Wild side WALK ON THE
Calling citizen scientists
AS well as working to protect and enhance our local wildlife here in Bristol, our work stretches right across the West of England, creating an entire region where nature is allowed to thrive.
One of the ways we’re doing this is through our North Somerset Rewilding Champions project, where we’ve been monitoring the changes in biodiversity which are happening as the local council starts to manage a quarter of its land for the benefit of wildlife.
They’ve been doing this by mowing their grass annually rather than fortnightly and upping their tree planting efforts to provide valuable new habitats and capture carbon dioxide as they grow.
In Portishead, for example, over the past year the grasslands has been growing longer and trees have been planted on the old golf course at Kilkenny Fields, near the marine lake and Portishead point, at Merlin Park and Welly Bottom.
The trees are a mix of native species which have been planted to enhance the local environment, while avoiding disrupting driver visibility or access to these green areas.
We need you to help us with this monitoring work. Last summer, local volunteers saw us record five times as many plants and insect species than before!
This is all thanks to pollinators being drawn to the vibrant flowers which have been allowed to flourish, and a magnitude of minibeast who shelter among the taller vegetation.
Since then, the project has welcomed two new trainees to the team, thanks to the continued support from by the National Heritage Lottery Fund, kickstarting their careers in conservation.
From April onwards, we’ll be offering regular opportunities for local people to gain valuable skills and experience while contributing to some real citizen science and making a difference in their local area.
We’re offering free training in species identification and survey techniques, with a packed calendar of practical sessions in Clevedon, Nailsea, Portishead and Weston-super-Mare, throughout the summer!
Jamie Kingscott, who leads the project here at Avon Wildlife Trust, has this message for readers of the Bristol Post who are interested in spending some time in the North Somerset sun to help local wildlife and learn new skills:
He said: “Volunteers will be getting to grips with all sorts of species, from bees and butterflies to bats and buttercups.
“Using a range of surveying techniques, it’s a great way to get out and explore the wildlife on your doorstep.
“We are hoping that last year’s trend will continue, and we’ll discover many more species thriving in North Somerset’s new wilder waysides.”
To find out more and get involved yourself, please visit www.avonwildlifetrust.org.uk/ NSRewilding