The document provides an overview of resources available from the Opal project, which received £15 million in funding to help people explore and study local green spaces. It describes six citizen science surveys that can be conducted on topics like earthworms, air quality, ponds, biodiversity, weather, and bugs. Participants can submit their findings online or by mail. Accompanying online resources include identification guides, background information, and methodologies to support participating in the surveys. Contact information is provided for each Opal regional team.

1. Resources available from the
Opal project
Adam Bates
Geography, Earth and Environmental Sciences, The University of Birmingham,
Birmingham, UK
Austin Court, Birmingham – 17th September 2011

2. An introduction to Opal
• Opal stands for Open Air
Laboratories
• ~£15million Big Lottery funding for a
national project with regional support
across England
• Aims to help people explore,
understand, protect & enjoy their
local green spaces
• Main theme is to do this through
scientific enquiry  six Opal surveys
• Lots of on-line resources available
supporting natural history groups &
natural history education

3. The six Opal surveys
• Useful for all age groups & abilities
• Can just be used as useful
information resources or can take
part in the survey
• We are interested in everybody’s
results
• Results can be returned on-line or
by freepost
• Data analysed up to the project end
October 2012  used to create a
state of the environment report
• On-line resources available for
download indefinitely

4. Why submit information on-line?

5. Earthworms & Soil Survey
• Works best in the spring & autumn
when the ground is neither too dry or
frozen
• How do the physical properties of soil
influence the distribution of different
species of worm?
• Resources include:
– A photo guide to the identification
of 12 species of worm
– A method for measuring soil
texture
– Background information about the
importance of soils & earthworms

6. Air Quality (Lichen) Survey
• Any season but lichens more
difficult to identify when very wet
• Trees in sunny situations
• Uses lichens as indicators of air
quality (nitrogen pollution)
• Another activity looking at tar spot
on Sycamore
• Resources include:
– An identification guide to 9 types
of lichen with varying nitrogen
sensitivities
– Background information on air
pollution & biological indicators

7. Pond Survey
• Works in any season but poorer
returns in mid-summer & winter
• Any pond that can be dipped
safely
• Uses pond invertebrates as
biological indicators of pond health
• Includes:
– Photo identification guide to
tolerant, sensitive &
intermediate pond
invertebrates
– Small guides to amphibians,
odonata & duckweeds

8. Biodiversity (Hedgerow) Survey
• Tailored for autumn, but parts
useful in spring & summer as well
• Any hedge will do
• How does hedgerow management
influence the production of nuts and
berries?
• Includes:
– A guide to 12 species of food
producing hedgerow plants
– Techniques for assessing the
management regime of a hedge
– A mini-guide to invertebrates
http://hedgelink.org.uk/

9. Weather Survey
• Any season, different activities for
different weather conditions
• How does the landscape influence
the wind we feel?
• What factors influence our own
thermal comfort?
• Includes:
– Cloud identification chart
– Methods for measuring wind
speed & direction in the sky & at
ground level
– Methods for measuring thermal
comfort

10. Bugs Count Survey
• For the spring, summer or autumn
• Can be done anywhere –
invertebrates on soft ground, on
vegetation, or on human-made
hard surfaces
• How does urbanization affect the
abundance & diversity of
invertebrates?
• Includes:
– An identification guide to 6 key
species
– An identification guide to
different invertebrate groups

11. Societies web page
http://www.opalexplorenature.org/NaturalHistorySocieties

12. Societies web page - guidance
• Setting up a natural history
group
• Creating an effective website
• Running public events
• Funding sources available
• How to record wildlife
• How to run a bioblitz
• Example photo consent form
• Example photocall notice
• Example press release
• Example risk assessment
• Media toolkit for societies

13. Kids zone web page
• Range of activities
aimed at sparking
children’s interest e.g.
– How to paint with soil
– Nature quizzes
– Word searches

14. • Identification resource for birds,
invertebrates, fish, amphibians &
reptiles, mammals, plants, fungi &
lichens
• 65 natural history societies represented
e.g.
– Bees, Wasps & Ants Recording
Society
– British Lichen Society
– Hoverfly Recording Scheme
– The Mammal Society
– Shark Trust

17. How to get in touch
Contact details for each region
available here e.g.
team@opalwestmidlands.org