Bio blitz in Ridlington churchyard

In June, 9 volunteers held a bio blitz of the Churchyard as part of the Churches Count on Nature.  We did a morning session – moths, birds, plants and then an evening session looking for bats.  It was an enjoyable way to understand the biodiversity that was co-existing in and around St. Mary Magdalene & St. Andrew Church in Ridlington.

We have put together a list of what we discovered and hope you find it of interest too.

MAMMALS
Common Pipistrelle Bat

BIRDS
(in or over the churchyard) Red Kite, Blackbird, Starling, Wood Pigeon, House Sparrow, Swift, Jackdaw, House Martin, Swallow

MOTHS
(23 of 12 species) Common Marbled Carpet, White Ermine, Small Magpie, Heart and Dart, Common Swift, Light Brown Apple Moth, Bee Moth, Common Wainscot, Mottled Rustic, Middle-barred Minor, Dark Arches, Rustic Shoulder-knot and three caterpillars (unidentified)

INVERTEBRATES
Red-tailed Bumblebee, Honey Bee, Common Rough Woodlouse, Pill Woodlouse, Earthworm, Spiders (various small), Beetles (various small), Ground Beetle, Slug, Snail, Black Garden Ant, Flies (assorted)

TREES
Lime, Elder, Laburnum, Holly, Yew, Cedar of Lebanon, Walnut, Apple (8 heritage varieties)

PLANTS
Ivy, Orange Hawkweed, Ivy- leaved Speedwell, Dandelion, Germander Speedwell, Greater Stitchwort, Daisy, Common Sorrel, Rosebay Willowherb, Groundsel, Herb Robert, Slender Thistle, Meadow Buttercup, Few-leaved Hawkweed, Black Medick, Cowslip, Black Knapweed, Yellow Rattle, Meadow Cranesbill, Hedge Parsley, Feverfew, Hogweed, Stinging Nettle, Foxglove, Creeping Buttercup, Cleavers, Common Vetch, Lady’s Mantle, Bramble, Aquilegia, Dog Rose, Wood Avens, Dog Violet, Pignut, Meadow Fescue, Meadow Grass, Ribwort Plantain, Creeping Bent, Fat Hen, Birdsfoot Trefoil, Rock Rose, Primrose, White Clover, Oxeye Daisy, False Oat Grass, Yorkshire Fog, Welsh Poppy, Wild Garlic, Creeping Thistle, Dovesfoot Cranesbill, Smooth Sowthistle, White Deadnettle, Red Deadnettle, Coltsfoot, Ground Elder, Stemless Thistle,Curled Dock, Mallow, Creeping Cinquefoil, Yarrow, Catsear, Biting Stonecrop, Sheep’s Sorrel, Common Mouseear, Pale Toadflax, Black Horehound, Ragwort.

“A huge thanks are due to the 9 volunteers who enthusiastically embarked on the bio blitz of the churchyard on 12th June – Chris and Marta, Jacky and John, Jenny, Liz, Shelagh and Richard and Debra.

Full details of the survey results will be published in due course, and we hope to put together some information for visitors which will be displayed in the church porch. Who would have thought that the churchyard contains over 60 different plants and that’s without counting the trees!”