BioBlitz 2022
Help Bury St Edmunds Water Meadows Group hunt for as many species of plant, insect and animal that can be found in the Abbey Gardens and water meadows on May 21!
With the help of school children, members of the public, skilled naturalists and partner organisations, Bury St Edmunds Water Meadows Group are looking to build on their existing knowledge of the species that visit or reside within the bounds of the Abbey Precinct.
The focus areas within the Abbey Precinct include the Abbey Gardens, the Great Churchyard, and the water meadow areas known as the Crankles and No Man’s Meadows.
Kingfishers, Hedgehogs and Bee Orchids are among familiar favourite species which may be spotted within the Bioblitz zone by regular and observant visitors. As management efforts are increasingly focused on improving habitats within the Abbey Precinct for the benefit of wildlife, Bury St Edmunds Water Meadows Group are also keen to discover more about which members of lesser-known groups are contributing to the intricate web of life in this historic site.
Are you able to add to the list of 361 species recorded by Bury Water Meadows Group volunteers in recent years, or perhaps help them to refresh the list of over 60 lichen species found in the Abbey Gardens and Great Churchyard 30 years on from the last concerted recording effort?
There will be a series of walks and demonstrations throughout the day on Saturday 21st May which will include some drop-in events and others with limited space available to book in advance.
Free to attend. Some sessions need to be booked in advance here: https://bit.ly/abbey1000bioblitztickets
Help Bury St Edmunds Water Meadows Group hunt for as many species of plant, insect and animal that can be found in the Abbey Gardens and water meadows on May 21!
With the help of school children, members of the public, skilled naturalists and partner organisations, Bury St Edmunds Water Meadows Group are looking to build on their existing knowledge of the species that visit or reside within the bounds of the Abbey Precinct.
The focus areas within the Abbey Precinct include the Abbey Gardens, the Great Churchyard, and the water meadow areas known as the Crankles and No Man’s Meadows.
Kingfishers, Hedgehogs and Bee Orchids are among familiar favourite species which may be spotted within the Bioblitz zone by regular and observant visitors. As management efforts are increasingly focused on improving habitats within the Abbey Precinct for the benefit of wildlife, Bury St Edmunds Water Meadows Group are also keen to discover more about which members of lesser-known groups are contributing to the intricate web of life in this historic site.
Are you able to add to the list of 361 species recorded by Bury Water Meadows Group volunteers in recent years, or perhaps help them to refresh the list of over 60 lichen species found in the Abbey Gardens and Great Churchyard 30 years on from the last concerted recording effort?
There will be a series of walks and demonstrations throughout the day on Saturday 21st May which will include some drop-in events and others with limited space available to book in advance.
Free to attend. Some sessions need to be booked in advance here: https://bit.ly/abbey1000bioblitztickets
Line up for the day:
Songs of the Lark
6-8am
Join local ornithologist, Peter Lack, for an early morning walk through the Abbey Precinct, tuning in to the bird life that resides in the gardens and the water meadows that fringe the rivers Lark and Linnet. While the bubbling of the river may be the Lark you are most likely to hear during this walk, this will be an opportunity to learn to distinguish the voices of familiar garden birds such as Robins, Wrens and Goldfinches. There will also be a chance of encountering some of the more elusive species that can occasionally be seen and heard in these sites such as Treecreepers, Kingfishers, Great Spotted Woodpeckers and Kestrels.
Booking required: Group size is limited to 12, and we ask that reservations are limited to two per booking. Suitable for aged 12 and above. In order to avoid disturbance to the birds, please leave your dogs at home on this occasion. If you own a pair of binoculars please bring them along.
Meeting place: Base of the Norman Tower 6am. The walk will finish up in the Abbey Gardens by 8am.
Mysterious moths.
From 8:30am
Drop-in to the BioBlitz Hub Zone in the Abbey Gardens to discover which marvellous moths have been attracted to an overnight light trap. Whilst some moths are active during daylight hours, many others take to the air under the cover of darkness meaning we rarely have the chance to appreciate the striking beauty and great diversity of their intricate patterns. You are invited to watch on as moths are identified and recorded before their release by naturalists Trevor Goodfellow and Peter Lack, adding to our knowledge of the species that are active in the Abbey grounds by night.
No booking needed.
