WILDLIFE enthusiasts are invited to take part in a 'bioblitz' in Christchurch.

The event will take place from Saturday, June 27 at 10am until Sunday, June 28 at 10am, at Steamer Point Nature Reserve.

It will be based at the information centre at the end of Penny Way, off Seaway Avenue.

This is the third annual bioblitz, organised by the Christchurch & East Dorset Councils’ Countryside Team, after successful events in previous years discovered 500 species at Stanpit Marsh.

A bioblitz focuses on finding and identifying as many species as possible in a specific area over a 24 hour period.

Members of the public are invited to come along to some or all of the events to help add to the wildlife inventory for the area.

Saturday events include guided botany walks, pond dipping, dragonfly identification and a minibeast hunt.

The evening will include a bat talk and walk from 8pm and a late night moth trap.

Sunday morning begins with a dawn chorus walk at 6am, with early risers treated to a fully organic cliff-top breakfast.

The finale will be a review of the overnight sightings from the trail camera and the grand opening of the previous night’s moth and mammal traps.

Countryside Officer Robin Harley said: “A bioblitz is a fun way to encourage more public participation in wildlife recording and raise awareness of the rich natural diversity on our doorstep. With the help of the public we aim to conduct a detailed field study of the reserve that will add to everyone’s knowledge of the local area.”

Most events are free to attend but some, including the breakfast, will require booking in advance.

Go to facebook.com/christchurchcountrysideservice for more information.

Anyone interested in taking part can contact Christchurch Countryside Service on 01425 272479.