Hundreds of miles will be covered this month as Lancastrians go in search of bats.
And many will join nature lovers from all over the continent during European Bat Night on Saturday August 28.
It is all part of European Bat Weekend, a celebration of the mammals held by the Bat Conservation Trust every year.
Walks are being held around the county and in Greater Manchester and Merseyside throughout August, but bat groups are flocking for the big night at the end of the month.
Alan Wright, of the Lancashire Environment Record Network, said: “Getting people out recording bats is obviously useful for our records when they are reported back by the various groups.
“Events likes European Bat Night will help to identify where our bats are, making it possible for us to study and protect them.
“It will give people an opportunity to spend an evening in good company, learning more about these fascinating creatures which live all around us.”
LERN is encouraging anyone with an interest in bats to get involved with their local bat group.
Bat walks organised over the next month include:
Thursday, August 19
• Wyre Countryside Officer Charlie Pass at the VisitGarstang Centre, 8pm - 10pm. 01995 602125.
Friday, August 27
• Prospects Bat Walk in Baxenden. 7.30pm. Details at info@prospectsfoundation.org.uk.
Saturday, August 28
• South Lancashire Bat Group walks -
Yarrow Country Park, Birkacre Road Chorley
Burrs Country Park, Woodhill Road, Bury
Rivington, Bolton
Platt Fields, Didsbury
Victoria Park, Stretford
All walks begin at 8pm, details from SLBG at enquiry@slbg.org.uk or 0161 7648850.
• Borsdane Wood Local Nature Reserve, Aspull end of Reserve, Aspull, Wigan. 8pm. 01942 233976
• Seven Acres Local Nature Reserve, Breightmet, Bolton. 8pm. 01204 663754 or Bolton@lancswt.org.uk
Thursday, September 2
• North Lancashire Bat Group Secretary Gail Armstrong at Middleton Woods Nature Reserve 7-9pm. gail@batlady.co.uk
Friday, September 3
• Lancashire Wildlife Truts East Lancashire Reserves Officer Phil Dykes at Brungerley Park Entrance, Clitheroe, 7.30pm. 07841 996722 or pdykes@lancswt.org.uk
Visit the LERN website at www.lanspartners.org/lern for more details of their work and for details of wildlife in your area.
Friday, 13 August 2010
Sunday, 8 August 2010
The final total is....
809!!!!!!!!!!!!
Time for bed
Just minutes to go
Just minutes to go now and our experts are reaching for the 800 mark. Just seven to go!
Saturday, 7 August 2010
Sainsbury's food
Food, kindly donated by Trudi at Sainsbury's (and she was here for hours today), is keeping us going in the wee small hours. the moth trap is working and we are preparing for a dawn raid on the park to see if we can suprass the superb 725 species we have so far counted.
Time to thank our tireless volunteers today who made the whole thing work. The hall of fame includes our guests and everyone who got involved:-
Bill Oddie
The Mayors and Mayoresses of Chorley, South Ribble and Preston.
Lindsay Hoyle MP
Cuerden Valley Park Rangers and volunteers
The Lancashire Wildlife Trust
Lancashire BAP
Natural England
The Environment Agency
GeoLancashire
OPAL
Chorley Nats
Arocha UK
Lancashire Badger Group
North West Fungus Group
St John Ambulance
The RSPB
Lancashire Moth Group
Butterfly Conservation
The Earthworm Research Group
The Cheshire Mammal Group
South Lancashire Bat Group
West Lancashire Bat Group
James Ellaby
And all our other volunteers who may not be affiliated to the above
Particular thanks must go to the 24-hour BioBlitz team - Chris, Maddie, Sam, Nik and me.
Public session ends
The public session has ended to gasps of relief from the organisers. Many smiling faces and people getting interested in wildlife, fantastic.
All volunteers and experts worked tirelessly through the day and kept families and children involved in some excellent activities. Bill Oddie charmed everyone with his friendly, outgoing attitude and his willingness to get involved AND stay longer than originally planned. The Mayors and Mayoresses of Chorley, South Ribble and Preston graciously said they had enjoyed themselves, after a shaky start by the organisers.
The weather was generally OK, with some rain showers. But all in all the day proved to be a success, enjoyed by the majority of people involved.
A huge thanks, as we now get down to some overnight recording.
All volunteers and experts worked tirelessly through the day and kept families and children involved in some excellent activities. Bill Oddie charmed everyone with his friendly, outgoing attitude and his willingness to get involved AND stay longer than originally planned. The Mayors and Mayoresses of Chorley, South Ribble and Preston graciously said they had enjoyed themselves, after a shaky start by the organisers.
The weather was generally OK, with some rain showers. But all in all the day proved to be a success, enjoyed by the majority of people involved.
A huge thanks, as we now get down to some overnight recording.
Walks And Talks
There have been lots of great walks and talks today, with experts sharing their enthusiasm and knowledge with the public, so thanks to everyone who came along! Here's County Butterfly Recorder Laura Sivell hosting a Butterfly Walk...
Species Surveying - Sometimes It Sucks
It's not all glamour at the BioBlitz, you know. Sometimes you've just got to suck it up and get on with it.
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