About the event

Taking place as part of the 2025 City Nature Challenge, we'll be hosting a big Black Country Bioblitz at Smestow Valley Local Nature Reserve on Saturday 26th April, 10.00 - 15.00!

You can join us for FREE guided walks led by our knowledgeable staff throughout the day, or simply visit us at our stall to pick up some spotter sheets and wild ID guides to head out to discover wildlife on your own. Our guided walks will take place at the following times:

10.30-11.30: Wildflower Walk

Come and discover fascinating flora and a wealth of flower facts with our Conservation Manager, Jake, who will highlight as much as possible across the reserve's grassland, woodland and canalside paths - there will be lots to learn!

12.20-13.30: Bug Hunt with the Birmingham & Black Country Invertebrate Group

Join experts from the Birmingham & Black Country Invertebrate Group on a big bug hunt. With sweep nets and viewing pots on hand to help you get up close to these tiny treasures, there will be bees, butterflies, beetles and bugs galore!

14.00-15.00: Underwater Wonders

We'll be discovering what lives in both the Smestow Brook and the Staffordshire & Worcestershire Canal. Don't worry, there will be no need to get your feet wet - unless you want to, as we "kick sample" the Brook and use our feet to disturb the riverbed and uncover the life which calls it home!

No booking necessary, everybody is welcome to join us throughout the day and we look forward to seeing you there!

Throughout the day we'll be encouraging everyone to use the free iNaturalist app (find it in whichever app store you use!) to photograph and identify the wildlife they see - this will help to show the whole world how wild we are as we collect records to lift us up the City Nature Challenge leaderboard! You can find out all about this global wildlife-spotting challenge by clicking here.

The project to Explore, Enhance, Protect and Promote Smestow Valley Local Nature Reserve is made possible with The National Lottery Heritage Fund.

Thanks to National Lottery players, we are exploring proposals for conservation work in the nature reserve including repairing and protecting historic features and improving access onto and throughout Smestow Valley.