A HUGE ecological 'bioblitz' will create a new record of the wildlife thriving on Bolton's historic Smithills Estate — and bosses want your help.

The Woodland Trust — which now owns Smithills Estate — is asking visitors to turn detective and help discover the natural treasures which make the landscape so special.

Bug hunting and stream kicking are just some of the activities on offer as Smithills hosts its first bioblitz, supported by the Heritage Lottery Fund.

A spokesman said: "Enthusiasm, rather than experience is what’s needed to take part in mini-wildlife workshops including birdsong, butterflies, fungi, wildflowers and creepy crawly walks, which will run throughout the day.

"There will also be a chance to learn to make willow hurdles — natural fencing for the garden — and insect houses."

Wildlife ‘art’ will include face painting and creating dragonflies from rope.

Stream kicking is taking place at Dean Brook, where stones in the river will be dislodged and invertebrates caught in a net downstream.

Ecologist Chantelle Edwards will be on hand to give people the chance of a close up view of these tiny creatures through an on-site microscope.

Bug hunters will be on the lookout for beetles, centipedes, caterpillars and spiders,-with a helping hand from spider expert Richard Burkmar from the Field Studies Council.

Birds, butterflies, bugs, trees and flowers will all be identified and the spot where they are seen and heard recorded.

This will help create a map to pinpoint the estate’s natural treasures. Birders will be led by Steve Atkins from the Greater Manchester Ecology unit.

The 'Bioblitz HQ' will be at Barrow Bridge, where a variety of other local wildlife groups will set up stalls, including Lancashire Wildflower group, Lancashire Badger Group and Greenmount Wild Bird Hospital.

The big bioblitz will count as many creatures as possible in just one day.

Mark Gordon, who leads the Woodland Trust team at Smithills said: “It will be a fun family day out, and no specialist knowledge is needed, but there’s a serious purpose behind it.

"The bioblitz will help us benchmark our ecological knowledge of the site and help build a picture of where different species live.

"We will feed these results into our conservation plan, which will determine how we best restore the estate for wildlife; and create better habitats for animals and plants, particularly those of conservation concern."

Within Greater Manchester, Bolton is one of the most under-recorded in terms of wildlife.

Smithills is working with the Greater Manchester Ecology Unit to create a comprehensive record of the ecology of the estate.

Steeped in history and shadowed by the famous Winter Hill TV mast, the 1,700 acre Smithills Estate is managed by the Woodland Trust, with long term plans to restore it, and create a sustainable landscape that’s good for people, and wildlife.

The rare peat bogs on the moors are good for mosses, birds and floral diversity.

Once brown hare, and twite thrived on the estate. Lapwing were common, but over the past 10 years breeding spots for these endangered birds have declined.

Great-spotted woodpeckers and lizards are among the headline creatures that the trust hopes to encourage back in numbers.

But first they need to find what is there now.

Expert help will be on hand during the event to guide people as they record anything and everything that lives and grows on the estate, which stretches from Barrow Bridge car park, up High Shores Clough to Walkers Fold and then up to the moors.

The event, which is free, starts at 11am on Saturday and runs until 4pm. Refreshments will be available at Barrow Bridge.