City Nature Challenge

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We’re calling on the people of Chester and beyond to take part in an epic nature challenge 26 - 29 April 2024! The City Nature Challenge is a global event where people in over 500 City Regions worldwide work together to record as much wildlife as possible. Can you help us put Chester on the map for wildlife?!

How do I join in?

Download the iNaturalist app on your phone, or use the iNaturalist website and make an account.
Get out and about over the 4 days of the Challenge! Photograph and upload your wildlife observations to iNaturalist. Don't worry if you're not sure of the species, the app has a handy photo recognition function to give you a starting point, plus other observers will help to ID from your photo where possible.
Follow this guide for how to use the Android app and this guide for how to use the iPhone app.
Take a look at (and even better join) the Chester Region Project to see how we're doing and find out what others have been spotting in the area.
You can continue to add sightings from the weekend up until 7 May. Why not also help out with identifying the wildlife people have seen too?
There's loads more information on the City Nature Challenge and how to use iNaturalist here.

What's happening?

We're excited to be running in-person events over the weekend across the Chester region. Keep checking back here for updates!

Talk - Get ready for the City Nature Challenge

24 April, 7pm

Book on to our Wildlife Exchange Session (talk) at Chester Zoo.

City Nature Challenge at Chester Zoo

26 April, 1:30pm - 3pm

Drop-in for games and information.

City Nature Challenge at Westminster Park, Lache

27 April, 10am - 3pm

Join Friends of Westminster Park and RECORD - drop-in for games and information.

Dusk Wildlife Walk at Countess of Chester Country Park

27 April, 6:30pm

Book on to our free walk searching for and recording the park's wildlife.

City Nature Challenge at Marbury Country Park

28 April, 11am - 3pm

Drop-in for games and information.

Wildlife Walk at Marbury Country Park

28 April, 12pm

Book on to our free walk searching for and recording the park's wildlife.

City Nature Challenge at Rivacre Valley

28 April, 10am - 12pm

Join Friends of Rivacre Valley for a Bioblitz.

Wildlife Recording Day at Frodsham Hill

29 April, 10am

Help us record wildlife through the iNaturalist app.

What happens to the data?

Your uploaded wildlife sightings feed into local and national databases (including our own as a Local Environmental records centre). Records of both common and rare species help us build a picture of how our local wildlife is doing, which helps us understand how to protect it. The data gets used by researchers, land managers, conservation groups, and the government regularly, to inform their decisions.

* Important note on data sharing * - if you are happy for your iNaturalist observations to be shared with Local Environmental Records Centres such as ourselves, please make sure you share your sightings under an open licence (CC0). More info on this here.

Who is running the City Nature Challenge?

The Chester Region City Nature Challenge is being organised by RECORD, but we are working with lots of brilliant local partners. The global challenge is organised by Natural History Museum Los Angeles County and California Academy of Sciences.

Where can I find out more?

Click the links below for more information.

Spotter's guides, worksheets and how-to guides

City Nature Challenge UK

City Nature Challenge Worldwide

Can I do this with my organisation or group?

Yes! We are already working with a number of fabulous local partner organisations to promote the City Nature Challegne and run events and we would love for other groups to get involved. For example schools, 'Friends' groups, charities, companies and other community groups. We have a handbook and graphics which we can share with you and can also help promote any linked events. Please get in touch with iona@record-lrc.co.uk for more information.

Chester City Nature Challenge banner graphics by Chester National Park City Group

RECORD - Local Environmental Records Centre,
Cedar House,
Caughall Road,
Chester,
CH2 1LH

01244 383749
info@record-lrc.co.uk
Charity number: 1095859
Company number: 04046886
VAT number: 455 8632 62

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