Nature Day at Merritt’s Meadow

Merritts Meadow Nature Reserve will be hosting a Nature Day on Saturday 30 May, in partnership with the Hampshire Wildlife Trust. This event is for everybody, young or old.

The aim of the day is to properly observe and record the wildlife of the meadow, with experts on hand.

Steve Bolton, Wilder Communities Officer with Hampshire Wildlife Trust, will lead a Nature Discovery Walk showing us how to spot wildlife and use iNaturalist to help identify and record species discovered. There will be a butterfly and bug hunt using a sweep-net and children’s nets, with magnifying bug boxes, to help us observe insects up close.

Melanie Oxley, a Trustee of the Nature Reserve, will lead a grassland and wildflower survey which will help to show us how the meadow is developing.

There will be plenty of advice from experts, including how to use the free Merlin app to identify birdsong, and a chance to look at specialist bat boxes too. All are welcome (bring a picnic lunch if you want to!), but it would be good to have an idea of numbers, so please drop the organisers a line – friendsofmerrittsmeadow@gmail.com

The Trustees hope this exercise will begin a process of regular recording of the wildlife living on this four-acre oasis close to the town.

The event will run from 10am – 1pm. The meeting point is at the top of North Road GU32 2AX where you will be directed to the activities.

NB There is no parking in North Road. Please allow time to walk from the Waitrose CP.