Local nature recorders sought for 2025 BioBlitz
The Galloway & Southern Ayrshire Biosphere Partnership will be competing with other UNESCO Biospheres in the British Isles to collect the most wildlife and nature records in a special ‘BioBlitz’ event on 23rd August, and is inviting local people to take part.
A BioBlitz is a nature recording event where people work together to find and identify as many species or animals and plants as possible in a set time and area. It’s a family-friendly activity that widens understanding of local ecology and contributes valuable biodiversity data to research and conservation projects. No expertise is required as the BioBlitz will use the iNaturalist app, a free download for mobile phones that makes recording simple and accessible.
This Bioblitz is being run in coordination with other UNESCO Biospheres throughout the UK and Ireland including The Living Coast (Brighton & Lewes Downs), Isle of Man, Isle of Wight, and Dublin Bay. The idea was generated by the new youth forum for UNESCO Biospheres in the British Isles, in which Jake McLaughlan represents the Galloway & Southern Ayrshire Biosphere.
Jake says:
“We’d love for as many local people as possible to become citizen scientists for a day and help us break all known records for nature recording in SW Scotland! This is a fantastic way to spend a summer Saturday and we can also support community groups, businesses and attractions to host their own mini BioBlitzes for the event.
Nature recording is all about capturing as much information as possible so we are interested in every plant, insect, mammal, bird, fungus, and more – if it’s growing or living wild, we want to know! It’s a brilliantly inclusive activity and there is no need to head out into the wilderness, the butterflies and beetles in your flowerbed are just as important to discover. Everybody’s sightings uploaded to iNaturalist will help paint a picture of the precious biodiversity all around us, and it’s going to be fascinating to see how our UNESCO Biosphere compares to our sister designations around the British Isles.”
Anyone wishing to join the Biosphere’s officer team on Saturday 23rd August can come along to Sanquhar where Jake and colleagues will be meeting by the bridge over the River Nith (the Southern Upland Way) for BioBlitzing along the riverbank between 10 – 11:30am, a session being run as part of Nithraid 2025, the annual river festival organised by EcoArt and The Stove Network.
For more information about the British Isles BioBlitz and how to get involved, contact Jake via jake@gsabiosphere.org.uk.
The Galloway & Southern Ayrshire UNESCO Biosphere is one of a worldwide network of designations working towards the UN’s 17 Sustainable Development Goals and the GSA Biosphere Partnership is a registered Scottish charity (SC044137) supported by core funding from South of Scotland Enterprise, Dumfries & Galloway Council, East Ayrshire Council, and South Ayrshire Council. More information is available at www.gsabiosphere.org.uk.
Other local BioBlitz events include at Lochhill Agroecological Farm, near Crossmichael on Sunday 24th August.