Packham calls for UK wildlife audit

Television presenter and naturalist Chris Packham is setting out on a nationwide “bioblitz” to audit the country’s wildlife.

He is calling for the help of both experts and the public to use independent “citizen science” to audit 50 sites across the country.

Bioblitzes involve an intensive field study over a set period of time to record all the living species within a designated area.

Starting in the Scottish Highlands on July 14, over the course of 10 days he will make his way through Northern Ireland, Wales and parts of England looking at wildlife from flies to fungi, mammals, birds and butterflies.

At each site, Packham and his “bioblitz” team will examine the wildlife that is there, flag up conservation successes and see where creatures are struggling.