Survey Tools and Resources

This interactive survey provides an instant health check for any hedge surveyed, as well as tailor made management advice to help your hedgerow thrive. The data will help give us a national view of hedgerow health.

Increasing a hedgerow’s plant diversity provides more resources for wildlife. Use our trees and shrubs guide to ID the species present in your hedge.

This is the national recording scheme which monitors the abundance of bumblebees across Britain (Ireland and Northern Ireland run an equivalent scheme). The scheme relies on over 800 volunteers, just like you, who identify and count the bumblebees that they see on a fixed walking route of around 1 to 2km. Each BeeWalk route is walked at least once a month from March to October.

Monitor active birds' nests in your garden from around February to August/September. There is a code of conduct to follow to ensure disturbance is minimised. This survey is for people who want to monitor a small number of nests in their garden. There is an online portal on the website through which you can upload your results.

A survey to see what plants are flowering over the New Year.

Report sightings of swifts and nest sites. Watch for groups of swifts flying fast at roof height, often making a screaming sound - this means they are breeding nearby. The best time to look for swifts is from late May to late July, around dusk on warm evenings.

The survey recorded the abundance of nine different types of lichen growing on trees. This provided a bioindicator system for nitrogenous air pollutants, by including lichens that are nitrogen-sensitive (declining where pollution is high), nitrogen-tolerant (increasing where pollution is high) or intermediate (no strong preference).

Hedges are a familiar feature in both urban and rural environments across the UK but they are often under-appreciated in terms of the benefits they provide

The OPAL Soil and Earthworm Survey was created to find out more about soil and earthworms and investigate the relationships between earthworm species and habitats and soil types.

A survey and photo ID guide of bee-flies which are on the wing from late February / March until around August. Submit your records via the iRecord form on the website itself or via the iRecord website or app.

​The National Dormouse Footprint Tunnel Survey will be based on a search for dormice in hedgerows rather than any other habitat. Footprint tunnels are relatively easy to use and can be used by people who do not have a dormouse licence.

This survey is ideal for you if you don't have previous bat surveying experience. It is also a perfect opportunity to get together with family/friends and discover bats and other wildlife in your local area. Simply head out at dusk or before dawn, or both! 

A quick and easy survey for reptiles and amphibians in our greenspace - includes a survey form for uploading results and access to a 'bitesize course' to help you recognise species

​If your greenspace contains areas of irregularly managed grassland, scrub or other vegetation, it may support common reptile species such as slow worm. This is a comprehensive guide showing you how to survey for reptiles. Reptiles are generally active from March to October.

If your green space has trees, you can assess their health. The survey includes three activities: identifying and assessing general tree characteristics; recording the presence of any pests and diseases on oak, horse chestnut and ash trees; and recording six of the most serious pests and disease threats.

Spend one hour recording the birds in your local park on a specific weekend in January. Check the RSPB's website for the survey dates.

A citizen science project aiming to encourage people to monitor, measure and map trees. The project particularly wants to improve the data on trees in urban areas. The website also includes a tree identification guide and a guide to surveying individual trees.

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 as one off sightings, for example if you see a hedgehog in your garden.

Polli:Nation was a Heritage Lottery-funded, UK-wide initiative supporting pupils from 260 schools to turn their school grounds and other local walk-to spaces into pollinator friendly habitats.

​A simple survey which can be
done every year to monitor the
health of your pond. The best
time to do the survey is
between May and August.

Designed for farmers and landowners, Healthy Hedgerows is a rapid hedgerow health checking survey. With just a handful of questions, this hedgerow health-checker will place each hedge you survey in the lifecycle and give you instant management options

Ancient trees are as much a part of our heritage as stately homes, cathedrals and works of art. But they don’t get the same protection.

Carry out a ten minute count of the number of pollinators visiting a flower from a list of 14 target flowers. The survey can be done in good weather any time between April and September. Survey guidance and forms are provided and you can upload your results through the website or the app

Record mammals, and their tracks and signs, you see in urban areas. Choose a green space to survey (such as an allotment or park), but it needs to be within 200m of a building. The website includes identification guides and survey guidance.

Record a range of species to track the effects of weather and climate on wildlife. Choose recording locations you can visit regularly and pick one or more species or events to record: these include amphibians, birds, flowers, fungi, grasses, insects, shrubs and trees.

A document setting out the different survey methods for hedgehogs. Surveys are undertaken when hedgehogs are active between May and November. Some survey methods included in this document require the surveyor to hold a licence, so should not be carried out without an experienced surveyor (check the green box at the top of each survey's page). Camera traps, footprint tunnels and spotlighting are the recommended surveys in this guide for beginners.

Surprisingly little is known about the quality of the UK’s freshwater bodies. Ponds, rivers and lakes support a huge variety of plants and animals, and us too. Good water quality is essential for a functioning, healthy ecosystem. However, water is easily affected by pollutants from the air and on land. The aim of the OPAL Water Survey was to provide a national ‘snap-shot’ assessment of water quality for as many lakes and ponds across the UK as possible, and, in doing so, to improve education and awareness of aquatic environments.

Report your first sightings of a select list of butterflies, ladybirds, bees and wasps each year to help track the impact of climate change and weather on these insects

An NHM photographic guide to plants frequently found growing on pavements in UK towns and cities. The guide features over 90 species from over 30 different plant families. To make identification easier, the guide is organised by flower colour and includes a key to indicate when each plant is in leaf and bloom.