts, moth trapping, bird ringing as well as numerous other activities for the public between 10am and 4pm.

There will even be on expert led bat spotting expedition during the evening.

Help the experts
No experience is needed and people of all ages are welcome to come along and help the experts look for the plants and animals that make this area so special.

Children will also have the chance to tick off some activities in the National Trust’s ‘50 Things to do before you’re 11¾ Challenge’, such as finding crazy creatures in a rock pool and catching a crab.

The National Trust’s Head Ranger Robin Lang, says:

“We know that people care passionately about nature and wildlife – TV programmes like Countryfile, Spring and Autumn Watch are proof that more people than ever before are interested in the natural environment.

“In order to protect the precious coastal wildlife that we have on the Island, we need to update our records on every different species, and we’d love as many people as possible to help us. Nature and wildlife lovers of all ages are welcome.”

50 years since Neptune launched
2015 is a special year for the National Trust on the Island. It is 50 years since the Trust launched Neptune, a national campaign to save some of the country’s most beautiful stretches of coastline.

As a result the campaign saved 775 miles of coastline which will now be protected forever, including 17 miles of the finest coastline on the Island including the Tennyson Down, Compton and Brook Bay. This year, the Trust on the Island is holding a wide programme of event and activities to celebrate the Coast.

Where and when
The event takes place between 10am – 4pm on Thursday 28th May.

Head to St Helens Duver, St Helens to take part.

For the latest event updates and activities timetable visit our Website.