Join the City Nature Challenge 2023
Please join the City Nature Challenge, an annual global citizen science project collecting information about local wildlife, by helping us record and understand the wonderful plants and animals in and around Brighton & Hove.
This year’s challenge will take place from Friday 28 April to Monday 1 May 2023. The Brighton & Eastern Downs region, which includes Brighton & Hove and the whole of The Living Coast UNESCO Biosphere, will be taking part for the fourth year.
To get involved, simply download the iNaturalist app to your smartphone and record all the wildlife that you see. This could be anything from an insect to a bird or a plant, grass or mushroom seen from your window or balcony, in your garden, in the street, on a verge or in your local park.
Why get involved?
The City Nature Challenge helps bring people closer to nature by encouraging them to observe and record the wildlife on their doorstep.
The iNaturalist app has eco-experts on hand to help identify the species that are submitted, helping people learn more about local biodiversity and wildlife. The data collected also helps to inform local and national conservation work.
Take part at Wilding Waterhall
The Ranger team at Wilding Waterhall are hosting a free City Nature Challenge event on Monday 1st May from 10am to 3pm. Join them by searching the site for plants and creatures great and small.
You don’t have to be a wildlife expert as the team will be on hand to help with spotting and identification.
You can drop in any time and stay for as long as you like. For more information, visit the Wilding Waterhall City Nature Challenge event page on the Living Coast’s website.
2022 results
Last year, over 7,000 observations were made across the Brighton & Eastern Downs region during the City Nature Challenge, placing us fourth on the leaderboard of UK cities taking part.
More than 1,300 species were identified, making the region the UK’s top location for species identification. The most commonly observed species within the region were ground ivy, hawthorn, common daisy, and cowslip – all power-pack plants full of pollen and nectar that support our insects, birds and mammals
The Living Coast
We are lucky to be located in The Living Coast, the UK’s only UNESCO-designated urban biosphere region. It recognises and celebrates the important chalk, coastal and urban biodiversity within the area from the River Adur in the west to the River Ouse in the east, following the northern boundary of the South Downs National Park and stretching 2 miles offshore.
The Living Coast has 3 key objectives: conserve and enhance nature, support sustainable development, and promote environmental awareness, knowledge, learning and engagement. Its projects include greening urban spaces, improving water quality, promoting active travel and biocultural tourism, and more.
The Living Coast is co-leading the City Nature Challenge in the Brighton & Eastern Downs region alongside the University of Sussex, the University of Brighton, and the South Downs National Parks Authority.
Biodiversity is our planet’s life support system. Restoring nature underpins the health and wellbeing of people and wildlife in an era of climate change.