A NATURE bioblitz will take place at Stanpit Marsh Nature Reserve this weekend.

The study to identify different species will be held from 10am on Saturday to 10am on Sunday.

This is the fourth bioblitz in Christchurch, run by the council’s landscape and countryside team, following a successful event at Steamer Point last year and previous visits to Stanpit.

The event is coinciding with a similar one at Hengistbury Head so the whole of Christchurch Harbour can be studied at the same time.

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 whole of the harbour.

The Saturday daytime events include an early morning bird boat tour, beach walk on Mudeford Sandspit, plant walks, pond dipping and minibeast safaris. The evening features a bat talk and walk, spiders by torchlight and moth trapping into the night.

Sunday morning begins with a dawn chorus walk, with early risers treated to a breakfast served on the porch of the Stanpit Marsh Visitor Centre. There will also be a review of the overnight sightings from the trail cameras and the grand opening of the previous night’s moth and mammal traps.

Wildlife experts will be on hand to help everyone identify and record their finds and, together with nature trails and quizzes, there’s something for the whole family.

A pop-up café will be serving hot and cold drinks and cakes to keep everyone’s energy levels up.

Countryside officer, Robin Harley, said: “A bioblitz is a fun opportunity to encourage more participation in wildlife recording and conservation through a series of guided walks.

"With the public’s help we will be able to conduct an intensive field study of the reserve that will add to our knowledge of the marsh."

For more information go to facebook.com/christchurchcountrysideservice or call 01425 272479.