Will you take part in City Nature Challenge? Join residents in 450+ cities across the world in an epic, global mission to record as much wildlife as possible. Over the four-day challenge we want you to share your observations of nature, using the free iNaturalist app. Your recordings will contribute towards conservation efforts both locally and on a global-scale.
We can only protect wildlife if they know it is there. By participating in the City Nature Challenge, not only do you learn more about your local nature, but you can also make your city a better place! Your observation efforts can help protect nature in the spaces where you live and inform plans for tackling the ecological emergency in the UK.
Taking part is easy! Simply download the iNaturalist app to your smartphone or tablet and use it to upload photos of any wildlife you see.
You don’t have to be a wildlife expert, as the app will give you some handy suggestions of what it thinks you’ve seen. An online community of scientists and wildlife enthusiasts will then verify your sighting. It’s a great way to learn more about the wildlife around you, and best of all, the records you submit will help inform local and national conservation work!
Check out our guide to using iNaturalist to get started and learn some top tips for recording wildlife. No need to wait until the challenge – you can start practising on the app today!
City regions across the whole UK took part in the 2023 Challenge:
- Birmingham & Black Country
- Brighton & Eastern Downs
- Cardiff & Newport
- Chester
- City of Nottingham
- Coventry
- Derby
- Dundee
- Gloucestershire
- Greater Edinburgh
- Greater Glasgow
- Greater Manchester
- Hull
- Liverpool City Region
- London
- North East England
- Oxfordshire and Berkshire
- Staffordshire
- Suffolk
- Swansea
- Warwickshire and Solihull
- West of England (including Bristol & Bath)
Your city region wasn’t competing this year? No problem! Any iNaturalist wildlife sightings from 28 April to 1 May 2023 will still count towards the UK records and help fill in the map of where nature is living in your region.
Would you like to help your local community get involved with recording wildlife in a greenspace near you during City Nature Challenge?
Have a look at our BioBlitz page for a step-by-step guide on how to run an event in your local community. You can drop us an email at BioBlitz@bnhc.org.uk, we’d love to know what events you’re planning. We might even be able to help with resources and marketing!
Get your city involved in 2024
Would you like to find out more about becoming a City Nature Challenge Organiser for your city in 2024? Find out more and sign up here.
Love wildlife recording? Take part in EuroBioBlitz 2023!
Take part in EuroBioBlitz on 29-30 September! EuroBioBlitz is a wildlife recording event taking place all across Europe this Autumn. It’s a chance for anyone and everyone to contribute to the study of Europe’s wildlife, helping to shape conservation efforts and support scientific research. Find out more and access resources here.
City Nature Challenge is part of a global citizen science project. Started in 2016 between just two organisations, the Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County and California Academy of Sciences, and has since grown across the whole US in 2017, and across the globe since 2018.
In 2023, over 1.8 million wildlife records were submitted across the globe over four days!
In 2023, over 450 cities across the world took part – you can keep up to date with the global map by clicking here.
The Natural History Consortium is a collaboration between Avon Wildlife Trust, Bath and Northeast Somerset Council, BBC, Bristol City Council, Bristol Zoo Gardens, Defra, Forestry England, National Trust, Natural England, University of Bath, University of Bristol, University of the West of England, Wildfowl and Wetlands Trust, and Woodland Trust.
Registered Charity: 1123432