Island Life Magazine Ltd April / May 2016 | Page 77

COUNTRY LIFE

adventures encourages children
to play outdoors and get closer to
nature.
The National Trust’s Countryside
Manager Robin Lang, says: “We
know that people care passionately
about nature and wildlife; TV
programmes like Countryfile,
Spring and Autumn Watch are
proof that more people than ever
before are interested in the natural
environment.
“In order to protect the precious
wildlife that we have on the Island,
we need to update our records on
every different species, and we’d
love as many people as possible to
help us. Nature and wildlife lovers
of all ages are welcome.”
“BioBlitz provides a wonderful
opportunity for people of all
abilities to explore and discover
the Island’s rich ecology with help
from experts in the field,” says
Lead Officer Pete Fellows from the
AONB. Species records collected by
participating enthusiasts provide
a really valuable snapshot of the
condition of our local wildlife and
for these reasons BioBlitz has
become firmly established in the

Island’s calendar as a popular,
family friendly event.”
Last summer, 650 species were
recorded at the National Trust’s
and AONB’s St Helen’s BioBlitz,
helping experts understand how
the habitat of this precious coastal
environment is changing, and
contributing to the creation of a
conservation management plan for
the future.
The St Helen’s BioBlitz was
one of many organised by the
National Trust across the country
in 2015, to celebrate the 50th
anniversary of the National Trust’s
Neptune Coastline Campaign. The
conservation charity now owns
775 miles of coastline including 17
miles of the finest coastline on the
Island such as Tennyson Down and
Compton and Brook Bay.
Newtown National Nature
Reserve’s BioBlitz: June 2, 10am
to 4pm, free admission. Meet at
Newtown Nature Reserve Visitor
Point, PO30 4PA (SZ 423 906)
For further information please
call the National Trust estate office
on 01983 741020.
www.visitilife.com

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