Volunteers needed for spring wildlife survey in gardens and other green spaces

This spring, leading wildlife conservation charity People’s Trust for Endangered Species (PTES) is calling for volunteers across the UK to take part in its popular annual Living with Mammals survey, in a bid to track changes in our wildlife.

­Volunteers are needed to record sightings of any wild mammals they see each week in their gardens, local parks or other green spaces, such as allotments and churchyards. The results enable conservationists to better understand how our environment is changing, how these changes impact wild mammal populations, which need the most help and where conservation action is needed.

Any sightings of mammals (or the signs left behind, such as footprints or droppings) are recorded online. Free advice is available to help those new to wildlife surveying, with guides on how to identify different species and recognise tell-tale signs – you don’t need to be an expert!

Any mammal, however commonly seen, provides useful data. Last year, almost 800 sites across the country were surveyed throughout the year, with over 20 different species spotted including garden regulars such as foxes and grey squirrels and well-loved species such as hedgehogs. There were also records of rarer species too, highlighting the importance of urban areas in conservation. These included; eight records of red squirrels, seen on the Isle of Wight, in Cumbria and in Dumfriesshire, Scotland, hazel dormice in the East Midlands and South West regions of England, and water voles in the South West, South East and East Midlands regions.

Living with Mammals 2024 runs from March until the end of the year. To take part here

Photo: Water vole, credit David Edwards.