City Nature Challenge

We were delighted to take part in the City Nature Challenge (CNC) 2026, which ran from 24th to 27th April 2026 across Berkshire and Oxfordshire. Thanks to everyone who took part, recorded wildlife, hosted events, and helped spread the word.

2026 Results: Berkshire & Oxfordshire

Together, participants across Berkshire and Oxfordshire:

  • Recorded 3512 observations
  • Identified 1135 species
  • With contributions from 274 people
  • Verified by 504 identifiers

From garden birds and spring wildflowers to insects and mammals, every record helped build a clearer picture of the wildlife around us.

These records contribute valuable biodiversity data, supporting conservation work and helping inform future nature recovery across our counties.

Save the date: City Nature Challenge 2027

The next City Nature Challenge will take place: Friday 30th April – Monday 3rd May 2027

What is City Nature Challenge?

Started in 2016 as a competition between San Francisco and Los Angeles, the City Nature Challenge (CNC) has grown into an international event, motivating people around the world to find and document wildlife in their cities. Run by the Community Science teams at the California Academy of Sciences and the Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County, the CNC is an annual four-day global bioblitz at the end of April. As well as being a fun activity, it generates useful species information that helps us to monitor the state of wildlife across our region and target our nature conservation activities to better protect wildlife.

How to participate?

Taking part is easy! Download the iNaturalist app to your smartphone or tablet and use it to upload photos of any wildlife you see:

  • Record wildlife during the Challenge weekend (dates above)
  • Upload and identify your observations during the following week
  • Join our Berkshire and Oxfordshire projects on iNaturalist

iNaturalist instructions

Why get involved?

Community science is for everyone! Whether you're an avid naturalist or just getting started, you can participate in community science and help collect data on the biodiversity in our beautiful counties. Every observation helps us understand and conserve local wildlife. Community-generated data is crucial for scientists, aiding efforts to protect nature both locally and globally.

Whether you’re a wildlife group, school, parish council, or local venue, you can play a part in helping people connect with nature and contribute to biodiversity research.

How you can help

  • Host a nature walk, wildlife survey, or drop-in session during the 2027 Challenge weekend.
  • Provide access to green spaces or facilities for events.
  • Promote the Challenge through your networks and encourage your community to take part.

If you are planning an event, or have any questions, please let us know by emailing tverc@oxfordshire.gov.uk to express your interest or ask any questions as we'd love to hear from you! 

Learn more about City Nature Challenge

New to iNaturalist?

Explore the links below to learn how to use the iNaturalist mobile app. Once you're familiar with the app, you can upload and identify your observations on iNaturalist.

iNaturalist tutorials

The City Nature Challenge is organised on a global scale by the Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County and the California Academy of Sciences. The City Nature Challenge 2026: Berkshire and Oxfordshire is organised by Thames Valley Environmental Records Centre (TVERC).

Thanks to The National Lottery Community Fund’s WISH Partnership for support to broaden community involvement in wildlife monitoring.