Take part in a survey

How to find out about wildlife surveys

Taking part in a wildlife survey is a great way to engage with nature in your local area and will also support professional conservationists working to protect UK wildlife.

Here are few other reasons why you might want to get involved:

• Surveys are essential for assessing the status and needs of wildlife, so taking part means you will be making a real difference.
• While some encourage you to get outside, others can be done from the comfort of your own home. Either way, surveys are flexible and offer a fantastic opportunity to get to know the wildlife in your own patch.
• Surveys offer something for everyone. So, no matter what you are interested in - from amphibians, reptiles and marine life to birds, insects and trees - there will be one to suit you.
• You can take part wherever you live because it is important to find out about wildlife right across the UK, both in urban and rural areas.
• Surveys run at different times of year, depending on what type of animal or plant is being studied. This means you can get involved whenever you have free time.
• You can take part in a survey as an individual or as part of a group.
• Surveys are run by lots of different organisations, including the BTO, Buglife, the Mammal Society, the People's Trust for Endangered Species, the RSPB, the Wildlife Trusts and UK Phenology. Many of these rely on the public to support them in gathering information.

Year long surveys

Beewatch - Report any bees you see in your garden or out and about. Run by the Bumblebee Conservation Trust.

BirdTrack - An online bird recording scheme run by the BTO, the RSPB and Birdwatch Ireland.

The Great British Snail Hunt - Join the hunt for 9 species of snail and help map out UK distributions.

Harlequin Ladybird Survey - Help monitor the spread of this invasive ladybird by reporting your sightings.

Homes for Wildlife - Register your garden and get tips and advice on how to make it more wildlife friendly.

Sealife Survey - Record your sightings of marine life around the UK coast.

Moths Count - National Moth recording scheme. Run by the Butterfly Conservation Trust.

Natures Calendar Survey - Record any seasonal changes you see for spring and autumn.

The UK Butterfly Monitoring Scheme - Set up a route and monitor what butterflies you see on a weekly basis.

Snail Search - Get out in your garden to help scientists find alien snails.

More things to do in a weekend