Fascinating discoveries by Kent “Shoresearch” citizen scientists in 2024
Wildlife experts also raise concerns over invasive species recorded
Topics: Citizen Science
Riversearch: a citizen science project to monitor the health of Kent’s rivers and streams – report on data collected November 2021 – May 2024
Almost three years of RiverSearch citizen scientists collecting data on the health of Kent's rivers and streams has been collated in this report. Find out how our rivers measure up in nitrates, phosphates and turbidity.
How to take part in the University of Kent's upcoming BioBlitz
James Barton, Ph.D student at University of Kent, dives into the upcoming BioBlitz at the uni in this blog.
Bugs Matter on a Glider
A unique collaboration between Kent Wildlife Trust and Essex & Suffolk Gliding Club
The ‘Great British Bug off’: Citizen scientists invited to take part in August challenge and win prizes!
Since June, thousands of dedicated citizen scientists have contributed their time and effort to Bugs Matter – a national citizen science survey from Kent Wildlife Trust and Buglife which uses insect splats on number plates as an indicator of insect abundance to better understand how our invertebrate populations are faring.
Discover your inner scientist
The Sevenoaks Greensands Common project has drawn to a close but we celebrate the amazing citizen science projects that have helped make the project a success.
Virtual ‘splatometer’ makes it even easier for citizen scientists to contribute to Bugs Matter survey in Kent
Conservation charities Kent Wildlife Trust and Buglife have launched the Bugs Matter 2023 Survey, introducing a new virtual ‘splatometer’ to measure insect splats on number plates as a measure of insect abundance. This ground-breaking initiative aims to measure the alarming decline in insect numbers repeatedly reported across the UK and the globe.
Citizen science programme suggests dramatic decline in Kent insect numbers, as UK Government approve the use of lethal pesticides
Conservationists have described the outlook in Kent as "alarming", with the county's reduction in insect numbers higher than the national average.
Further insect number declines in 2022 – a long-term trend or the result of record summer temperatures?
The Bugs Matter Citizen Science Survey, led by conservation charities Kent Wildlife Trust and Buglife, found a 64% decline in insect numbers sampled on vehicle number plates between 2004 and 2022 across the UK, highlighting the urgent need for more, large-scale research on insects, and action to reverse declines in their abundance.
Citizen Scientists across the UK demonstrate that “Bugs Matter” this summer
The end of the school summer holidays saw the conclusion of this year’s national insect survey, Bugs Matter, on 31 August. Led by conservation charities Kent Wildlife Trust and Buglife, the annual call to collaborate with citizen scientists across the UK generates crucial data regarding how national insect numbers are faring. Bugs Matter, based on the “windscreen phenomenon”, is one of the UK’s few long-term citizen science surveys of flying insect abundance, generating important data.