Ironworks Meadow held its first family nature day on July 9, with a 'bioblitz' to study the animals and plants inhabiting the Maldon nature reserve.

Events began the night before, with members of the Essex Moth Group setting up light traps. They found almost 200 species across the different habitats on the site, including one not seen in Essex since 1984. Some exciting finds, such as a Pine Hawk-moth and a Jersey Tiger, were kept overnight to show visitors in the morning.

Also on show was a Wasp Spider, the first to be found on the reserve.

The wildlife continued to deliver the next day, when the team was joined by invertebrate and plant experts.

A spokesperson for Chelmer Blackwater Reserve CIC told Nub News: "It was great to welcome local families to join in the search for more new critters."

Early rain cleared, allowing a wide variety of animal life to be recorded, including many grasshoppers, shield bugs and ladybirds. Rarer finds included a Velvet Ant and a Long-winged Conehead, a type of cricket.

Visitors were fascinated to see the results of pond-dipping in the King's Mere. Despite the water looking unpromising, it turned out to be full of life, with samples checked including shrimps, some young sticklebacks, water boatmen and an Emperor Dragonfly larva.

Results are still being checked, but overall totals included more than a hundred different plant species, along with 13 species of butterfly and dragonfly.

Following the success of the event, the team that manages the reserve is planning to repeat it, possibly on an annual basis. They thanked Maldon District Council for supporting the event and for the loan of much of the equipment used.

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