Press Release

Press Release Archive: Friday 02 July 2010

Have you ever seen an elephant hawk?

Organisers of the Lincolnshire BioBlitz hope to discover the exotic-looking elephant hawk-moth in a garden in Horncastle

Taking place from 4pm on Friday 9 July until 4pm on Saturday 10 July, the BioBlitz is a 24 hour race to find and identify as many plants and animals as possible in the gardens of the Lincolnshire Wildlife Trust headquarters, Banovallum House, in Horncastle. From 10am until 4pm on Saturday 9 July there will be free activities for children including pond dipping and minibeast hunts. Rachel Shaw from the Lincolnshire Wildlife Trust said "We hope to discover not just where the wild things are but what they are too. One of the wild things we’ll be looking for is the stunning elephant hawk-moth: a large lime green and pink moth that often lives in gardens. It looks exotic and many people could have them in their own gardens without ever knowing." Everyone is welcome to come along and work together with local naturalists and scientists to find as many plants, animals and fungi as possible. Organisers hope that in that time over 500 species will be recorded. Fran Hitchinson from the Lincolnshire Biodiversity Partnership said: "The BioBlitz is taking place during the UN’s International Year of Biodiversity and we hope to illustrate just how much biodiversity can be found in a garden. Last year, the team of scientists, naturalists and the public found 476 different species. This year, we are hopeful that we can break that record and discover 500 species. The more people that come along and join in, the more we will hopefully find.  Children are particularly good at finding insects and other creepie-crawlies, and we'll have the experts on hand to identify the species." Gardens are important for a range of wildlife and the BioBlitz is a unique opportunity to see and learn about birds, spiders, bugs, worms, flowers and mammals that can live in our gardens. BioBlitz 2010 Timetable  Join us for the whole day or just drop-in at any time. Free admission. Friday 9 July from 4pm onwards: Setting traps for nocturnal creepie-crawlies. Bat detecting. Saturday 10 July from 10am until 4pm: Pond dipping and minibeast hunts.  Searches for butterflies, dragonflies, hoverflies and other flying insects.  A self guided trail. Bird ringing demonstrations.  Children’s activities.  Nature photography workshops. Lincolnshire Wildlife Trust gift shop will be open. The Lincolnshire BioBlitz is organised by the Lincolnshire Biodiversity Partnership, Lincolnshire Naturalists’ Union and the Lincolnshire Wildlife Trust. It is held at Banovallum House, Manor House Street, Horncastle LN9 5HF, the headquarters of the Lincolnshire Wildlife Trust. It is part of a programme of BioBlitz events taking place across the UK in celebration of the UN’s International Year of Biodiversity. See: The Lincolnshire BioBlitz pages of our website

Notes to Editors

1. 2010 has been declared the International Year of Biodiversity by the United Nations – the year that celebrates the diversity of life on Earth, including every plant, animal and micro-organism. Biodiversity, the variety of life on Earth, is essential to sustaining the living networks and systems that provide us all with health, wealth, food, fuel and the vital services our lives depend on. Human activity is causing the diversity of life on Earth to be lost at a greatly accelerated rate. These losses are irreversible, impoverish us all and damage the life support systems we rely on every day. But we can prevent them. www.biodiversityislife.net
   
   
2. The Lincolnshire Biodiversity Partnership brings together local authorities, statutory agencies, voluntary and not-for-profit organisations with a responsibility for and interest in biodiversity in the historic county of Lincolnshire.  The partnership coordinates action, information and protection and provides services for partner organisations through the Biodiversity Action Plan, Environmental Records Centre and Local Wildlife Sites.  The Lincolnshire Biodiversity Partnership is independent of any of its constituent organisations. www.lincsbiodiversity.org.uk 
   
   
3. The Lincolnshire Naturalists' Union is the only amateur Natural History Society covering the whole of Lincolnshire. Members study, record, hold meetings, supply information, publish books, exhibit, discuss and learn. www.lnu.org 
   
   
4. The Lincolnshire Wildlife Trust is dedicated to the conservation of wildlife and wild places throughout the historic county of Lincolnshire – from the Humber to the Wash. The Trust is Lincolnshire’s leading nature conservation charity with over 25,000 members and around 100 nature reserves. The Trust is a member of a nationwide network of 47 local trusts which work to protect wildlife - The Wildlife Trusts. www.lincstrust.org.uk
   
   
5. The Wildlife Trusts. There are 47 Wildlife Trusts across the whole of the UK, the Isle of Man and Alderney. We are working for an environment rich in wildlife for everyone.  With nearly 800,000 members, we are the largest UK voluntary organisation dedicated to conserving the full range of the UK’s habitats and species, whether they be in the countryside, in cities or at sea. 135,000 of our members belong to our junior branch, Wildlife Watch.  We manage 2,256 nature reserves covering more than 90,000 hectares; we stand up for wildlife; we inspire people about the natural world and we foster sustainable living. Visit www.wildlifetrusts.org
   

For further information please contact

Rachel Shaw, Public Relations Officer
Tel: 01507 526667   (ansaphone out of office hours)
Fax: 01507 525732
Email: Rachel Shaw

Lincolnshire Wildlife Trust
Banovallum House
Manor House Street
Horncastle
Lincolnshire LN9 5HF

Website: www.lincstrust.org.uk