Date: June 6 & 7
Location: Steere Hill & Phillips Farm Conservation Area, Glocester, Rhode Island
The Glocester Land Trust hosted the Rhode Island BioBlitz at its SPECTACULAR Steere Hill and Phillips Farm Conservation Area. Among secondary forests, headwater streams, red maple swamps, shrubby hedgerows between old farm fields, and boulders, ledge and stone walls, in the end the preliminary count was 1,181 species. If this were to hold, it would be the 6th highest total out of 26 events, but it is definitely going to go up because there were a lot of vouchers taken home for ID confirmation. The biodiversity on show was second only to the wonderful people who showed up in abundance to make this gathering a social delight as well as a field biology success. Final attendance in the field was 270 people, with many more following along online.
If you’re interested in the materials it takes to run a bioblitz, here are RI BioBlitz 2025 Downloadable Resources:
Handy Reference Map
RIBORF (Rhode Island BioBlitz Observation Reporting Form)
Required Liability Waiver and Photo Release
Instructions and Safety Notices/Rules
The site is draped over a ridge with streams at either end. There is 150 feet of elevation change between Science Central and the top of the ridge, with its stunning views to the west.
The BioBlitz boundaries encompassed 277 acres, including Steere Hill Preserve, acquired in 2002, and the 68-acre Phillips Farm, acquired in 1990. To make sure we got sufficient concentration of our BioBlitzing energy, BioBlitz did not include the contiguous Heritage Park parcel to the west.
Science Central was located on the very top of Steere Hill, a ridge with an astonishing view to the west. Access was via a dirt road, normally closed to vehicles, that climbs up from the Steere Hill Trailhead parking lot on Rt. 44. Find out more about the site and download a slightly different version of the trail map on the GLT’s website.
THANK YOU SPONSORS:
Roger Williams Park Zoo
Glocester Land Trust
Largess Forestry
Payton Family
Peter H. Warny Conservation Fund
Lusi Family
BRG Scientific