Recording wildlife in your garden for science and conservation

Please note: this event has been CANCELLED

Fri 17 July 2020

Botanic Garden

Our gardens are a potential haven for a diversity of wildlife species including hedgehogs, butterflies, bees, and birds. When combined together they can provide habitat for a staggering diversity of species if they are managed in a wildlife friendly manner. One dedicated garden owner recorded almost 2,700 species in her suburban Leicester garden over a 30-year period.

Beyond the more conspicuous common garden visitors such as birds and butterflies, many of us don’t know where to start in terms of recording the more elusive inhabitants such as bats, hedgehogs, moths and other invertebrates. As the countryside becomes less and less wildlife friendly, there is a growing interest within the scientific and conservation communities to understand which species are using urban and suburban gardens. We can all contribute to this understanding by recording the wildlife in our own backyards. You may be surprised at what you find!

This one-day course aims to help you gain the skills, and develop an understanding of the tools required to record the wildlife making your garden their home. You will be introduced to a number of ecological survey methodologies, which will help you to determine the presence of different species in your garden.

These surveys, if appropriately designed for the particular circumstances in your garden, could also provide valuable data for local and national wildlife recording schemes and other citizen science projects, so important for local and national conservation efforts today.

Cost: £65