VISITORS to Ryton Pools Country Park have discovered six species which have never been seen at the site before.
At a recent ‘BioBlitz’ event, organised as part of the national Big Help Out held during the coronation weekend, more than 50 visitors were given magnifiers, shaker sheets and recording sheets to help them explore the diverse habitats across the park.
Among the recorded species were the Nut-Tree Tussock Moth, a Kentish Snail, a Copse Snail, a Soldier Beetle (Cantharis Decipiens), a Chequered Click Beetle, and a Kidney-Spot Ladybird.
The Kentish Snail is one of six species recently discovered to be living at the park.While the Kentish Snail is a recent introduction to the UK, the remaining species are relatively common. However, the discoveries indicate the importance of carefully examining the surrounding wildlife and show that many species can go unnoticed until they are at risk of significant population decline.
The event included a guided walk along one of the park’s regular recording routes, giving visitors access to areas that aren’t typically open to the public, where they were shown some of the conservation work routinely carried out by the ranger team.
Smaller creatures were brought back to the visitor centre in pots, where the ranger team were on-hand to help identify the different species.
Ben Coleman, Specialist Habitat Ranger at Warwickshire Country Parks, said: “It was fantastic to see so many families engaging with citizen science in this way to aid our understanding of the overall species mosaic at Ryton Pools.
“Even after a decade of recording wildlife, there are still new species to be found and extra pairs of eyes are always a welcome addition to surveying the site. A huge thank-you to everyone who came and contributed to a very successful BioBlitz.”
Coun Heather Timms, Warwickshire County Council’s spokeswoman for environment, climate and culture, said: “We’re thrilled at the exciting discoveries made by our visitors, who are helping to strengthen our understanding of the natural environment by looking at it a little more closely.
“By bringing children into the parks and getting them involved with recording nature, we hope to inspire the next generation of nature enthusiasts.”
The ranger team at Ryton Pools have recently celebrated a number of additions to the park’s species list, including the Spring Plasterer Bee. Found at the site in March, this species has not been recorded anywhere else in Warwickshire.
The list of bee species at the park now stands at 82, thought to be one of the best single site lists in Warwickshire. The diverse range of bee and other species indicate that the park’s ecosystem is healthy and able to support a rich tapestry of wildlife.
The next regular Weekend Wildlife Walk takes place on Sunday (May 28).
Visit https://bit.ly/3rhMtqG for more information on Ryton Pools’ Weekend Wildlife Walks, or to book a place.
Visit www.countryparks.warwickshire.gov.uk for more information about Warwickshire’s Country Parks.
