Ever wondered what's in your back yard?
Do you enjoy nature and being outdoors?
Want to help the community get involved with biodiversity?
Interested in public engagement?
Why not run a BioBlitz?
One of the great things about a BioBlitz is that there is no copyright on either the name of the format, anyone can run an event in any green space. This page is a collection of resources to help you create a successful BioBlitz, and we hope to add to it throughout 2010. If there is something you have created we could link to, or something you would like to see on this page, please contact us.
Mini-BioBlitz
You don't have to run a 24 hour BioBlitz! Challenge yourself and others to find as many species as possible in a 3 hour event.
If you are looking to run your own Mini-BioBlitz, a Toolkit with all the information you need can be found here.
BioBlitz Logo
Just as there is no copyright on the word "BioBlitz", there is no standard logo. The logo used by the Bristol Natural History Consortium was created by Mat Ward at the Institute of Physics Publishing. Copyright belongs to the Bristol Natural History Consortium and use of the logos is freely available to any BioBlitz event. To download the BioBlitz logo please click here.
If you have an alternate logo, or other media products, that you would like to make available to other organisers, please contact us.
RESOURCES:
OPAL Media Toolkit:
Advice on how to deal with the media, organise press releases and arrange photocalls, along with OPAL branding advice.
A Guide to Running a BioBlitz:
Hints and tips for planning and hosting a BioBlitz in the UK, written by OPAL, the Natural History Museum and the Marine Biological Association. Topics include getting started, choosing a date and location, recruiting volunteers and experts, recording your findings and various links to free downloadable resources.
Both resources are available on the OPAL website, accessed here
Organising a School Visit at a BioBlitz:
A Bioblitz is a fantastic way in which schools can extend their classroom learning in a local, natural environment, and work with experts and enthusiasts to achieve a shared goal. Airbus is supporting the Bristol Natural History Consortium develop educational resources associated with BioBlitz events and has supported the BNHC to develop this guide to hosting school visits at a BioBlitz. Download it here.
Data Sharing Guide
Find out how to make the most of the data you gather during a BioBlitz with this Data Sharing Guide produced by the NBN and OPAL.
Recording Form
Thanks to NBN Trust and BRC we now have available a Biological Recording Card. You can download it by Clicking Here
Encylopedia of Life Educational Resources:
Want to take part in a BioBlitz? You can have your own Backyard BioBlitz wherever you live in the world. Encylopedia of Life have published some wonderful resources to help your own BioBlitz activities and are always on the look-out for scientists to help build EOL further.
Click on the links to download BioBlitz activities and visit the EOL Learning and Education website to learn more.
Join the BioBlitz Hoopla
Observe all that is found within the circle of a hoola hoop
One Small Drop of Water BioBlitz
Use a microscope to inventory what you find in the drop of water.
Bug BioBlitz
Over a 24-hour period, gather, observe, and identify as many bugs as you can.
Flip a Rock BioBlitz
Pick up a rock and turn it over, and observe the organisms found on or under the rock.
Compost Heap BioBlitz
Study compost from an existing heap or begin a heap and assess it over time.
ID it!
Learn the methods that scientists use to identify an individual species.
National Geographic Educational Resources:
Help prepare kids and teens to get the most out of this exciting event! These educational resources introduce students to skills that scientists use in the field. Students learn how scientists use skills such as observation, recording, identifying species, and mapping when they're working out on the BioBlitz.
The National Geographic Resources are available through their Education Resources page here
'Be Plant Wise':
Defra and the Scottish Government have launched a new campaign entitled 'Be Plant Wise', supported by Charlie Dimmock, which focuses on encouraging pond owners to: 'know what you grow, compost with care and stop the spread'.
You can find out more, including campaign messages, guidance on how to manage pond plants and available resources such as leaflets and posters, by following the links below:
England: www.direct.gov.uk/beplantwise
Scotland: www.scotland.gov.uk/beplantwise
Further tools will be posted as soon as they are available, so please do bear with us while we load them onto this brand new website. If you need some help and advice in the meantime, you can always contact us.