Riverfly in the River Lark
From 10:30am
The Riverfly Partnership have developed a standard methodology for monitoring the health of our waterways through sampling and counting of river invertebrates by citizen scientist volunteers.
Drop-in to the Thetford River Group stand at the BioBlitz Hub Zone throughout the day to meet an experienced team and some of the invertebrates they have sampled from the River Lark. This will be an opportunity to find out more about Riverfly sampling technique, the quality of our local rivers and the ‘Emerging Water Resources Regional Plan for Eastern England’ recently published by Water Resources East.
No booking required.
A Wildlife Wander
10:00am - 11:00am
Bill Sutherland, Professor of Conservation Biology at Cambridge University, will lead a wander around the Abbey Precinct observing the diversity of wildlife as you meander through the site and pondering the factors that influence the populations of different species. What will you see and what can we learn from the species that live alongside us?
No booking required
Where the Wildflowers Are
11:00am - 12:00pm
Biologist and plant-lover, Anna Saltmarsh, will lead you on a wander through the Abbey Precinct celebrating the wild and naturalised plant life of the Crankles, the Great Churchyard and nearby areas. This will be an opportunity to take a closer look at some of the delicate, delicious and deadly wildflowers that can be found growing in our midst. Discover just how deeply intertwined all our lives are with the world of plants, meeting wild relatives of familiar kitchen ingredients as well as species which have been the source of medicines to treat ailments ranging from headaches to cancers.
The walk will start and finish at the BioBlitz Hub Zone. By Lark Bridge, Abbey Gardens.
Booking required: Group size is limited to 15.
Insects on the wing
12:00 – 1:00pm
May is early in the year for finding dragonflies and damselflies in flight, but this is an opportunity to join local naturalist James Robinson in a search for any early emergers that may be patrolling the water meadows adjacent to the River Lark. James will share his knowledge of which species to keep an eye out for in and around Bury, with hints on the best places to search, and the natural history of these fascinating and ancient creatures. James will be joined by Jillian Macready, Trustee of the Bury Water Meadows Group and keen butterfly watcher. Jillian carries out regular butterfly surveys along the Lark Path as a citizen science recorder for the UK Butterfly Monitoring Scheme and will talk about the butterflies found in the Abbey Precinct and which plants support their different life stages. How many species will you find?
Group size is limited to 12.
The walk will start and finish at the BioBlitz Hub Zone. By Lark Bridge, Abbey Gardens
All abuzz at the Abbey
1:30 – 2:30 pm
Join Suffolk Wildlife Trust’s Hawk Honey, for a leisurely walk around the Abbey Precinct looking at the variety of bees, wasps and other interesting insects that inhabit our countryside. No special equipment required, just sensible footwear and clothing. Hawk is a self-taught entomologist who specialises in Hymenoptera (bees and wasps) and has been recording the diversity of these amazing insects in and around Suffolk for several years.
Meeting place: BioBlitz Hub Zone. By Lark Bridge, Abbey Gardens.
Beetling about
2:30 – 3:30pm
Join Dr. Ross Piper, entomologist, author and presenter, as he investigates the insect life of the Abbey Precinct, keeping an eye out for his favourite Chrysomelid beetles and solitary wasps. Author of ‘How to Read an Insect – A Smart Guide to What Insects Do and Why’ Ross will share insights into the intriguing and diverse strategies that different insect species have adopted to survive and reproduce. Join Ross back at the BioBlitz Hub Zone for a remarkable close-up view of insect specimens to see how natural selection has shaped their body parts to adapt them to different ways of life.
Meeting place: BioBlitz Hub Zone. By Lark Bridge, Abbey Gardens
Songs of the Lark
6-8am
Join local ornithologist, Peter Lack, for an early morning walk through the Abbey Precinct, tuning in to the bird life that resides in the gardens and the water meadows that fringe the rivers Lark and Linnet. While the bubbling of the river may be the Lark you are most likely to hear during this walk, this will be an opportunity to learn to distinguish the voices of familiar garden birds such as Robins, Wrens and Goldfinches. There will also be a chance of encountering some of the more elusive species that can occasionally be seen and heard in these sites such as Treecreepers, Kingfishers, Great Spotted Woodpeckers and Kestrels.
Booking required: Group size is limited to 12, and we ask that reservations are limited to two per booking. Suitable for aged 12 and above. In order to avoid disturbance to the birds, please leave your dogs at home on this occasion. If you own a pair of binoculars please bring them along.
