−−− BY LINZI DAVIES −−−
Yorkshire Wildlife Trust’s ‘wildlife census’ is returning bigger and better than ever. On Saturday 24th June and Sunday 25th June, the Trust is asking Yorkshire folk to spot, count and record the creatures in their outdoor spaces – starting with a list of 30 creatures great and small.
It’s free, fun, and easy to do, and everyone can take part. You can sign up now. Every single garden, yard and scrubby patch of grass could make a difference. You’ll be surprised what you find once you start looking. The Trust will give you everything you need including a checklist, an invite to an exclusive online talk with garden designer and author Jack Wallington, and activities for the kids. By joining the hunt you’ll be helping them to support, protect and enhance Yorkshire’s wildlife.
Last year, lots of people headed outside for a doorstep safari to see what they could find by gently rummaging, stealthily watching, and making a note of the worms, beetles, birds, and bees feeding, resting, and hiding in gardens. Between them, they counted thousands of creatures. Over time, these counts will show how wildlife friendly our collective outdoor spaces are and give us an idea of how common species are faring in Yorkshire’s gardens.
GOOD FOR NATURE,
GOOD FOR YOU
We know that spending time in nature is great for our mental health and wellbeing, and by noticing and recording the wildlife where you live, you’re helping nature too. These days, it can often be difficult to get children away from their tablets and tv screens, but they all love a good bug hunt! Use the Creature Count as a way of getting them outside into the fresh air for some fun – they will love going on this ‘treasure hunt’ to see what minibeasts they can find in their own little back garden, and they will learn loads about nature too!
There are more gardens than nature reserves in the UK and they provide crucial corridors, nesting areas and places to shelter for many of our much-loved creatures. But nature needs us. With their habitats destroyed and the pressures of climate change increasing, even our once-widespread creatures such as the common frog or the garden bumblebee are declining.
But it doesn’t have to be this way. Yorkshire Wildlife Trust has a vision of a wilder Yorkshire where our towns, cities and countryside are connected and rich in wildlife. With your help, they can find out more about how many different creatures are making themselves at home, what we can do to protect them, and how wildlife-friendly our gardens are.
SPOT IT, COUNT IT, RECORD IT
It’s really easy to join the Great Yorkshire Creature Count. Just follow these three steps:
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Sign up at ywt.org.uk/great-yorkshire-creature-count to get your downloadable checklist, tips and advice.
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On the weekend of the Count, head outside to search for and record creatures on the checklist.
● Submit your sightings on the website.
If you want to take your count a step further you can join the project group on iNaturalist, an app for uploading your records and photos. It doesn’t matter if you’re not sure what species of creature you’ve spotted – just upload your photo and members of the iNaturalist community can identify it for you.
And if you want to get more wildlife in your life, June is the perfect time to do it! The Great Yorkshire Creature Count takes place during the UK’s biggest nature challenge: 30 Days Wild. Every year thousands of people enjoy taking part by pledging to do something wild each day in June. Everyone who signs up receives a free pack full of inspiration to guide them through the month.
Sarah from Leeds took part in the Great Yorkshire Creature Count last year with her children. She said, “We had a wonderful time rummaging through our garden last year to see what we could find. It was like a mini safari – and we were amazed to find more than woodlice and worms in the garden, the kids were really excited when we found a hedgehog asleep under a bush! Luckily, we didn’t disturb it! We will be joining in again this year as we had great fun, and know we are helping our native wildlife too.”
Jenny from York is looking forward to taking part with her grandchildren this year. “I have signed us up as I think it is a great activity to take part in – not only to help record the species we have in our local area, but as something educational and fun for the grandkids to enjoy. I have four aged between 3 and 14, and it can be difficult at times to find things to amuse them all, but I know the older ones will love it just as much as the little ones. I have a pond at the back of the garden so we will be hoping to find some frogs and maybe even some newts!”
HOW TO ATTRACT
MORE WILDLIFE
There are all kinds of things you can do to encourage more creatures to use your outdoor space. Here are just a few:
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Attract more insects by growing plants that encourage bees and other pollinators. You don’t need much space, or a lawn or flower beds to do this – you can use pots and containers, window boxes and hanging baskets, or even walls.
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Feed your garden birds and other creatures that might visit, such as hedgehogs, and provide water for drinking and bathing – don’t forget to keep it topped up.
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Build homes and shelters for wildlife, from bee hotels and log piles to hedgehog houses and bat boxes.
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Create a pond or bog garden to increase the variety of creatures you might see.
Rachael Bice, chief executive at Yorkshire Wildlife Trust, said:
“The Great Yorkshire Creature Count is getting bigger and better each year, and anyone can join in. Every single garden, yard, window box and scrubby patch of grass harbours wildlife – you’ll be surprised by what you see when you start looking.”
The 30 Species Yorkshire Wildlife Trust Are Asking People To Spot In 2023
● Large red damselfly
● Aphid
● Large white butterfly
● Red admiral
● Brimstone moth
● Buff-tailed bumblebee
● Common woodlouse
● Marmalade hoverfly
● Zebra spider
● Garden black ant
● Garden snail
● Leopard slug
● Earthworm
● 7-spot ladybird
● Red soldier beetle
● Field grasshopper
● Grass snake
● Common frog
● Smooth newt
● Robin
● House sparrow
● Goldfinch
● Swift
● Blue tit
● Blackbird
● Red kite
● Black headed gull
● Bat
● Hedgehog
● Fox
Yorkshire Wildlife Trust is a charity dedicated to conserving, protecting, and restoring wildlife and wild places in Yorkshire.
Established as a charity in 1946, their vision is for a Yorkshire that is abundant in wildlife, with more people having a genuine and meaningful connection with nature.
looking after over 100 nature reserves right across Yorkshire, they are involved in hundreds of conservation-related projects, inspiring people to understand the value of nature and to take action for it.
For over 70 years, they have been protecting Yorkshire’s wildlife and wild places, working across land and sea; from hills and valleys to beaches and city streets. Wherever you are in Yorkshire, you’re only approximately 20 miles from one of their nature reserves – wild havens on your doorstep where you can connect with nature.
Now more than ever before, we need a society where nature matters. Yorkshire Wildlife Trust inspire thousands of children, families, and individuals every year; helping them to connect with their local wildlife through events and engagement programmes.
The Great Yorkshire Creature Count at Castle Howard
As part of the Creature Count, there are fun events to get involved in, including at Castle Howard. Join Yorkshire Wildlife Trust over the weekend for wild activities – from mini beasting and storytelling to bird watching and guided walks with wild experts. Help them to discover, count and record the creatures which live in the walled garden at Castle Howard. These activities are free with a Gardens ticket.
Full details on this event, plus many more can be found at;
