Free course: Biodiversity Recording using iNaturalist

If you have a smartphone, or camera and computer, and an enquiring mind, join our next free course with practical examples on Saturday 26 September, 10:30 am to 3:00 pm at the James Leal Centre in Ray Park, Snakes Lane, South Woodford.
There is a café for those needing a snack or lunch, or you may bring a packed lunch. Light refreshments will be provided. There is a pay car park at the park entrance.

Biodiversity recording. Fun? We think so!
Chris Gannaway explains how to get involved

As you will be aware, we campaigned for the Nature emergency declaration from Redbridge Council, from which a nature recovery plan will evolve. One item of the plan must be to know and monitor what biodiversity we have in the borough. To this end, with the Vision Nature Conservation Team, we have jumped the gun and set up a citizen science project for nature recording using the iNaturalist recording platform.

INaturalist is a platform that relies on getting good isolated photos of a nature specimen, whether it be vegetive or animal. Uploading from a computer or a smartphone app and by the magic of technology you get an opinion on what the species could be, pick the best choice and if it’s verifiable, it will become a bona fide record that is acceptable. Sounds simple? We know the pitfalls!

We are running a series of free courses for people with an enquiring mind to get the best out of the system. It can become a bit of a competition! Though on that front I am out in front, having used iNaturalist for a number of years! Most of my Redbridge records come from my garden! It’s the common, as well as the uncommon, we have to map, as they can change places very quickly under the climatic conditions we are now seeing. Note the rise of the stripy day flying moth the Jersey Tiger and the decline of the Garden Tiger in the south of England.

iNaturalist projects for local wildlife

If you are already an iNaturalist user, consider joining the projects Wildlife of Redbridge and Wildlife of Hainault Forest. Connecting to both projects can help diversify your observations and strengthen local biodiversity records. Records you submit to either project will automatically appear based on your location settings, ensuring accurate mapping of sightings across the areas.