Citizen Science Projects to Take Part in This Year
Helping nature while improving your own wellbeing
Happy New Year! Are you looking for ways to learn more about nature or do your bit for the environment this year? Why not take part in a citizen science project? Not only will you be helping gather important data that will help build a better picture of the state of nature, but you’ll be helping your own mental health too!
In issue 30 of The Happy News, we included this story:
STUDY REVEALS THE WELLBEING BENEFITS OF CITIZEN SCIENCE PROJECTS
Citizen science projects benefit the environment and also have a positive effect on the wellbeing of the people who participate in them, according to a first-of-its-kind study conducted by the British Ecological Society.
The idea behind citizen science projects is scientists and members of the public can collaborate on research and explore or collect huge datasets. In this particular study, 500 volunteers were assigned random ten-minute tasks connected to nature. The participants had to complete their tasks at least five times over eight days.
The study revealed that participants in citizen science projects experience improved mental wellbeing, a sense of accomplishment and a greater connection to nature.
Dr Michael Pocock, an ecologist from the UK Centre for Ecology and Hydrology, was quoted on the British Ecological Society’s website, saying: “This study adds to a growing body of evidence that shows that engaging with nature and contributing to environment research can have a positive impact on our wellbeing”.
So, here’s a handy list of citizen science projects you can get involved with throughout 2026 and beyond…
(If you’re viewing on email, I suggest clicking through to read on Substack because the end of the list cuts off and I’ve linked out to some really useful guidance and a printable calendar at the end)
YEAR-ROUND
People’s Trust For Endangered Species (PTES) Living With Mammals
Whether in a garden, allotment, a local park or churchyard, telling PTES what you see builds a bigger picture of the wildlife on our doorstep. It can tell us when a species is in trouble. Without the help of thousands of wildlife watchers, we wouldn’t have known hedgehog numbers had fallen by a third in urban areas in less than 20 years so we could act to help them.
Big Hedgehog Map
Speaking of hedgehogs, add your hedgehog sightings to this map and become part of a national network for hoggies!
BTO’s Garden BirdWatch
Become more connected to nature, learn about your garden wildlife and contribute to important scientific research by joining the British Trust for Ornithology’s community of Garden BirdWatchers. You will spend as much time as you like each week recording birds in your garden or another greenspace, from a minimum of 20 minutes per week.
Woodland Trust’s Nature’s Calendar
What effect has recent weather had on wildlife? Does climate change affect timings in nature? Join Nature’s Calendar and help scientists discover answers to these questions. From leaf buds bursting to blackberries ripening, let Woodland Trust know what’s happening near you. You’ll be contributing to a long biological record that dates back as far as 1736.
Butterfly Conservation’s National Moth Recording Scheme
Any moth species that you see and can identify, whether you are moth trapping on a Scottish mountain or relaxing in your garden, can be recorded and submitted to form part of this important scheme. Sightings of lifecycle stages, such as caterpillars, are just as welcome as records of adult moths.
Marine Conservation Society’s Big Seaweed Search
Seaweed is a real ocean superhero and studying it can tell us a lot about wider ocean and environmental conditions. By taking part in the Big Seaweed Search, you’ll be helping to gather vital evidence that can be used to map and document any changes to our coastal environments.
Shark Trust’s Great Eggcase Hunt
Help The Shark Trust learn more about sharks, skates and rays by finding and recording eggcases. They’ll take you through everything you need to know for how to search for, identify, and record your eggcase finds.
Woodland Trust’s Ancient Tree Inventory
Help protect our valuable tree heritage by letting Woodland Trust know if you see any ancient or old trees and putting them on the map. There are already more than 190,000 trees listed but there are thousands more to add.
iNaturalist
Sharing your sightings on iNaturalist helps scientists find and use your data. Every observation - from the rarest butterfly to the most common volunteer plant - can contribute to biodiversity science. You don’t even necessarily have to know what you’ve found as others will step in to help you identify your photos.
JANUARY
Botanical Society’s New Year Plant Hunt (1st - 4th January 2026)
By recording the wild plants in flower in your local patch in the depths of winter, you can help the Botanical Society of Britain and Ireland gather valuable data about how our wild or naturalised plants are responding to a changing climate, and how this might impact the other species that rely upon them.
RSPB Big Garden Birdwatch (23rd - 26th January 2026)
This is the world’s largest garden wildlife survey. Every year, hundreds of thousands of nature lovers take part, helping to build a picture of how garden birds are faring.
The Big Schools Birdwatch also starts in January and runs into February.
The Mammal Society’s National Harvest Mouse Survey (until 31st March 2026, then again October - December)
Harvest mice are on the Red List and classified as Near Threatened in Britain, so really need our help! Anyone can take part in this survey - no special experience or qualifications are required to look for nests and the provided instructions are very clear. It’s a good idea to check if you have a Local Mammal Group you can support too.
Amphibian & Reptile Conservation’s Frog & toad survey (1st January - 31st March)
The survey collects data on any spawn clumps or strings, frogs and toads observed at the same waterbody over four visits.
