GLOUCESTERSHIRE Wildlife Trust (GWT) is holding a BioBlitz on its two newest nature reserves in the Forest-of-Dean, The Park and Poor's Allotment in Tidenham. The BioBlitz will last 30 hours from Saturday 25th July – Sunday 26th July, 2015.

"Bio" means "life" and "Blitz" means "to do something quickly and intensively" – together they make "BioBlitz", a race against the clock to discover as many species of plants, animals and fungi as possible, within a set location, over a defined time period which in this case is 30 hours. The aim is to record at least 700 species.

"Everyone is welcome to come along, you don't need any experience to take part," said organiser Dr Colin Studholme from Gloucestershire Wildlife Trust.

"People can just turn up at their leisure or take part in one of the bookable organised events, such as mammal tracking, pond dipping and a night-time bat count. The more eyes the better."

The BioBlitz spans the two nature reserves on opposite sides of the B4228, near to St Michael and All Angels Church, and there will be a recording hub where all sightings and discoveries will be taken back to, which is next door to Poor's Allotment in the Old School Rooms on Rosemary Lane.

There will be experts on hand during the 30 hours to help identify rare and the unusual, as well as things you might not usually see such as bats, mice and voles, so it's a great opportunity to get close to wildlife.

"We are just getting to know these fantastic nature reserves and although there's a lot of work going on at the sites, it doesn't mean there isn't lots of wildlife teeming throughout," said reserve manager Kevin Caster.

"Slow worms warming themselves up under rocks, lizards basking on sunny gorse, woodcocks performing their roding display flight at dusk, pairs of breeding stonechats and evidence of hazelnuts chewed by dormice,"

"The sites are full of possibility and discovery for wildlife enthusiasts, and peaceful beautiful open landscapes that everyone can appreciate.

"The reserves offer nooks and crannies to explore, the best views over the River Severn and a fantastic array of wildlife in fantastic habitats. 

"We will be using all the information gathered during the BioBlitz to help inform us about the nature reserves and their future management."

A full programme of events during the 30 hours is advertised on the GWT website http://www.gloucester">www.gloucester

shirewildlifetrust.co.uk/bioblitz where you can also book your place on the events.