L'Ancresse East came alive with the buzz of excitement during BioBlitz 2025. Organised by the Nature Commission and supported by La Société Guernesiaise and other local experts, this year's event brought together ecologists, marine biologists, entomologists, botanists, divers, and other nature enthusiasts for a 24-hour marathon of biodiversity recording.

BioBlitz 2025 aimed to document as many living species as possible within a single day. This year's event revisited L’Ancresse East where a previous BioBlitz had taken place in 2019. The event saw participants scouring the area, on land and at sea, for plants, insects, birds, bats and marine life. The data collected will be crucial in understanding how local biodiversity has changed over the past six years and is vital for conservation efforts and helps track changes in species populations and distributions. All data collected was uploaded to iRecord and will be available to the Guernsey Biological Records Centre.

But BioBlitz 2025 was not just about documenting species; it is about sharing information with the wider community, particularly primary school children. After the 24-hour recording event came the two-day schools’ event in which 335 children across local seven schools participated in activities such as rock pooling, bird watching, searching for important plants, learning about bats, and minibeast spotting. 

In addition to a presentation at their schools prior to the nature activities, each child received a nature booklet filled with fascinating facts about some of the amazing species found at L’Ancresse East. The Guernsey-French names of common plants and animals were also included in the booklet to enhance the children’s understanding of Guernsey’s local culture. 

BioBlitz 2025 at L'Ancresse East was a resounding success, bringing together scientists, nature enthusiasts, teachers, and schoolchildren in a celebration of biodiversity. The event highlighted the rich natural heritage of Guernsey and underscored the importance of conservation efforts. The data collected will be analysed and shared, it will contribute to a greater understanding of local ecosystems and inspire ongoing efforts to protect and preserve them. 

Plans for BioBlitz 2026 are already underway!