In order to accumulate the largest datasets possible many groups request that members of the public submit sightings to a centralised database. The results can then be compared with previous years sightings and analysed for emerging trends. You can usually record sightings on their website or increasingly through specalised apps for your phone. Research projects may ask for citizen scientists to complete an online survey to help answer some of the more complex problems.
Other organsiations and surveys require one off or regular surveyors to complete fieldwork across the country, these include long running surveys such as BTO's breeding bird survey.
Taking part in any of these surveys will give you useful experience and also help to extend the scientific knowledge of a species, so vital for appropriate conservation management. Some include training in survey techniques and a few may even pay expenses (these are often listed in the main volunteers section).
Participants: If you are interested in helping with any of the surveys detailed below please contact the website or person listed.
Survey Organisers: 50 word listings are free, submit your details here.
Breeding Bird Survey (BBS)
If you can identify birds by sight and sound, and would like to contribute to important national bird monitoring, then the BTO’s Breeding Bird Survey team would love to hear from you. To see if there is a site near you, have a look at our available squares map: https://app.bto.org/bbs/public/request-square.jsp
Are you a teacher?
Join the Pollinator Count with your class, developed by the Natural History Museum for the National Education Nature Park programme! The count has been adapted from the UK Pollinator Monitoring Scheme, so the data young people collect feeds into real scientific research into nature recovery.
National Hedgehog Monitoring Programme
The NHMP is an exciting new pilot project that will for the first time, produce robust hedgehog population estimates. We need the public's help to classify the images taken on trail cameras and identify hedgehogs in the photos. Learn more and sign up
The new National Pine Marten Monitoring Programme
— Marten Map — is a citizen science collaboration to collect data on pine martens to inform conservation actions. Are you monitoring a den box, bait station or an area for pine marten scats? Find out more at Martens on the Move | National Pine Marten Monitoring Programme and contact us to contribute your data and get your martens on the map. Additionally, if you have seen a pine marten in Britain, you can report your sighting and contribute to the Marten Map here Pine Marten Incidental Records Survey123.
National Polecat Survey
Help us to update the polecat distribution map of Britain! Vincent Wildlife Trust is monitoring the recovery of the elusive polecat during 2024 and 2025 with the help of citizen scientists. If you see a polecat, let us know where and when using our online survey: https://arcg.is/1TXqHC. If you find a dead polecat — and are happy to take hair and whisker samples — we would like them for future research into genetics and diet.
To find out more, visit National Polecat Survey (2024-2025) – Vincent Wildlife Trust or email enquiries@vwt.org.uk.
National Bat Monitoring Programme
You can help to monitor the UK's bats by taking part in our surveys and observing these fascinating mammals in your local area. Anyone, from complete beginners to experts, can take part and help discover how bats are faring and the factors that are important for their survival.
www.bats.org.uk/our-work/national-bat-monitoring-programme nbmp@bats.org.uk
Cudyll Cymru - Monitoring Raptors in Wales
Cudyll Cymru is a newly developed scheme which monitors raptors (birds of prey) in Wales. Learn more about raptors, the project and its vital work, and get involved – whatever your skill level and experience. Start your raptor monitoring journey with BTO today!
www.bto.org/our-science/projects/cudyll-cymru cudyll.cyrmu@bto.org
Waxcap Watch
Get involved with recording grassland fungi! Complete a survey in a grassland in your local area – this could be a park, churchyard, or farmland. You don’t need to be a fungi expert, the survey is beginner friendly. Download the WaxcApp and find out more at
Citizen Science Volunteer Group
Join our Citizen Science Volunteer Group based in Glasgow where we will meet weekly on Wednesdays to carry out surveys across the city and occasionally further afield. Boost your CV and gain experience by taking part in surveys such as the National Hedgehog Monitoring Programme (NHMP), the Wetland Bird Survey, BeeWalk, National Plant Monitoring Scheme and much more. There is no minimum time commitment and reasonable travel expenses will be reimbursed. Please email us at citizenscience-scotland@tcv.org.uk to register your interest.
What Makes Viruses Tick?
This project aims to raise awareness of ticks and tick-borne diseases across Scotland. Our #TickMap is where you can look at and report “sightings and bitings”! Sightings from other parts of the UK and the rest of the world are welcome, and this data will be shared with the Smithsonian Institute.
www.tcv.org.uk/scotland/what-makes-viruses-tick/ citizenscience-scotland@tcv.org.uk
Scottish Oil Beetle Hunt
As part of Species on the Edge, members of the public are asked to look out for oil beetles in Scotland. An ID guide is available at https://www.buglife.org.uk/scottish-oil-beetle-hunt/. Please submit records using the iRecord app (with multiple photos if possible), or send in details by email
Mosquito Surveillance Scheme
The UK is home to 36 mosquito species. The UK Health Security Agency’s Mosquito Surveillance Scheme collects reports to help identify and monitor biting species. Submit photos or specimens if you spot a mosquito. Visit: www.gov.uk/government/collections/mosquitoes or email: mosquito@ukhsa.gov.uk. Your information supports public health research.
