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Since OPAL went ‘live’ in the South West in March 2008, over 300 people have taken part in an OPAL field survey. OPAL has led over thirty field trips, with Moor Trees, Groundwork, BTCV, BBC Breathing Places, Tamar Valley AONB, Dartmoor National Park Authority and four schools.
Woodland Surveys
 OPAL is working with Moor Trees to monitor the development of the native woodlands planted during the last ten years. This summer OPAL and University volunteers produced baseline habitat maps for the woodland sites and surrounding areas. Moor Trees volunteer groups helped to install permanent sampling points in eight of the woodland sites, followed by vegetation surveys. Surveys will be repeated on a four-yearly basis, to track the development of the ground flora as the woodland matures.
Volunteers also carried out vegetation surveys in established woodland close to sites, to provide a benchmark of what the ground flora will hopefully become.
This winter OPAL will be running educational events on a woodland theme in Dartmoor and Plymouth, including a Family Woodland Day in Central Park, Plymouth on Saturday 6 December, as part of the OPAL launch.
Grassland Surveys
OPAL is also working with Plymouth City Council and has produced and piloted a survey that will be used to monitor the condition of grassland in ten urban greenspaces next summer. This aims to demonstrate that mowing amenity grassland less frequently benefits biodiversity in the city, as well as cutting maintenance costs. OPAL will be surveying wild flowers and the bumblebees and butterflies that pollinate them.
National Soil Survey
The OPAL National Soil Survey will be launched in spring, with a free full-colour pack to help people identify soil type, test soil health and identify earthworms in their garden or local greenspace. Participants will submit results online and contribute to the first-ever national distribution map of earthworms and a report on the nation's soil. The interactive website will also guide the participant in interpreting their results and to make comparisons with other parts of their region.
To hear more about these surveys and other events you can register on our mailing list, just email contact details to bethan@moortrees.org. Please also take the time to visit OPAL's own website at www.opalexplorenature.org.
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