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City Nature Challenge returns for 2022

The world's biggest wildlife recording challenge is back between Friday 29 May and Monday 2 April.

We're encouraging nature-lovers across the North West to take part in the seventh annual City Nature Challenge, which will see more than 400 cities across six continents taking part.

The global event, co-organised by San Francisco’s California Academy of Sciences and the Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County, calls on current and aspiring community scientists, nature and science fans, and people of all ages and backgrounds to observe and submit pictures of wild plants, animals and fungi using the free wildlife recording app, iNaturalist. From Friday 29 April to Monday 2 May, participants can upload their observations to the app, with identifications happening from Tuesday 3 May to Sunday 8 May. The final results will be announced on Monday 9 May.

Wildlife recording inaturalist

Charlotte Varela

Nature is all around us: in our cities, our neighborhoods and even in our homes. One of the best ways to study nature and its biodiversity is by connecting scientists and local communities through community science. As global human populations become increasingly concentrated in cities, it’s more important than ever to document urban biodiversity and help ensure the future of plants and wildlife. Large pools of data built through apps like iNaturalist, natural history museums and conservation organisations help leaders make informed conservation decisions that allow both human and natural communities to thrive.

How to take part in City Nature Challenge 2022

  1. Go out and record wildlife on your own or join a local wildlife recording event. Your record can be any wild plant, animal or fungi.
  2. Take pictures of what you find using the iNaturalist mobile app.
  3. Learn more as your observations are identified by other iNaturalist users.
A father and daughter looking for minibeasts on plants in a wildflower meadow

Image by Jon Hawkins - Surrey Hills Photography

Over the last six years, observations made during the Challenge have helped scientists detect patterns of biodiversity change on a global and local scale. Last year, collectively, across the North West we had 319 recorders making 13,764 observations of 2,353 different species, and we want this year to be even bigger.

Ellie Sherlock, Communications Officer and organiser for Greater Manchester, says:

"City Nature Challenge is one of my favourite events - an invitation to slow down and make new wildlife discoveries in your local area. I'd encourage everyone to give it a go this Bank Holiday. The iNaturalist app makes wildlife recording so simple and fun. You never know what you might find!"

Charlotte Varela, Marketing Officer and organiser for Lancashire, adds:

"I'd encourage everyone who wants to connect with nature, wind down and give back to wildlife to take part in City Nature Challenge. There are just as many wild wonders to be found in our cities as our countryside, and your local area could surprise you. Last year I recorded a green tiger beetle on a riverbank across from our local industrial estate!"

If you want to find out more about the challenge, learn more about iNaturalist and find City Nature Challenge events being run by organisations and community groups across Lancashire and Greater Manchester, click the button below.

Take part in City Nature Challenge

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