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City Nature Challenge

We are entering the City Nature Challenge 2027, a global biodiversity recording event aimed to capture as many species as possible between April 30^th and May 3^rd 2027!

The aim is to collect information on what species are found where for conservationists, land managers and researchers and to learn something new and enjoy ourselves at the same time! If you would like to be involved as a local organiser, host or run an event, please get in touch r.shaw@exeter.ac.uk

If you are keen to come to any events, keep an eye on this webpage on our EventBrite.

Our first City Nature Challenge

Over the weekend of the 24th-27th April 2026, we recorded wildlife in our beautiful city of Exeter, contributing to one of the biggest community science events in the world. A total of 754 cities took part from 61 countries across 6 continents, over 76,000 species were recorded and over 100,000 people took part!  

We were really proud to make 1533 observations of 507 species!

Importantly, 75% of our records are ‘research grade’ which means that they will find their way into international and national biodiversity recording databases, and can be used by researchers and conservationists to understand and protect wildlife. Eighty-nine species which had not been recorded in Exeter (on iNaturalist) were found.  

We ran 22 events, with 145 attendees, with help from our partners and supporters, as well as the amazing community of people out recording and identifying wildlife. Thanks to everyone who contributed!  

Our project page details all our recordings made during the week.

Using iNaturalist throughout the year

We are still recording our wildlife using iNaturalist - a free recording app available on Android or iOS. We would love for people to carry on making these records and sharing the amazing wildlife that is found in Exeter. 

Many UK recorders use iRecord, but good‑quality iNaturalist observations will also flow into the UK’s national recording databases.  iNaturalist provides clear guidance for beginners, including how to upload observations and make valuable contributions to biodiversity datasets.

To help ensure your observations can be used by the UK’s National Biodiversity Network, they have created guidance on producing high-quality records.

Tips for taking verifiable wildlife photos

Some species are easier to identify than others, and each taxonomic group has key features that experts need to see. The resources below explain what to include in your photos:

• Plants - the Botanical Society of Britain & Ireland (BSBI) offers advice on how to take useful plant photographs for identification.
• Fungi - fungi can be difficult to identify from photos alone, but the RHS Find a Fungi project provides helpful guidance.
• Bumblebees – Photographing bumblebees can help accurately identify the species in front of you.
• Birds and Mammals - for these groups, sound recordings are often extremely helpful and can be uploaded alongside photos. Tracks and other field signs, such as footprints, can also be recorded if they are clearly identifiable.

Local organisers and supporters for the 2026 City Nature Challenge