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Come and enjoy Scotland's biggest biodiversity bonanza

Small pearl-bordered fritillary (courtesy Rose Toney)
"We are fortunate to have an outstanding natural environment in the North East. The safeguarding of our amazing biodiversity is something that all ages can, and should, be involved in"

The James Hutton Institute will be hosting a BioBlitz event at its site in Craigiebuckler on Friday 28th July - come and help ecologists identify as many species of plants, animals and fungi, in a race against the clock to learn as much as possible about biodiversity in the North East.

Twenty organisations including OPAL, Saving Scotland’s Red Squirrels, Scottish Wildcat Action, RSPB, Butterfly Conservation, RZSS, Dee Catchment Partnership, Aberdeen and Moray Rangers and many more, will be joining to record the wildlife at the site.

Visitors will be looking for marvellous moths, magical mammals, powerful pollinators and fantastic fungi.The event will be open to staff and the general public, with family-friendly activities running throughout the day including pollinator walks with local experts; bushcraft sessions with the Moray Rangers; discovering earthworms with OPAL; building dams and examining mini beasts on board the Wild About Scotland bus; having a go on the bicycles brought along by the Aberdeen Bike Roadshow; hopping on board the Waste Aware Bus to find out what you can do to help reduce, re-use and recycle, and craft sessions for the children.

Rose Toney, North East Scotland Biodiversity Partnership co-ordinator and event organiser, said: “We are fortunate to have an outstanding natural environment in the North East. The safeguarding of our amazing biodiversity is something that all ages can, and should, be involved in.

“Come along to our BioBlitz day at the James Hutton Institute in Craigiebuckler for a fun-filled family day with activities from a host of organisations from Aberdeen, Aberdeenshire and Moray.”

The event will run from 11:00 am to 3:00 pm and all activities are free. The event programme includes:

  • 11:00 am – Unveiling moth traps (Butterfly Conservation Scotland)
  • 11:30 am – Bird walk around the grounds (RSPB Scotland)
  • 11:30 am – Worm survey (OPAL, University of Aberdeen)
  • 11:30 am – Pond dipping (Dee Catchment Partnership)
  • 12:00 pm – Pollinator walk (Aberdeenshire Ranger Service and local experts)
  • 12:00 pm – Minibeast hunt (Aberdeen City Ranger Service)
  • 12:00 pm – Fungal foray (James Hutton Institute)
  • 12:00 pm – Bushcraft (Moray Ranger Service)
  • 1:00 – 2:00 pm Lunchtime Challenge (wildlife recording in the grounds – with prizes!)
  • 1:30 pm – Worm survey (OPAL, University of Aberdeen)
  • 2:00 pm – Pond dipping (Dee Catchment Partnership)
  • 2:00 pm – Minibeast hunt (Aberdeen City Rangers)
  • 2:30 pm – Pollinator walk (Aberdeenshire Ranger Service and local experts)
  • 2:30 pm – Bushcraft (Moray Ranger Service)
  • 3:00 pm – Presenting prizes for Lunchtime Challenge  

Press and media enquiries: 

Bernardo Rodriguez-Salcedo, Media Manager, Tel: +44 (0)1224 395089 (direct line), +44 (0)344 928 5428 (switchboard) or +44 (0)7791 193918 (mobile).


Printed from /news/come-and-enjoy-scotlands-biggest-biodiversity-bonanza on 28/03/24 02:01:22 PM

The James Hutton Research Institute is the result of the merger in April 2011 of MLURI and SCRI. This merger formed a new powerhouse for research into food, land use, and climate change.