A bioblitz is a race against time to count as many species of plants and animals in a given area within a certain period of time.

Whilst not necessarily providing information on all the species present, a bioblitz provides a very good idea of what is there, how rich the habitat is and whether conservationists need to go back to the site and carry out further in depth surveys or species specific surveys.

On Saturday 3 June, between 9:00am and 5:00pm, conservation officers, officers and species experts will be at the Whittle Dene Woods (north of Horsley) leading guided walks and gathering species records which will be collated and forwarded to the Environmental Records Information Centre North East (ERIC North East) and the local community interest groups who will also be attending the event.

Records will also be added to the Trust’s Local Wildlife Site files.

The event is free to take part in and there’s no need to book. Members of the public can drop in, have a wander round, record a species or two, join in as many guided walks as they like and stay the entire day if they so wish.

Children must be accompanied by an adult at all times.

Owned by two private landowners and the Woodland Trust, Whittle Dene is part ancient woodland and part replanted ancient woodland, which is a priority habitat, it’s also a designated Local Wildlife Site. It has a local community and public access, so is an ideal site for a bioblitz.