A community-led Bioblitz of one of Norwich's richest sites of natural and local history is set to record species through an army of citizen scientists for the first time in the city.
Supported by the Heritage Lottery Fund, the event aims to record as many species possible in one day – 27 May - in the 12 acre Train Wood at the start of Marriott's Way.
There will be walks and talks on railway history too, harking back to the days when the site was Norwich's 'City Station'. The event will be suitable for all ages and all activities will be free.
Friends of Train Wood are also local leaders of the Woodland Trust's forthcoming Charter for Trees Woods and People, and will be collecting signatures in support of it on the day. For every signature a tree will be planted in the UK, and the charter will be launched in November.
Local railway history group, the Friends of Norwich City Station have been hard at work clearing the area and are to lead railway heritage walks one of which, at 1pm, which will include the laying of flowers and a minute's silence at the crash site of a B24 Liberator 'Lady Jane'.
John Batley of Friends of Norwich City Station said: 'We have cleared the platform areas and uncovered the coaling stage, and the crane mounting on top of it. Further excavations will be required in the future but we are seeing significant results and the railway history of Norwich City Station is at last really coming back to life.'
Friends of Train Wood and Marriott's Way's community plant recorder group has recently started to regularly survey plants in the area. Lucy Galvin, member of the group, said; 'We have found over 50 species so far, from forget-me-nots to buttercups to the nationally-rare Hoary Mullein. We're hoping hundreds of people will come and help us top that and get 300 species recorded on the day.'
Gemma Walker, Living Landscape Project Officer at the Norfolk Wildlife Trust, said: 'There will be all sorts of experts on hand, having a careful look to see what they can record. The wood, lying as it does next to the wonderful river Wensum, is a haven for wildlife in the city and has been undisturbed for many years.'
The event will run from 11am to 4pm on Saturday 27 May. More information at www.trainwood.co.uk
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