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Read more445 Species Found At Brockholes BioBlitz
Intrepid naturalists, parents and children braved horrible weather conditions to make the first Brockholes BioBlitz a success.
A total of 445 species were found on Saturday, despite heavy and persistent rain hampering surveying on the nature reserve.
With overnight moth recordings starting the ball rolling and early morning hares and a Cuckoo adding to the excitement, a small biovillage was set up using a number of gazebos.
Representatives from the Lancashire Environment Record Network, OPAL, the Preston Society, Lancashire Mammal Group, Lancashire Badger Group, A Rocha and the Earthworm Research Group, joined the Brockholes team and its hardy volunteers to survey the whole reserve for plants, animals, birds, bugs and amphibians.
A Bank Vole, a Common Shrew and Barry, the Badger Group's "preserved badger", were the stars of the show, but a number of unexpected plants were also spotted.
Youngsters and their families, dressed ready for the bad weather, took part in the event but the turnout of the general public was affected by the rain.
LERN Communications Officer Alan Wright said: "These records will be useful not only for Brockholes but for the whole of the county. The amount of information we gathered meant it was a successful event despite the rain putting a lot of people off.
"They were actually the ones who missed out because everyone who took part had a smile on their face. As well as being educatonal, BioBlitzes are great fun... even when it's pouring."