Spot & log the wildlife around you!
Do you want to find out more about the wildlife living in your local greenspace? You could start by seeing what wildlife you can find and encourage others in your neighbourhood to do so too. Record your sightings on iRecord -you could even set up your own Activity via the link below, as an easier way of finding out what people have been seeing.
iRecord - Activities
All wildlife sightings are important from common to super rare.
You can add your sightings via the iRecord website or their handy app. Uploading a photo of what you’ve seen is ideal so that experts can check it is what you think it is. There is also AI built in to give suggestions for identification, which is helpful if you’re not sure what you’ve found.
Recording what you find helps us to learn more about how wildlife populations are doing across Kent (and beyond!). It helps us to plan how best to manage our nature reserves for different wildlife species and know which animals, plants etc. might be in trouble. The sightings all add up to create a national picture too, contributing to groundbreaking reports like the State of Nature.
If you’re not sure what wildlife you’re seeing, try using AI identification apps like Merlin (for bird call identification), Pl@ntNet (for plants) or ObsIdentify (for all species).
There might be local people who are knowledgeable about wildlife, so reach out to them via local contacts, local magazines, social media etc. To see if they can help. There are also lots of local wildlife groups in Kent like Kent Field Club, Kent Moth Group and Kent Botanical Recording Group who have experts who might be interested in helping to survey the area, so why not get in touch with them and see.
AI identification apps:
- Merlin Bird ID – Free, instant bird identification help and guide for thousands of birds – Identify the birds you see
- Pl@ntNet identify
- Welcome - Observation.org
Local wildlife identification groups in Kent:
Could it be funded?
You could apply for funding to help with your surveys to enable you to record more species or engage more people. The Kent & Medway Biological Records Centre has a Small Grants Scheme that you could consider applying for and there may be others available too.
Organise a BioBlitz
You might even want to organise a BioBlitz – a 24 hour event to record as many different species as possible on a site. This is a great way of engaging the local community and encouraging interaction with nature. Find out more about how to run your own BioBlitz here:
https://www.bnhc.org.uk/run-your-own-bioblitz
Take part in a citizen science project
Bugs Matter
Running from 1 May to 30 September is our insect splat survey in partnership with Buglife. If you go places in a vehicle with a number plate then this super quick survey is for you! All you need to do is download the app, give your front number plate a quick clean and off you go. You can track your journey via the app and then record the number of insect splats when you get to your destination.
Bugs Matter - Insect Splat Survey
Big Garden Birdwatch
You’ve probably heard of this already as it’s the world’s largest garden wildlife survey. RSPB runs this survey in late January each year where you count the number of different bird species in your garden/local greenspace in a one hour period. It’s a lovely survey to do, especially in the quieter winter months!
Big Butterfly Count
Another big hitter in the world of citizen science is the Big Butterfly Count, organised by Butterfly Conservation. During certain dates in July and August, you simply count the number of butterflies you see in 15 minutes. You can do as many counts as you like during this period and it’s open to anyone.
Pollinator counts
Done in just 10 minutes, the Flower-Insect Timed (FIT) count involves observing a patch of flowers and noting which types of insect you see. You don’t need to be an expert for this – just record if you’ve seen a bee, beetle, fly etc. There are handy guides on the UK Pollinator Monitoring Scheme website to help you identify anything you’re unsure of. Plus, it’s one to do when the weather is nicer, so what’s not to like?!
UK Pollinator Monitoring Scheme
Water quality
The Great UK WaterBlitz asks you to test the quality of your local river, lake etc. This project run by Earthwatch Europe happens twice a year and you are provided with a water testing kit. If you’re keen to get even more involved in this kind of work, our RiverSearch initiative is a monthly survey along your local waterway. You would look at water quality and also identify any obvious pollution. No previous knowledge needed!
Shoresearch
Fancy spotting a Stalked Jellyfish or White Hedgehog Sea Slug? The data collected by Shoresearch volunteer citizen scientists across intertidal zones along the Kent coast, help to provide invaluable insights into the health of our coastal ecosystems and the species that inhabit them. It’s part of a bigger effort by The Wildlife Trusts to look at the health of our coastal environment and the species that live there.
Kent Dolphin Project
The Kent Dolphin Project is a collaboration between the Sussex Dolphin Project and Adonis Blue Environmental Consultants, part of the Kent Wildlife Trust Group. This initiative aims to study and protect whales, dolphins, and porpoises (cetaceans) in Kent's waters by encouraging people to report sightings. Become a Landwatch volunteer and record sightings of dolphins, whales and other marine mammals and play a key role in safeguarding the region’s unique marine habitats for future generations.
Bumblebee & butterfly walks
Two long-term monitoring projects are the BeeWalk Survey Scheme run by Bumblebee Conservation Trust and the UK Butterfly Monitoring Scheme. You walk a fixed route (transect) and record the bumblebees or butterflies you see along it. They involve a bit more knowledge than the average citizen science project, but support and training can be provided. We have some existing transects on our nature reserves, so it’s worth getting in touch with us on [email protected] to see if there’s a local survey you could help with.
UK Butterfly Monitoring Scheme
Signs of Spring
The Field Studies Council are asking for your records of the first Bluebells in flower, the first dragonflies and other signs of spring. Ten different signs of spring make up this survey, recording when and where you spotted them.
These are just some of the many citizen science projects in Kent and beyond. There is something for everyone, so why not try something new this year. You might just get hooked and become a species champion!
Run your own local citizen science project
Got an idea for something your local community could be helping to keep an eye out for? Perhaps you’d like to know more about how hedgehogs are doing in your neighbourhood? Or if there even are any. Why not set up a wildlife survey in your local area to find out.
Decide what you’re going to focus on and spread the word through neighbours, local social media groups etc. Find out more about how to help wildlife and facts on different species so you can encourage others to take action to help provide the food and places to live that they need. Record your sightings on iRecord – you could even set up your own ‘Activity’ on there as an easier way of finding out what people have been seeing.