For 24 hours from 6pm on the 21st June experts and the public joined forces to record wild species in the Garden at Inverleith as part of the Botanics ‘BioBlitz.’ By the end of play 444 species had been identified. Robert Mill, Chairman of the Garden’s Biodiversity Working Group, said…

we are delighted with how many people have got involved to help record the Garden’s wildlife and the results speak for themselves”.

Around 30 experts, including eight Garden staff and students, helped to identify species from a wide range of taxonomic groups. Data was entered directly to the online database ‘iRecord’ and will ultimately be made publicly available via the National Biodiversity Network (NBN) Gateway website which provides a portal for online biological records.

Particular success was had with moth trapping thanks to the warm humid weather and the expert help of Butterfly Conservation Scotland. Around 50 species were trapped including the dramatic poplar hawk moth.

With so many moths about it is perhaps not surprising that bat activity was easily located with bat detectors. The frequency readings of the bats echo location showed that both common pipistrelle and soprano pipistrelle were flying on the night of the BioBlitz.

Other highlights included both smooth and palmate newts in the ponds and a resident common frog in the Edible Gardening Project poly tunnel.

Poplar hawk moth caught during BioBlitz

Opening of the moth trap live on TV as part of the BBC Midsummer Live programme

Resident frog in the Edible Gardening Project poly tunnel