Worcestershire's Wildlife Sightings
Help us to learn where Worcestershire's wildlife is and how abundant it is. We're targeting 15 species but are happy to receive records of any wildlife and will help to identify species you don't recognise. This is a partnership between Worcestershire Wildlife Trust, Worcestershire Recorders and Worcestershire Biological Records Centre.
www.worcswildlifetrust.co.uk/wildlife-sightings wildlifesightings@worcestershirewildlifetrust.org
Stag Beetle Count
Stag beetles are threatened across Europe. To protect them, we need to monitor their numbers. You can help by counting stag beetles along a 500m walk on warm evenings six times during June and July. To find out more and sign up go to
The Dead Good Deadwood Survey
TCV Scotland have developed the Dead Good Deadwood survey to get people excited about the protection of this important micro-habitat. This easy survey can be done by anyone, and is a great way to get out and spend time in your local woodland.
The dead good Deadwood Survey from TCV Scotland
The general public play a vital part in monitoring red squirrels on the Isle of Wight.
Whether it is dead or alive an obvious red squirrel or an odd coloured squirrel they suspect may be a grey, all is of interest. If you have squirrels in the garden, there are special forms to fill in. For general sightings go to the website to fill in the form, email, ring 01983 611003 or download the app from Epicollect 5.
Garden BirdWatch
is a free citizen science survey that allows participants to share their garden wildlife observations with scientists. This helps us monitor population changes, understand the importance of gardens to wildlife and allows guidance to be shared. For more information, please visit
Nature's Calendar
What effect has recent weather had on wildlife? Does climate change affect timings in nature? Take part in the Nature’s Calendar citizen science project and help scientists discover answers to these questions. Simply record the signs of spring and autumn that you can see from your home:
MammalWeb
enlists members of the public to upload camera trap data, to help with classifying the animals pictured in camera trap footage, or both. You don't need a camera trap to take part. To help build up a picture of the state of our wild mammals, see www.mammalweb.org
Mammal Mapper
is a FREE app that has been designed to enable you to record signs and sightings of mammals in the UK. Mammals can be recorded along a route whilst you’re walking/running/cycling or even a passenger in a car, or as one off sightings, for example a hedgehog in your garden.
Great British Hedgerow Survey
PTES have launched a new national hedgerow survey to understand the health of the nation's hedgerows; collecting information about their structure, connectivity and wildlife value. Help us to survey hedgerows in your area. No experience necessary. To find out more email or visit the website.
British Dragonfly Society Recording Scheme
Help us monitor the health of our dragonfly populations. There are recording projects for both beginners and experienced recorders. You can take part anywhere in Britain. Most projects run between May and September. Find out more on the BDS website:
Take part in the Pollinator Monitoring Scheme!
UK Pollinator Monitoring Scheme (PoMS) aims to establish how insect pollinator populations are changing across the UK. Spend 10 minutes in the sunshine doing a Flower-Insect Timed count (FIT count) or volunteer to help with repeated surveys of 1km squares across England, Scotland, Wales or Northern Ireland – read on to find out how you can take part and help us track changes in pollinator numbers.
The BIG Hedgehog Map
seen a hedgehog? Record it on our map! Record your sightings of hedgehogs, dead or alive, and help us find out where they are in the UK. You can also pledge to make a Hedgehog Highway in your fence and add it to the map. This is part of Hedgehog Street, a joint campaign between People’s Trust for Endangered Species and the British Hedgehog Preservation Society.
https://hedgehogstreet.org
Great Stag Hunt
– seen a stag beetle? Let us know when and where, by recording it on our map! Spectacular stag beetles are in decline, but you can help them by letting us know when you see one. Sightings are key to finding out where populations are thriving, in need of help, or non-existent.
Living with Mammals survey
Volunteers nationwide are needed to record sightings of wild mammals, or the signs they leave behind, in gardens, parks and local green spaces, to help conservationists understand how their numbers are changing. To take part in PTES’ Living with Mammals survey, visit
Traditional Orchard Inventory
PTES produced the national inventories of traditional orchards throughout the UK. Help us to locate and survey traditional orchards in your area. No experience necessary, survey pack provided. Contact by email or 0207 498 4533 to request a survey pack.
People's Trust for Endangered Species
runs several surveys which can be done in your own time and local area. These include Dormouse Monitoring, Water Vole Monitoring, the Great Stag Hunt, Traditional Orchard Survey, the National Hedgehog Monitoring Programme, the Healthy Hedgerows survey and Living with Mammals survey. See the website or call: 020 7498 4533
National Water Vole Monitoring Programme
Our fastest declining mammal needs your help. We launched the first ongoing national monitoring programme for water voles in 2015, the data collected will guide our conservation work and inform us where action is needed. Can you survey a site for water voles each spring?
ptes.org/get-involved/surveys/countryside-2/national-water-vole-monitoring-programme/
Homes for Wildlife
Whatever your outdoor space, be it a balcony or courtyard, garden or window box, you’ll find expert tips and tricks to make it a happier place for you, and the nature on your doorstep.
www.rspb.org.uk/get-involved/activities/nature-on-your-doorstep/
The Bumblebee Conservation Trust runs a nationwide bumblebee-monitoring project, BeeWalk.
The scheme involves walking a self-set route once a month March - October, identifying the bumblebees you see and recording them online. Anyone can get involved, though the better your bumblebee ID the better!
CJS is a corporate supporter of the National Biodiversity Network Trust (NBN Trust).
The National Biodiversity Network Trust (NBN Trust) has a database of wildlife recording schemes and surveys on its website. The database lets you search for specific surveys or by species name and gives summary information with links to find out more. You can also submit information on surveys and schemes that aren't listed, so they can be added to the database.