Alton’s Bio-Blitz 2023
On Thursday 1st June families enjoying the half-term joined together with expert teams of County Recorders from all over Hampshire for Alton Town Council’s Bio-Blitz at Flood Meadows. An amazing 254 different species were found with a total of 376 individual records being logged during the event. The full species identification list and recordings can be found on the Town Council website https://www.alton.gov.uk/open-spaces-2/
The Town Council were joined by Hampshire Biodiversity Information Centre (HBIC) who provide an independent and impartial data service. HBIC coordinated the logging of the records onto the Hampshire database from the habitat surveys at the event. Data maintained by HBIC supports the work of Hampshire County Council and HBIC’s partner organisations. It also informs environmental assessment, land management and research by developers, utilities, landowners, students, local groups and the public.
The Town Council would like to thank the volunteers who gave their time to make this event possible. Including Dr June Chatfield OBE and the Alton Natural History Society members who led identification groups alongside the Alton Local Action for Nature (AVLAN). The identification walks included the ‘Lichens as Indicators of Air Quality,’ the ‘Wildflowers of Flood Meadows’ and ‘Insect Life in the Trees and Meadows’ as well as the very popular ‘Wildlife Identification Walk’ and ‘Invertebrate Life in the River Wey Sampling Sessions’.
There was an Eye Spy Family Trail created by Alton Town Council enabling families to explore the nature and wildlife in Flood Meadows independently. Plus, information stalls from the Hampshire and Isle of White Amphibian and Reptile Group (HIWARG), The Woodland Trust, Hampshire & Isle of Wight Wildlife Trust and the RSPB. Officers from the Nature Recovery Team at Hampshire’s Countryside Service were also on hand to talk to visitors about the new Parish Pollinators Pledge and how everyone can get involved with the project.
The Alton Society were on hand to chat to people about the Flood Meadows working party and what volunteers have achieved on the site, striving to maintain the balance of recreational and ecological nature of the site (a piece of the countryside in the town). The group of volunteers meet on the third Sunday of each month at the end of Tanhouse Lane at 10am for a two-hour session of conservation followed by refreshments. Anyone interested in attending can just turn up on the day (please bring gardening gloves and wellies) or email in advance.