You can become a citizen scientist this May Bank Holiday with a global ‘bioblitz’ to show how wild Birmingham and the Black Country really is by taking part in the City Nature Challenge.

What started as an annual competition between San Francisco and Los Angeles in 2016, has grown into a global event run by California Academy of Sciences and the Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County.

After ranking fourth in Europe in 2021 with an impressive 914 different species recorded and 1st in the UK for the number of wildlife observations, local residents are being encouraged to take part in this global wildlife challenge in a bid for Birmingham and the Black Country to be named the world’s wildest city in 2022.

Birmingham and Black Country Wildlife Trust, EcoRecord and Birmingham Museums Trust are leading the entry for Birmingham, Dudley, Sandwell, Walsall and Wolverhampton and there are 20 goody bags to be won by registering before 27th April. For a chance to win you can register for City Nature Challenge updates at bbcwildlife.org.uk/CityNatureChallenge.

No specialist skills are required; simply take a photo of any wild species using the iNaturalist app, which includes species-recognition software to help with identification. Any wildlife counts including birds, mammals, insects, trees, flowers, amphibians, reptiles, fungi, moss and lichen. Take part by downloading the free iNaturalist app from inaturalist.org or from the Apple App Store or Google Play or by uploading your photos using the iNaturalist website. Emma Thompson, Head of Fundraising and Communication, Birmingham and Black Country Wildlife Trust said:

“The City Nature Challenge is a fun way to learn about the natural world around us and anyone can take part, from naturalist nerds to nature novices! Plus, connecting with nature is good for our health so we’re encouraging everyone to see it, snap it and share it this May Bank Holiday weekend.”

Join in with the challenge between Friday 29th April and Monday 2nd May with a bug hunt in the garden, a wildflower spotting walk or by watching birds from your window. Birmingham and Black Country Wildlife Trust have a range of events to get involved in, from bug hunts, ‘bioblitz’ and tree trail walks at Deer’s Leap Wood in Birmingham, Stambermill in Stourbridge and Smestow Valley in Wolverhampton.

You can find out more about the Trust’s events and book your place at bbcwildlife.org.uk/events.