Grassland Survey Training

Come and learn a new skill to help make Ouseburn an even better place for wildlife!

We’re pleased to welcome James Common from the Natural History Society of Northumbria (NHSN) who will host a series of Grassland Survey training sessions. These will include plant identification techniques and instruction on survey methodologies, such as using quadrats to record and track plant diversity.

These standardised surveys will be conducted repeatedly over the coming years, providing reliable comparative data that will help improve grassland management in the Lower Ouseburn Valley. If you’re interested in continuing these surveys after the training, there will be opportunities to volunteer with ongoing support.

Species-rich grassland has declined in the area in recent years, which, combined with other factors, has led to wildlife decreases—particularly affecting butterfly diversity and abundance (as documented by Prof. Mike Jeffries). These habitats are a crucial resource for many invertebrates and the wildlife that depends on them as a food source, including birds and bats.

We’ve to manage areas of grassland in the Valley with scythes – it’s an excellent wildlife-friendly approach, allowing us to leave mixed lengths of vegetation to support a variety of species, and it’s a super-sociable and healthy way to work together as a group.

The surveys and grassland management are a collaboration between Ouseburn Trust, Ouseburn Farm, Wild Intrigue and NHSN. Data collected from these Grassland Surveys will contribute to Wild Ouseburn’s long-term datasets on species and habitats in the Lower Ouseburn Valley, helping us better understand current conditions and identify opportunities to support wildlife in this urban landscape.

All sessions will run from 16.00-17.30.

We’ll meet at the southern end of City Stadium, by the allotments and the bottle sculpture

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You can come to all, or just one of two…

• Thursday 20th May
• Tuesday 17th June 
• Thursday 17th July