Petersfield residents can learn more about the wildlife on their front doorstep next weekend as a mini-bioblitz is taking place at a nature reserve in town.

The great outdoors is calling as Merritts Meadow will host a Nature Day in partnership with the Hampshire Wildlife Trust (HWT) next Saturday, May 30.

People of all ages have been urged to take part as data gathered from the three-hour event will give an indication of how the nature reserve east of North Road is faring.

“The aim of the day is to properly observe and record the wildlife of the meadow, with experts on hand,” said Merritts Meadow Nature Reserve trustee and PeCAN member, Melanie Oxley.

She added: “We hope this exercise will begin a process of regular proceedings of the wildlife living on this four-acre oasis close to the town centre.”

Participants can learn during the morning how to spot more wildlife during a Nature Discovery Walk from 10.15am to 11am with Steve Bolton, Wilder Communities Officer with the HWT.

He will also tell people how to use the iNaturalist social network to help identify and record discovered species.

There will also be a butterfly a bug hunt, with magnifying box boxes to observe insects up close, while Melanie will lead a grassland and wildflower survey from 11.15am to show how the meadow is developing.

She added: “There will be plenty of advice from experts, including how to use the free Merlin app to identify birdsong, and a chance to look at specialist bat boxes.”

Would-be participants have been encouraged to email the organisers at [email protected] so they have an idea of numbers.

The event will run from 10am to 1pm while participants should meet at the top of North Road, where organisers will direct them to the activities.