On Wednesday 22nd April, colleagues came together for an afternoon of nature discovery as part of Loughborough University’s involvement in the Nature Friendly Grounds programme.

Our BioBlitz event offered a chance to step away from desks and screens, get outdoors and explore the biodiversity thriving right here on campus. The results show just how rich that biodiversity is!

What is a BioBlitz?

A BioBlitz is a collaborative effort to record as many species as possible within a set period. It’s a simple but powerful way to build awareness of local wildlife while contributing to global citizen science.

What we Found

In just three hours, we recorded 144 observations across 92 different species. The snapshot highlights the diversity of life across our university grounds and reinforces the importance of managing these spaces in a nature-friendly way. All observations were uploaded to iNaturalist, which contributes to a dataset used by researchers and conservationists across the globe.

Reflections

We were joined by many enthusiastic staff members from across the university, whose curiosity and energy made the afternoon a real success. We had strong engagement from staff at the BioBlitz. We’re now looking ahead to expanding participation and encouraging more students to get involved in upcoming events.

We’d also love to keep up the momentum, as we believe a BioBlitz should be just a one off activity. Everyone can continue recording and identifying species in their own time, helping to build an even richer picture of biodiversity on campus throughout the year.

Get involved: Next BioBlitz

We’ll be running another BioBlitz on Wednesday 8th July 2026. Sign up using the link here.

Whether you’re completely new to biodiversity or already have an interest, everyone is welcome and no prior experience is needed. It’s a great opportunity to get outdoors, learn new skills and contribute to meaningful environmental data collection.

New training offer: Biodiversity Literacy Training

Alongside events like the BioBlitz, we are now offering Biodiversity Literacy Training (BLT) which is a fantastic opportunity to deepen your understanding of the nature crisis and learn how to take action.

What is Biodiversity Literacy Training?

This professional development course developed by the University of Edinburgh helps individuals and organisations:

• Understand the biodiversity and nature crisis
• Build skills to contribute to the nature-positive movement
• Identify practical actions within their own roles and influence

What will you gain?

Participants will benefit from:

• A strong foundation in biodiversity knowledge
• Practical ways to take nature-positive action
• Skills to communicate the value of biodiversity to others
• Insight into global efforts to restore nature
• Certified professional development to enhance your CV

Upcoming online sessions

• Thursday 2 July 2026 – https://forms.office.com/e/mD2iwfvRTi
• Thursday 24 September 2026 – https://forms.office.com/e/yWiPrc6RKU
• Wednesday 18 November 2026 – https://forms.office.com/e/WVgDCJMeC7

Looking ahead

The BioBlitz demonstrated just how much nature surrounds us on campus and how easy it is for us all to play a part in recording and protecting it. As we continue to develop our Nature Friendly Grounds approach, both hands-on events and training opportunities like BLT will be crucial in building knowledge, engagement and action across the university community.

We hope to see even more of you at the next BioBlitz in July. In the meantime, why not get outside, start spotting and keep the observations coming!

This blog was written by Kedijah Eaves-O’Connor, Sustainability Projects Officer at Loughborough University.