Bioblitz with Nick Baker

The Bioblitz was a quick census of species at the University. Streatham is one of the most beautiful campuses in the UK and is of horticultural importance, but the grounds staff are also trying to cater for wildlife by leaving log piles, creating wild flower meadows and leaving areas of grass uncut to allow animals to move around safely.

During the event, Nick Baker was joined by his former lecturers Dr Clive Betts and Professor Charles Tyler. Numerous other academics and researchers from the College of Life and Environmental Sciences supported the event with their expertise. Mammalian biology lecturer and licensed bat handler Dr Fiona Mathews showed two bats that she had brought in from home, although brown long-eared, Daubenton’s, common pipistrelle, lesser horseshoe and soprano pipistrelle bats have been recorded on campus in the past. Dr Mark Ramsdale identified over fifty different fungi including some bright red fly agarics. The survey focused on the area between the Laver Building and the Business School and generated some surprising discoveries. For the first time ever a Snipe was spotted on campus and a bumblebee was seen making a nest, unheard of at this time of year. Other beautiful finds were a dainty small copper butterfly and a kingfisher was seen swooping over a pond.

Poppy Leeder from The Natural Environment Research Council (NERC) concluded ‘We place an increasing emphasis on public engagement activities undertaken by NERC-funded researchers and so are keen to support any activities that are ready-made for people to get involved in - Bioblitzes are just that kind of event. We are very pleased that the University of Exeter is taking a lead.’

The event was filmed and can be viewed on the University YouTube channel.