Meeting place: Base of the Norman Tower 6am. The walk will finish up in the Abbey Gardens by 8am.
Mysterious moths.
From 8:30am
Drop-in to the BioBlitz Hub Zone in the Abbey Gardens to discover which marvellous moths have been attracted to an overnight light trap. Whilst some moths are active during daylight hours, many others take to the air under the cover of darkness meaning we rarely have the chance to appreciate the striking beauty and great diversity of their intricate patterns. You are invited to watch on as moths are identified and recorded before their release by naturalists Trevor Goodfellow and Peter Lack, adding to our knowledge of the species that are active in the Abbey grounds by night.
No booking needed.
Riverfly in the River Lark
From 10:30am
The Riverfly Partnership have developed a standard methodology for monitoring the health of our waterways through sampling and counting of river invertebrates by citizen scientist volunteers.
Drop-in to the Thetford River Group stand at the BioBlitz Hub Zone throughout the day to meet an experienced team and some of the invertebrates they have sampled from the River Lark. This will be an opportunity to find out more about Riverfly sampling technique, the quality of our local rivers and the ‘Emerging Water Resources Regional Plan for Eastern England’ recently published by Water Resources East.
No booking required.
A Wildlife Wander
10:00am - 11:00am
Bill Sutherland, Professor of Conservation Biology at Cambridge University, will lead a wander around the Abbey Precinct observing the diversity of wildlife as you meander through the site and pondering the factors that influence the populations of different species. What will you see and what can we learn from the species that live alongside us?
No booking required
Where the Wildflowers Are
11:00am - 12:00pm
Biologist and plant-lover, Anna Saltmarsh, will lead you on a wander through the Abbey Precinct celebrating the wild and naturalised plant life of the Crankles, the Great Churchyard and nearby areas. This will be an opportunity to take a closer look at some of the delicate, delicious and deadly wildflowers that can be found growing in our midst. Discover just how deeply intertwined all our lives are with the world of plants, meeting wild relatives of familiar kitchen ingredients as well as species which have been the source of medicines to treat ailments ranging from headaches to cancers.
The walk will start and finish at the BioBlitz Hub Zone. By Lark Bridge, Abbey Gardens.
Booking required: Group size is limited to 15.
Insects on the wing
12:00 – 1:00pm
May is early in the year for finding dragonflies and damselflies in flight, but this is an opportunity to join local naturalist James Robinson in a search for any early emergers that may be patrolling the water meadows adjacent to the River Lark. James will share his knowledge of which species to keep an eye out for in and around Bury, with hints on the best places to search, and the natural history of these fascinating and ancient creatures. James will be joined by Jillian Macready, Trustee of the Bury Water Meadows Group and keen butterfly watcher. Jillian carries out regular butterfly surveys along the Lark Path as a citizen science recorder for the UK Butterfly Monitoring Scheme and will talk about the butterflies found in the Abbey Precinct and which plants support their different life stages. How many species will you find?
Group size is limited to 12.
The walk will start and finish at the BioBlitz Hub Zone. By Lark Bridge, Abbey Gardens
All abuzz at the Abbey
1:30 – 2:30 pm
Join Suffolk Wildlife Trust’s Hawk Honey, for a leisurely walk around the Abbey Precinct looking at the variety of bees, wasps and other interesting insects that inhabit our countryside. No special equipment required, just sensible footwear and clothing. Hawk is a self-taught entomologist who specialises in Hymenoptera (bees and wasps) and has been recording the diversity of these amazing insects in and around Suffolk for several years.
Meeting place: BioBlitz Hub Zone. By Lark Bridge, Abbey Gardens.
Beetling about
2:30 – 3:30pm
Join Dr. Ross Piper, entomologist, author and presenter, as he investigates the insect life of the Abbey Precinct, keeping an eye out for his favourite Chrysomelid beetles and solitary wasps. Author of ‘How to Read an Insect – A Smart Guide to What Insects Do and Why’ Ross will share insights into the intriguing and diverse strategies that different insect species have adopted to survive and reproduce. Join Ross back at the BioBlitz Hub Zone for a remarkable close-up view of insect specimens to see how natural selection has shaped their body parts to adapt them to different ways of life.
Meeting place: BioBlitz Hub Zone. By Lark Bridge, Abbey Gardens
