Citizen Science – Get Involved!
According to the UK Environmental Observation Framework (UKEOF), ‘citizen science, can be broadly defined as the involvement of volunteers in science‘. We’ve compiled a list of on-going citizen science projects, detailing what is required from each, when you can do them, and what level of expertise is required. We’d encourage you all to give it a go! The OPAL Biodiversity Survey aims to uncover the diverse range of wildlife in the UK hedges. They provide a hedgerow ID guide, a survey booklet and an invertebrate guide, all available here.
Required: Date, Time (approx), Location, Hedge length, width and height Difficulty: 2/3 Season: All year roundThe National Amphibian and Reptile Recording Scheme (NARRS) requires you to register for a survey square near your home, undertake surveys, and register your results. Protocols, training courses, and other resources are available here.
Required: Square details, Surrounding habitat, Landowner details Difficulty: 3/3 Season: Spring/SummerProject Splatter aims to quantify and map wildlife roadkill across the UK. You can report wildlife roadkill sightings here, and Project Splatter convert these into a weekly map of roadkill hotspots via Facebook and Twitter.
Required: Grid Ref (help here), Date, Species Optional: Age, Sex Difficulty Level: 1/3 Season: All year roundUK Ladybird Survey encourages members of the public to record ladybird sightings, here.
Required: Postcode, Species Name, Number, Date Optional: Photo Difficulty Level: 2/3 Season: All year roundThe Natural History Museum run several citizen science projects. You can get involved in the Big Seaweed Search, to track the changing distribution of seaweeds across the UK.
Required: Location, Date, Seashore Ecology, Species Observed Difficulty Level: 1/3 Season: All year roundAlternatively, you could take part in the Natural History Museum‘s Orchid Observers Scheme.
Required: Date, Location, Species Observed, Photo Difficulty Level: 2/3 Season: Spring/SummerThe People’s Trust for Endangered Species are looking for volunteers to take part in the National Water Vole Monitoring Programme.
Required: Time, Grid Reference, Species Observed Difficulty Level: 3/3 Season: All year roundThere are many more citizen science schemes you can get involved in, these are just a selection of current projects.
