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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
• 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
An introduction to Opal
• 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
The six Opal surveys
Why submit information on-line?
• 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
Earthworms & Soil 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
Air Quality (Lichen) 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
Pond 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
Biodiversity (Hedgerow) Survey
http://hedgelink.org.uk/
• 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
Weather 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
Bugs Count Survey
Societies web page http://www.opalexplorenature.org/NaturalHistorySocieties
• 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
Societies web page - guidance
• Range of activities
aimed at sparking
children’s interest e.g.
– How to paint with soil
– Nature quizzes
– Word searches
Kids zone web page
• 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
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