The City Nature Challenge is the world’s largest bioblitz. It’s happening this year between 24th – 27th April and once again Herefordshire has been entered into the challenge. To take part, all you need to do is record any wild species anywhere in Herefordshire using the free iNaturalist app, between 24 and 27 April. Your observations will automatically be counted towards Herefordshire’s total for the challenge and you can track progress here .
Herefordshire Biological Records Centre are holding three City Nature Challenge-themed events in April:
City Nature Training – learn how to use iNaturalist! HARC, Thursday 16 April, 6pm – 8pm
This workshop will equip you with everything you need to know to participate in the City Nature Challenge! There will be a short (c.20 minutes) presentation introducing the iNaturalist app with time for questions afterwards, followed by an hour or so outdoors, practicing using iNaturalist to record species around HARC. Finally the last half hour will be spent back indoors identifying any observations.
You will need to create an iNaturalist account before the event using either the app or at www.inaturalist.org. You can record using either the iNaturalist app (in which case you will need to install it on your phone before the event) or by taking photos on a digital camera for upload to the website later. It won’t be possible to upload photos from digital cameras at the event, but the training will cover the process for doing this.
This is a free event but booking is essential – please email hbrc@herefordshire.gov.uk to book your place, by the 13th April at the latest to allow all arrangements for the day to be finalised.
City Nature Chatting – come and talk to HBRC about the CNC! Hereford Market, Wednesday 22 April, 10am – 3pm
Ahead of the City Nature Challenge, HBRC will be holding an outreach stall at Hereford Market where anyone is welcome to come and chat with them about the challenge. If you’ve got questions about how it works, how to get involved, or would like a quick demo using iNaturalist, pop by any time between 10.00am and 3.00pm to say hello!
City Nature Challenge – Bartonsham Bioblitz! The Brailsford Hall, Scouts Corner/Bartonsham Meadows, Saturday 25 April, 10.00am -12 noon.
Join in on the Saturday of this year’s City Nature Challenge for a bioblitz at Herefordshire Wildlife Trust’s Bartonsham Meadows nature reserve! The day will start with an optional iNaturalist training workshop in Brailsford Hall at 10:00am, which will have the same content as the workshop held earlier in the month (see above). If you are already happy using iNaturalist, come at 10:30am when everyone will head out into Bartonsham Meadows to record as much wildlife as they can find! HBRC will have access to the whole reserve including the areas that are currently not accessible to the public, so for that reason no dogs will be allowed – to minimise disturbance and maximise the amount of wildlife that might be found.
Scouts Corner is easily accessible by public transport and there is plenty of parking available; toilets will be available during the indoor part of the event. This is a free event but booking is essential. To book your place please email hbrc@herefordshire.gov.uk, by the 23rd April at the latest to allow them to finalise all arrangements for the day.
Email: hbrc@herefordshire.gov.uk | Website: hbrc.org.uk | Instagram: @hfds_brc
