That's it! Thank you to everyone who took part in our third City Nature Challenge! Whether you uploaded your records, or helped identify other observations, your contributions to citizen science are invaluable. Together, we are helping others appreciate, study, and protect the natural world around us.
This year, an amazing total of over 3 million observations were recorded globally, with nearly 103,000 people involved. In the TVERC area we recorded 2,006 observations, 599 species and had 143 participants across the four days in Oxfordshire. Although we had fewer records overall in Oxfordshire compared to the previous year, we actually saw a 35% increase in observations, as last year our former micro intern recorded over 1,800 on their own. Berkshire done really well this year with 1,165 observations, 443 species, and 66 participants across the four days. In Oxfordshire, the most observed species was Ground-Ivy with 23 observations, while in Berkshire, the Shuttle-shaped Dart moth took the lead with 40 observations.
It's fantastic to see the increase in coverage and records from new locations. In Oxfordshire, people recorded in 227 new locations, and in Berkshire in 167 locations. It’s also great to see the dedication of returning who have continued their work from last year. Additionally, we’ve welcomed 126 new recorders in Oxfordshire, marking a 15% increase, and 57 new recorders in Berkshire, which is a remarkable 78% increase.
We also had a fantastic day out on Saturday 26th April at St Kenelm's Church with Enstone Eco and CAG. Together, we introduced iNaturalist and explored the beautiful churchyard, joined by 14 enthusiastic participants. One of the highlights was discovering Meadow Saxifrage—a nationally occurring plant that is sadly declining and considered rare in Oxfordshire!!
Even though the City Nature Challenge has concluded, you can continue using iNaturalist.org all year round to record and discover wildlife – we would love to see what else you can find this summer! Will you continue recording?
Mark your calendars for next year's City Nature Challenge! The 2026 event will take place from April 24th to April 27th, and we hope to see even more participation and engagement from our communities.
Thanks to The National Lottery Community Fund’s WISH Partnership for support to broaden community involvement in wildlife monitoring.