FCHO invite customers and residents to five BioBlitz events

First Choice Homes Oldham (FCHO) is running five BioBlitz events this summer to help develop more nature-friendly neighbourhoods and benefit local communities.

Plant Cooperative CIC has been commissioned by the housing association to deliver the experience. 

The £1,375 project is part of FCHO’s award-winning Greater & Greener link-up with the National Trust to improve biodiversity. 

During the weekly Wednesday events in July and August, FCHO customers and residents are invited to spend an hour in five separate locations as citizen scientists, working with Plant Cooperative to identify and record urban wildlife in their local area. 

FCHO head of neighbourhood care, David Wrigley, said: “These BioBlitz surveys will capture a snapshot of the variety of wildlife found in a specific community and is part of our drive to help create more nature-friendly neighbourhoods and improve green spaces. 

“We’d really like our customers and residents in these areas to come along on the day for just an hour and take part with the expert guidance of Andy Farrington from Plant Cooperative. 

“Each year FCHO takes biodiversity and climate change more and more seriously. We are planting more flowers, bulbs, and trees to help our wildlife. We are also cutting our grass less in specific locations to encourage biodiversity. 

“Knowing what lives in these locations with the help of our communities on a BioBlitz will help us understand more and get even better at protecting our environment – something our customers say loud and clear they want to see happen.” 

Andy Farrington project lead at Plant Cooperative CIC said: "Through these BioBlitz's we're inviting people to take the opportunity to explore their local green spaces and discover the incredible variety of wildlife that shares our neighbourhoods. 

"Every observation helps build a better picture of local biodiversity and contributes to important citizen science. We're hoping to engage people of all ages and backgrounds, particularly those who may never have taken part in wildlife recording before, showing that you don't need to be an expert to make a valuable contribution to nature conservation. 

"Come along, bring a friend and come enjoy and support the wildlife living right on your doorstep." 

Every BioBliz will take place from 11am to noon on a Wednesday. The dates and locations are: July 29 - OL1 Community Garden OL1 4PH, August 5– Wildflower areas, Littlemoor House, August 12 – Eldon Street open space, August 19 – Longfellow Crescent/Wells Road wildflower plots, Moorside and finally August 26– wildflower areas Marlborough Drive and Barons Court, Failsworth.