We all belong to the community of life here on Earth. We are an interconnected and interdependent part of the web of life and all have our part to play in helping life thrive.
One simple way to engage with this is by taking part in one, or more, of the many citizen science projects that are invaluable in supporting the work of wildlife and conservation organisations. Information from the projects help scientists to build a fuller picture of the things that hinder or help life to flourish.
Taking part is free! It is a great opportunity to focus your attention on the intricate and fascinating ways in which, for example, creatures and plants interact with one another, and to learn more about the abundant beauty and rich diversity of life. No particular skills are required and organisers provide identification resources and other information you might need to take part.
Many thanks to Babs, who suggested the idea of writing about some of the following projects that people might like to get involved with over the coming months.
Getting involved, learning new things and taking time to stop and notice the world around us, are all things that make us happier! With the wide variety of citizen science projects running throughout the year, there should be something that piques the interest of everyone!
December to May – PondNet Spawn Survey Help the Freshwater Habitat Trust to better understand when and where frogs and toads are breeding across the UK.
March to May – FruitWatch – Help is needed in gathering information on when fruit trees are flowering, to understand how climate change is impacting pollination and fruit production.
April to October – Bat Sunset Survey No need for previous experience, just spend an hour from sunset (or before sunrise) with family/friends and discover bats and other wildlife in your local area. Let the Bat Conservation Trust know what you see.
25th April to 1st May – Big River Watch – The Rivers Trust say that only 15% of river stretches in England are in good overall health. This survey invites people to take part in a simple activity to help build a picture of river health throughout the UK and Ireland.
More locally, the River Mole River Watch team of volunteers collect water samples to test for pollutants and highlight areas of concern, with the aim of restoring our local river to a thriving ecological state.
May to October – Blackbirds in Gardens The British Trust for Ornithology is appealing for people to take part in a survey to record blackbird numbers across the UK. This is because birdwatchers have reported a decline in blackbird numbers in London, thought to be due to the mosquito-borne Usutu virus which has spread northwards due to climate change.
7th & 8th June – Pondwatch A social-media campaign by the British Dragonfly Society in which they are encouraging everyone to get out and explore their local ponds and share photos and stories on social media #Pondwatch
18th July to 10th August – Big Butterfly Count Butterfly Conservation’s 2024 count raised the alarm on a big decline in butterfly numbers and led to the declaration of a butterfly emergency. So this year’s count is hugely important in determining how this key indicator species is faring.
All year – the British Trust for Ornithology has a number of other projects running throughout the year. Visit their website and look under the ‘How You Can Help’ tab to see current bird monitoring projects.
The UK Pollinator Monitoring Scheme Bees, hoverflies and other flower-visiting insects are vitally important for pollinating food crops and are facing many challenges from pesticide use to climate change. UKPOMS has ongoing projects to improve understanding of how to best protect pollinators and restore their populations.
More information on all these citizen science projects can be found using the internet. If you are unable to access the internet, or download specific apps to report findings, please get in touch with us at info@greenwestcott.org for help with finding information or submitting data.