FEBRUARY
RSPB Big Schools Birdwatch (6th January - 13th February 2026)
Join thousands of other schools to find out which birds visit your school grounds.
Continuing: The Mammal Society’s National Harvest Mouse Survey (until 31st March, then again October - December)
Continuing: Amphibian & Reptile Conservation’s Frog & toad survey (1st January - 31st March)
MARCH
Freshwater Habitats Trust’s Common Frog & Toad Survey (1st March - 30th April 2026)
Find out whether frogs or toads are present in a network of 1km grid squares in England and Wales. Visit each pond in a 1km square in March or April and see if frogs, toads or their spawn is present. An average sized pond will take around 45 min to survey, but longer if the pond is large.
Bumblebee Conservation Trust: Bee Walk (March - October)
This is the national recording scheme which monitors the abundance of bumblebees across Britain. The scheme relies on over 800 volunteers, just like you, who identify and count the bumblebees that they see on a fixed walking route of around 1 to 2km. Each BeeWalk route is walked at least once a month from March to October. Anyone with basic bumblebee identification knowledge, or the desire to gain these skills through Bumblee Conservation Trust training sessions or resources, can become a BeeWalker. Each monthly walk only takes about an hour or two followed by another 20 minutes or less to submit your sightings.
Continuing: The Mammal Society’s National Harvest Mouse Survey (until 31st March, then again October - December)
Continuing: Amphibian & Reptile Conservation’s Frog & toad survey (1st January - 31st March)
APRIL
City Nature Challenge (Throughout April)
Started in 2016 as a competition between Los Angeles and San Francisco, the City Nature Challenge has grown into an international event, motivating people around the world to find and document wildlife in their own cities. If you’re competitive, love nature and live in a city, this is the project for you!
Bat Conservation Trust’s Sunset Survey (April - October)
The Sunset Survey brings you a perfect opportunity to get together with family/friends and discover bats and other wildlife in your local area. This is ideal for you if you don’t have previous bat surveying experience. Just spend an hour from sunset (or before sunrise) and let Bat Conservation Trust know what you see/hear from your window, balcony, garden or local green space.
UK Pollinator Monitoring Scheme (PMoS) Flower-Insect Timed Counts (1st April - 30th September)
Simply spend ten minutes watching flowers and insects in good weather! This survey collects data on the total number of insects that visit a particular flower, ideally chosen from PMoS’ list of 14 target flowers.
People’s Trust For Endangered Species Water Vole Monitoring Programme (15th April - 15th June)
Water voles are disappearing. They started to lose their homes in the 1940s and 50s with the intensification of agriculture, but the most devastating factor to their demise came during the 1980s and 90s. Illegally released American mink spread furiously across the countryside preying on the vulnerable native mammals, and continue to do so today. In just ten years water vole numbers had crashed by almost 90%.
To take part you will need to survey one 500m length of riverbank at an allocated site once a year, usually between 15th April and 15th June.
The Rivers Trust’s Big River Watch (April and September)
Anyone can take part in these week-long citizen science surveys that help to build an important picture of river health across the UK and Ireland.
People’s Trust For Endangered Species (PTES) Great British Hedgerow Survey (year-round but best done April-October)
This survey has been designed for both land mangers that may want to improve the structural condition of their own hedgerows, but also for interested wildlife groups that want assess the quality of habitat in any particular area. The data will be collected will give PTES a good overview of the condition of our hedgerows nationally which will guide future conservation work and public messaging.
Continuing: Freshwater Habitats Trust’s Common Frog & Toad Survey (1st March - 30th April)
Continuing: Bumblebee Conservation Trust: Bee Walk (March - October)
MAY
Buglife’s Bugs Matter (1st May - 30th September)
Insects underpin our natural world and their numbers can help us to better understand what’s happening in our environment. The Bugs Matter citizen science survey is an important initiative measuring insect splats on vehicle number plates as a marker of insect abundance. In previous survey years, with the valuable contributions of citizen scientists across the UK, Buglife have made significant strides in understanding the challenges facing our insect populations.
SwiftMapper (May - August, with other year-round opportunities)
Each year, swifts fly from Africa to the UK to breed, but numbers here are plummeting and they desperately need help. In just 25 years, more than half of our swifts have vanished and the loss of nest sites in the roofs of buildings appears to be at least partly responsible. That’s why it’s more important than ever to look out for nesting swifts near you and record them on Swift Mapper.
BTO’s Nesting Neighbours (main months May - June)
Nesting Neighbours follows the progress of individual bird nests through the spring and summer, contributing vital information to our understanding of birds’ breeding success. If you know birds regularly nest in your garden and you have easy access to their nest, this might be the perfect project for you! You’ll need to check your chosen nest or nest box once a week over the spring and summer to record nest building, eggs or chicks, following the BTO Code of Conduct.
EarthWatch Europe’s Tiny Forest Wildlife Count (17th May - 1st June)
This project involves observing and counting bees, butterflies and bugs at the 290+ Tiny Forests across the UK.
