This week will see youngsters getting their hands dirty as part of a biodiversity event.

Stag beetles, slow worms and other creepy crawlies are among the delights in store when Sutton Ecology Centre will open its doors for the annual Biodiversity Gardens Bioblitz event.

The two day event takes place on Friday 2 August and Saturday 3 August. On Friday evening between 8pm and 10pm people can get involved in pitfall traps, moth-traps and bat walks.

On Saturday between 11am-5pm there will be a range of drop-in activities, including Spider Safaris, Pond-Dipping, Face-Painting, Butterfly netting, Wildlife Exhibits, Mini-Beast Hunts, Nature Trails, and Bird Walks.

Children will also have the opportunity to hire a nature discovery backpack for the day, packed full of essential wildlife-spotting gadgets, with a refundable deposit of £10.

Councillor Jill Whitehead, chairwoman of the environment and neighbourhood committee said: "This is a wonderful opportunity to show young people the fun and interesting things that happen all around us every day.

"We have so many different species of animals and creepy crawlies living in the borough so getting to see some of them up close and personal is a real treat. Now the summer holidays have started I hope lots of parents take the opportunity to explore with their children the world of animals living here in Sutton."

Bioblitz events are ran all over the country throughout the year and are aimed at gathering data on wildlife featured in the area and recorded by the citizen scientists.

The Biodiversity Gardens team will also be joined by the Friends of Sutton Ecology Centre for their Summer Fair with stalls, face-painting, cakes and more.

Visitors can also pick up a free copy of the Biodiversity Gardens, Garden Wildlife Calendar at the event.

Booking for the Friday evening session is essential and can be made online by visiting http://suttonnature.wordpress.com/biodiversitygardens/bioblitz-weekend. All activities ran on Saturday between 11am-5pm are drop-in and do not require booking. For more information visit us online or call 020 8770 5820.