City Nature Challenge returns this spring!
17th January 2023
City Nature Challenge is back for 2023! Join the epic, global wildlife count taking place this spring Friday 28th April – Monday 1st May.
Join residents across 400+ cities in a mission to record as much wildlife as possible over four days. You don’t have to be an expert to take part! Take up the challenge and help put nature on the map in your region and support nature conservation efforts across the UK.
Why take part?
We can only protect wildlife if we know it’s there. By participating in the City Nature Challenge, not only do you learn more about your local nature, but you can also support the biodiversity in your area by submitting crucial data to record centres about numbers of species.
How do I take part?
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 during the challenge.
After you upload your photos, 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 though – you can start using the app today!
Where can I take part?
City regions across the whole UK have signed up to take part in the 2023 Challenge. You can take part in these regions:
- Birmingham & Black Country
- Brighton & Eastern Downs
- Cardiff, Newport and Gwent Levels
- Chester
- City of Nottingham
- Coventry
- Derby
- Dundee
- Gloucestershire
- Greater Manchester
- Hull
- Liverpool City Region
- London
- North East England
- Oxon and Berks
- Staffordshire
- Suffolk
- Swansea
- Warwickshire and Solihull
- West of England (previously Bristol and Bath City Region)
During the Challenge, don’t forget to check out the UK Leaderboard! You’ll be able to watch live results from cities involved and see which city has recorded the highest number of species and number of people taking part.
Your city region isn’t competing this year? No problem! Any iNaturalist wildlife sightings from the 28th April to 1st May 2023 will still count towards the UK records and help fill in the map of where nature is living in your region.
Want to organise a local recording event?
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!
City Nature Challenge International is organised by the California Academy of Sciences and Natural History Museum Los Angeles County. The Bristol-based charity The Natural History Consortium are supporting City Nature Challenge UK activity and leading on West of England region efforts.