An RSB-funded 'bioblitz' has helped a Lancashire country park win a Green Flag Award for innovation.

The awards, managed by campaign group Keep Britain Tidy, recognise parks and green spaces across the UK that deliver outstanding benefits for their local community.

Wyre Estuary Country Park near Blackpool was one of 15 parks honoured in the awards after hosting a special bioblitz event organised by the Society's North Western branch.

The 24 hour event, in which 364 species were recorded by members of the public, was funded by the Society's regional grant scheme, which offers grants of up to £500 for local bioscience-themed events.

The project was coordinated by local marine biologist and Society Fellow Jean Wilson MBE CBiol FRSB. She said the event not only attracted interest in local wildlife but could provide useful data for future citizen science projects.

"Without the grant of £500 and the many members of the branch, who diligently recorded and confirmed the species, the bioblitz would never have happened and the country park would not have a baseline for future results," said Jean.

Data from the bioblitz has been offered to the Lancashire Ecological Records Network and Wyre Council's coast and countryside rangers to help the region's wildlife management.

For more information about funding regional events, visit the RSB regional grant scheme page.