FRIDAY 10TH JUNE 5pm – 11pm
SATURDAY 11TH JUNE 8am – 1pm
Clare College Sports Ground Bentley Road, Cambridge
Back for 2022! Bioblitz is our annual public-participation survey of the wildlife present along the Hobsons Brook corridor.
Includes small mammal identification, bat detection, moth trapping, bird spotting, butterfly identification, plant identification, examining freshwater invertebrates, guided walks along Hobson’s Brook.
Ideal for families
Family activities for novices, enthusiasts and experts – young and old (under-16s to be accompanied)
All events free of charge
Register on the day
Download and print the flyer here
Find us
By kind permission of the Master and Fellows of Clare College, all activities begin at Clare College sports ground, which can be reached via Bentley Road or on foot via the footpath along the brook.
Use the map on the left or click here: ///lions.friday.free
2019 Results
Our June 2019 Bioblitz was also based at Clare College Sports Ground, and concentrated on the adjacent areas of woodland, close to meadows between Hobson’s Brook and Vicar’s Brook.
A dozen experts and volunteers ran hour-long identification sessions and guided walks at the site. The event was well attended, despite the wet weather. The Bioblitz sessions covered plants, small mammals, birds, bats, moths, and other insects and freshwater invertebrates.
Clare College Sports Ground produced 205 different taxa, including:-
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- 36 species of birds
- 8 mammals
- 89 different plant species
- 71 types of invertebrates, including:
- 48 different moths
Bioblitz highlights were the Tawny Owl, Kingfisher, Sparrowhawk and Little Egret, the Poplar Hawk- Moth and Spectacle Moth, the Serotine and Soprano Pipistrelle Bats, the Wood Mouse and Bank Vole, the Water Scorpion, and the Grey Poplar, Lesser Water Parsnip and Stinking Iris.
These results compare well with the 2018 Bioblitz at Hobson’s Park, Trumpington, and the 2017 Bioblitz at Nine Wells and Empty Common, and together emphasise the diversity of habitat present along the Hobson’s Brook corridor.
2022 programme
This year we will focus on the North Paddock and the adjoining woodland between Hobson’s Brook and Conduit and Vicar’s Brook. This is the programme:-
| Trustee Guided Walks | 5.15pm onwards |
| Bird spotting | 6 – 7pm |
| Small Mammals | 7 – 8pm |
| Bat Detection | 9 – 10.30pm |
| Moth trapping | 10.30 – 11pm |
| Small Mammals | 8-9am – 1pm |
| Moth trapping | 9 – 10am |
| Bird spotting | 9.30 – 10.30am |
| Butterflies | 10 – 11am |
| Plant identification | 11am – 12 noon |
| Freshwater invertebrates | 12 noon – 1pm |
On Friday early evening and on Saturday morning Trustees will conduct guided walks along Hobson’s Brook and Conduit.
Our programme of Bioblitz events has highlighted the biodiversity of green spaces close to the built environment, and shows the importance of the Hobson’s Brook ‘green corridor’ in preserving wildlife in the City of Cambridge. Maintaining a strong flow of high quality water in Hobson’s Brook is clearly essential for the continued success of these ecosystems, which offer considerable benefits to residents and visitors. The Hobson’s Brook corridor forms part of the Cambridge Nature Network.