French Connection For County's First Ever 'BioBlitz'
4 June 2010
This is a unique opportunity to work with WildDerby and the BBC to promote the concept of the BioBlitz.
”Peter Walker, Community Relations Officer for the University.
The University has teamed up with a range of partners, including WildDerby and the BBC, to bring the first ever 'BioBlitz' to Derbyshire. A BioBlitz is a survey of all the species that can be found, identified and recorded in a limited area and time. The idea was created in America by the United States Geological Survey in 1996.
Now word has spread across the Channel, with journalists from a French magazine set to visit the event. Elisabeth Roman, editor of Science et Vie Découvertes (Science and Life Discovered), a magazine about science and nature aimed at children, contacted the University after reading about the Derby BioBlitz on the internet. The event will feature in the magazine, which has a circulation of 60,000 in France.
Elisabeth Roman, of Science et Vie Découvertes, said: "We want to come to Derby because we haven't got anything like this in France and we'd like to share the idea and how it works with our readers.
"We really like Derby's BioBlitz programme, so it was quite simple that we had to come along."
The BioBlitz is part of a very special event, the Springwatch Wild Day Out, taking place in Markeaton Park on the weekend of June 5-6. As well as the survey, the weekend will feature a range of nature-based, outdoor activities from bat walks to bike rides.
Peter Walker, Community Relations Officer for the University, said: "This is a unique opportunity to work with WildDerby and the BBC to promote the concept of the BioBlitz.
"This work is about increasing awareness of the natural environment we all share and its wonders, and also looking at what we can do as individuals to protect it.
"There will also be an international presence, and we are very much looking forward to welcoming our French colleagues to Derby."
Along with the BioBlitz, other activities include a dawn chorus, a wild water walk, a moth watch and a smoothie cycle activity. The full programme can be downloaded at www.derby.ac.uk/community/projects/springwatch-wild-day-out
Helen Sykes, BBC Learning Project Manager for the East Midlands, said: "This is one of many events in which Springwatch will be encouraging people to go out and celebrate biodiversity in their local area.
"We are thrilled to continue working in partnership with WildDerby and the University, and we are all looking forward to what should be a great weekend".
The BioBlitz will last 24 hours, starting at 5pm on Saturday June 5. Organisers hope that in that time over 500 species will be recorded, adding to our understanding of the area's biodiversity.
As a warm-up for the BioBlitz, a special event aimed at young biologists took place on Wednesday 26 May, when 400 pupils from local primary schools held a 'Monster Bug Hunt' in Markeaton Park and Sturgess Fields. The event was organised by Groundwork Derby and Derbyshire in partnership with the University and WildDerby.
The schools' bug hunt and the Springwatch Wild Day Out are both products of a strong partnership between the University of Derby and many local groups across the East Midlands, including Friends of Markeaton Park, Natural England and the Lowland Derbyshire Biodiversity Partnership.
The University is keen to work with as many local organisations and community members as possible, so anyone interested in participating in the Wild Day Out or any other events should email Peter Walker p.walker@derby.ac.uk
The Springwatch Wild Day Outstarts at 5pm on Saturday 5 June and finishes at 5pm on Sunday 6 June. The event is totally free and open to all members of the public.
For more information and to see what other community events are taking place, please check our community website at: www.derby.ac.uk/community/events.
Springwatch Wild Days Out are taking place all over the UK from Saturday 15 May to Sunday 13 June 2010. Go to www.bbc.co.uk/breathingplaces for the full list.
For further BBC information about Springwatch: Sarah Sherwin 01442 823141/ 07836 549486 sarah.sherwin@broadstreetcommunications.co.uk
For more information about this news release, contact Luke Foddy, Community Projects, on 01332 591945 or email l.foddy@derby.ac.uk-
