Technology helping with Sherford biodiversity survey

Volunteers in Sherford are using technology to record local wildlife

A citizen science wildlife survey in Devon is using technology to record its findings and boost biodiversity.

The Friends of Sherford Country Park has signed up to identify and record what wildlife and plants live in the area using their mobile phones.

A phone app identifies species, while software - developed by the University of Plymouth - identifies how biodiversity can be improved.

Scientists hope acting on the data will encourage missing wildlife to return.

The wildlife survey - known as a Bioblitz - has been organised by local conservation organisation, Pollenize.

It has been using the university software called Floradex. together with the team of volunteers at Sherford, to capture 777 observations of 186 different species of plants and animals.

Dr Lauren Ansell said the volunteers are making research easier

Owen Finnie, co-founder of Pollenize, said: "Floradex is such an exciting programme, combining community rewilding and scientific research to protect pollinators and the planet.

"Not only does it offer huge potential for land-owners and developers to boost biodiversity, but it is extremely rewarding for communities to take part in citizen science and improve the environment."

Dr Lauren Ansell, a lecturer in data science at the University of Plymouth, said getting the community involved in the research is invaluable.

"Pollinators are really hard to track - it can take years of study just to know what's in one area," she said.

"By getting citizen science involved, getting people out there doing the dirty and hard work for us, it gives us a really good spectrum of what's going on in local areas."