The Gardenwatch project is run by BBC Springwatch, the British Trust for Ornithology (BTO) and The Open University, and aims to map the resources available for wildlife in gardens up and down the country, and find out which wildlife species are attracted.
"Gardens can be precious wildlife havens in an ever increasing concrete jungle," says Watches presenter Michaela Strachan. "Make your garden the best it can be for our challenged British birds, mammals & insects. Get involved in our Gardenwatch citizen science survey, the more we know the more we can help for the future."
"These are both scary times and exciting times," says Watches presenter Gillian Burke. "We're facing our biggest fight yet for the environment but there's still time to turn things around for our plants and animals, starting quite literally in our own back yard. No matter how big or small, collectively, the UK's gardens can offer an important space for nature."
There are four missions for citizen scientists to take part in:
1
Beyond the Backdoor
What does your garden look like? Is it paved, is it a balcony? The first Gardenwatch mission aims to work out what gardens across the UK actually look like.
2
Worm Detective
In the second mission, the team want to know which minibeasts are in your garden.
3
Bird Detective
This mission covers everything birds – which species are visiting, and how often, what they are doing, are you providing any food, water or nest boxes?
4
Mammal Detective
In the final mission, the team want to hear about your furry (and perhaps spiky!) neighbours. This may be challenging, as many British mammals are elusive and nocturnal, but there are tips provided for looking out for the tracks and other signs of mammals too.
Main image: Singing robin. © Ben Queenborough/Getty
