On a damp and cloudy Saturday morning, ten volunteers assembled at Tregoniggie Woodland in Falmouth to see what wildlife could be found.

Led by Dr Owen Smith, of Plymouth University, the group used the handy guides produced by OPAL (Open Air Laboratories), a nationally recognised citizen science initiative which seeks to encourage ordinary people to engage with monitoring the health of our environment.

The group carried out several soil tests, included finding a good number and variety of earthworms. After a welcome break for coffee and cake, the team carried out a bug survey, which yielded a large number of beetles, flies, bees, etc. Of particular note were the tiger slug, tree bumblebee and the meadow brown butterfly. Although obviously not a bug, one group also discovered a palmate newt.

All this data has now been submitted online to OPAL, who have been building up a solid database of the state of our wild places. As well as putting Tregoniggie Woodland firmly on the national map, this first experience of carrying out the OPAL survey will hopefully be the first of many over the coming months and years.

Euan McPhee, chair of the Friends of Tregoniggie Woodland, said: “This is an exciting and valuable activity which we hope will build up a better understanding and appreciation of the ecological richness of this wonderful wood. It also provides a great opportunity for local people to become even more involved with their woodland.”

For the next OPAL event in Tregoniggie Woodland, look out for announcements in the Packet and notices in the woodland.