Local groups in Cornwall, Berkshire and Peterborough are preparing to help with Bioblitz events across the UK 
The Bioblitz event is a wildlife recording event where the public are encouraged to record as many species of plant, animal and fungi over 24 hours. Several local groups have helped with bioblitz events in Devon, Hampshire and other places where natural history societies and recording groups have required the expertise of local herpetofauna experts. With just a handful of species you would have thought that finding amphibians and reptiles would be easy. However the events are often at a time of year when both reptiles and amphibians are much harder to find and when you do find them their identification can be tricky.
The record number of reptiles is currently held by the Alresford Bioblitz held in May 2011 - a total of 84 slowworms were counted within St John's Churchyard - can anyone beat that number of reptiles?
ARG UK have the #recordpool and online identification guides to help people identify amphibians and reptiles in their local area please do send in the records so that they can be passed onto local recorders www.arguk.org/recording
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Here are some details of a Bioblitz events this summer
June
Bio-blitz at Tremough campus
Group: Cornwall Reptile & Amphibian Group Date: Saturday 16 June 2012 Description:
Tremough campus are holding a Bio-blitz to record as much wildlife for the site as they. CRAG already has an event at Swanpool on this day, but would be great if members were able to drop into Tremough to help locate and identify any reptiles and amphibians on campus.
It may be possible for some CRAG members to attend both events, as it would be good for the groups focus to have some input and hopefully get some records.
The wildlife presenter Nick Baker will be on hand at the event.
Berkshire
Silwood Park BioBlitz
will take place 30 June - 1 July. Open to the public 11-4pm on 1 July. Bug hunts, pond dipping, nature walks and more!
Berkshire, UK ยท http://www.facebook.com/silwoodparkbioblitz
July
Wicken Fen BioBlitzGroup: Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Amphibian and Reptile Group
Date: Saturday 21 July 2012
Description:We are planning on holding a Wicken Fen Bioblitz this year, on the 21st-22nd of July. A Bioblitz is when, over a 24hr time period, you record as many species as possible at a site. See -http://www.opalexplorenature.org/BioBlitzes - for more info. We would like to use it as an opportunity to get as many different people involved in recording species at Wicken Fen, it will be a really fun way to get the public engaged with science and nature at Wicken Fen. It will run from 11.00am on Saturday-11.00am on Sunday.
August
Bio Blitz - Hampshire Amphibian & Reptile Network
Petersfield, Alton and East HampshireQueen Elizabeth Country Park
4:00pm Saturday 11 Aug 2012 to Sunday 12 Aug 2012
Join us for a 24hour nature hunt and help discover as many of the weird and wonderful species living in the park as possible.
www.hants.gov.uk/qecp
Venue: Queen Elizabeth Country ParkTelephone: 02392 595040
There are many bioblitz events across the country and we would like to encourage AR groups to get involved with these events.
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