Fancy being part of the Big Help Out? We need your help for an hour or so on Monday 8 May by visiting your local lake and recording the animals and plants that you see. We’ve made it as easy as possible for you and you certainly don’t need to be experts (we’ve asked some of them to help too).
South West Lakes are looking for new volunteers to help us with our regional bioblitz, which helps us understand the wildlife (flora and fauna) present at our lakes on a single day. You may find a new species, one you see regularly or you may find an invasive species… all of this information is so important to us in checking the health of our environment. We have 40 inland waters across the South West to choose from, so there really is something close to you.
We welcome volunteers of any age, so bring the whole family this bank holiday! If you are under 16, consent must be gained from a responsible adult.
We understand that time is precious, so we are just asking for an hour of your time. That might be visiting a lake to record some wildlife, helping our spotters identify their wildlife by looking at photos or listening to audio recordings from the comfort of your own home, or by becoming one of the expert verifiers... it really is up to you.
As a thank you for getting involved, we'll also be offering you the chance to win an annual Friendship. There are two prizes on offer, one for the best photograph and one for the most records, so get out there recording!
To sign up as a remote volunteer and verifier, please email [email protected].
To join in with wildlife recordings, simply follow these steps:
Step 1: Pick a location and head to your local lake at any time on Monday 8 May.
Step 2: For an hour (or however long you like), make a note of any species you see and try to take photos if you can! Simply write in a notebook or print off our recording form by clicking here. If you’re not sure what species you’ve seen, make some notes describing the animal or plant and take a photo to post on the Facebook group.
Step 3: (Optional) Join our Facebook group to share your sightings and get help with identification if you need it.
Step 4: Log your sightings officially with our form. Once you've submitted the form, please email your photos to [email protected].
Thank you for taking part, we hope you enjoy your visit!
Teri Nicholls is now a Conservation Officer at South West Lakes Trust, but started her career with us as a volunteer in 2020. Read more
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