Prep for the Bat Conservation Trust Roost Count starts now (see June)
Continuing: People’s Trust For Endangered Species Water Vole Monitoring Programme (15th April - 15th June 2026)
Continuing: Bat Conservation Trust’s Sunset Survey (April - October)
Continuing: People’s Trust For Endangered Species (PTES) Great British Hedgerow Survey (year-round but best done April - October)
Continuing: Bumblebee Conservation Trust: Bee Walk (March - October)
JUNE
Bat Conservation Trust’s Big Roost Count (6th - 25th June)
Do you have a bat roost at or near your house? Sign up to Bat Conservation Trust’s Big Roost Count survey and register your roost(s). By taking part in the Roost Count, you will be helping us monitor how different bat species are faring across the UK. The Roost Count involves doing two evening counts, at least five days apart.
People’s Trust For Endangered Species (PTES) Great Stag Hunt (1st June - 30th July)
Stag beetles are our largest land beetles in the UK and they really are spectacular! They used to be a common sight, especially in the south, but sadly they are declining. Stag beetles have even become extinct in a couple of European countries. We can’t let that happen here, so please join PTES in a national effort to save them this summer by recording your sightings
Continuing: People’s Trust For Endangered Species Water Vole Monitoring Programme (15th April - 15th June 2026)
Continuing: Buglife’s Bugs Matter (1st May - 30th September)
Continuing: BTO’s Nesting Neighbours (May - June)
Continuing: SwiftMapper (May - August, with other year-round opportunities)
Continuing: Bat Conservation Trust’s Sunset Survey (April - October)
Continuing: People’s Trust For Endangered Species (PTES) Great British Hedgerow Survey (year-round but best done April - October)
Continuing: Bumblebee Conservation Trust: Bee Walk (March - October)
Not a recording event, but a great way to connect with nature throughout June: Wildlife Trust’s 30 Days Wild
JULY
Butterfly Conservation’s Big Butterfly Count (17th of July - 9th of August 2026)
Butterflies are vital parts of the ecosystem as both pollinators and components of the food chain. However, they are under threat. Numbers of butterflies and moths in the UK have decreased significantly since the 1970s. The Big Butterfly Count is a nationwide citizen science survey aimed at helping us assess the health of our environment. It’s really easy to take part in and you can do as many counts in as many locations as you like.
Continuing: Buglife’s Bugs Matter (1st May - 30th September)
Continuing: SwiftMapper (May - August, with other year-round opportunities)
Continuing: Bat Conservation Trust’s Sunset Survey (April - October)
Continuing: People’s Trust For Endangered Species (PTES) Great British Hedgerow Survey (year-round but best done April - October)
Continuing: Bumblebee Conservation Trust: Bee Walk (March - October)
AUGUST
Continuing: Buglife’s Bugs Matter (1st May - 30th September)
Continuing: SwiftMapper (May - August, with other year-round opportunities)
Continuing: Butterfly Conservation’s Big Butterfly Count (17th of July - 9th of August)
Continuing: Bat Conservation Trust’s Sunset Survey (April - October)
Continuing: People’s Trust For Endangered Species (PTES) Great British Hedgerow Survey (year-round but best done April- October)
Continuing: Bumblebee Conservation Trust: Bee Walk (March - October)
SEPTEMBER
The Rivers Trust’s Big River Watch (April and September)
Anyone can take part in these week-long citizen science surveys that help to build an important picture of river health across the UK and Ireland.
Continuing: Buglife’s Bugs Matter (1st May - 30th September 2026)
Continuing: Bat Conservation Trust’s Sunset Survey (April - October)
Continuing: People’s Trust For Endangered Species (PTES) Great British Hedgerow Survey (year-round but best done April - October)
Continuing: Bumblebee Conservation Trust: Bee Walk (March - October)
OCTOBER
The Mammal Society’s National Harvest Mouse Survey (second round October - December)
Continuing: Bat Conservation Trust’s Sunset Survey (April - October)
Continuing: People’s Trust For Endangered Species (PTES) Great British Hedgerow Survey (year-round but best done April - October)
Continuing: Bumblebee Conservation Trust: Bee Walk (March - October)
NOVEMBER
Tree Council’s MistleGO! App (best done November - December)
This new citizen science app has been launched to help the Tree Council understand how abundant mistletoe is in the UK. The app enables anyone to report mistletoe sightings in the UK; it involves a simple process of uploading a photo, estimating the number of clumps visible in a tree and recording where it was seen. The public’s involvement in this important pilot project will help to shape and improve the future of this research.
Continuing: The Mammal Society’s National Harvest Mouse Survey (second round October - December)
DECEMBER
Continuing: The Mammal Society’s National Harvest Mouse Survey (second round October - December)
Continuing: Tree Council’s MistleGO! App (best done November - December)
Most of these events are listed on this handy downloadable calendar of activities, divided up by month and category by Urban Nature Project…
Access loads more useful information via National History Museum’s (NHM) Nature Recording Hub.
If you’re new to wildlife monitoring, you can also download NHM’s introductory guide that explains what it is and how to get started:
Do you know of any other surveys I haven’t included here? Leave details in the comments!
This is a great resource. Thank you!
Wow, this is amazing.