Nature Co-Lab
Sharing stories, moments, and discoveries in nature across seasons and places.
An oak tree stood alone in a field, with orange leaves and a large shadow cast
Insects are six legged creatures that crawl or fly, and includes important pollinators and recyclers. Bees and butterflies especially show that flowers and plants are supporting local nature well. Watch out for ants, spot beetles flying through the air and keep an eye out for midges!
These fungi look like shelves growing out of tree trunks or fallen logs.
They help break down old wood and provide food for insects and other tiny creatures.
This is the classic type of mushrooms you might recognise, with the classic umbrella shape growing in grass, soil, or woodland.
Their presence shows healthy decay and recycling of plant matter.
Amphibians need clean ponds, streams, or damp areas to breed. Spotting them can show water quality is good and local ponds or wetlands are healthy. If you’re lucky you might spot signs of tadpoles or spawn in still water in spring
Reptiles like snakes and lizards bask in sunny spots and can be shy. Seeing them suggests the area has safe hiding places like dry stone walls, long grass, or sunny clearings. In the UK we have a few species including the Common Lizard, Slowworm Grass Snake and the venomous Adder.
Sometimes more difficult to see, this includes small mammals like squirrels, rabbits bats, or even signs of bigger ones like deer.
Spotting mammals or signs of them can show how connected and safe green spaces are for wildlife.
Look for birds perched in trees, hopping on the ground, or flying overhead. Birds are good indicators of healthy habitats and change with the seasons, including swallows arriving in the spring and flocks of geese in the winter.
Ferns love shady woodlands, riverbanks, or damp corners. Seeing ferns can mean the local area stays moist and is good for a range of woodland wildlife. These plants are one of the oldest species still around, first found on Earth before even the dinosaurs.
Moss is a spongy and soft growth which can usually be found growing where it’s damp and shady, on tree trunks, walls, or stones.
Its presence can show areas with clean air and steady moisture levels.
You might spot long wild grasses in fields or short, mown grass in parks and lawns. Grasses help hold soil together and provide food for insects and grazing animals. There are over 160 species of grass in the UK, including Yorkshire Fog, Cocksfoot and Timothy.
You can spot flowers in gardens, meadows, or wild spots. Flowers attract bees, butterflies, and other pollinators , they’re a good sign of seasonal change and local biodiversity. You might spot individual flowers like daffodils or bluebells, or you might spot them on trees and bushes
This could include hedges and hedgerows, spiky brambles and gorse, or other low woody plants. Shrubs offer food and shelter for small animals and birds, and often flower or fruit throughout the year.
This might include animal footprints, nests in trees, feathers on the ground, or droppings.
These signs show that animals are living, feeding, or travelling through the area , even if you don’t get the chance to see them directly.
Have you spotted mushrooms, toadstools, or other fungi on logs, tree stumps, or damp ground?
Fungi are known as decomposers and help break down dead material and keep soil healthy. Seeing them can mean the area is rich in life.
Includes birds, mammals, frogs, lizards, or any other animals seen nearby.
Understanding what animals are living in and using a space can help give an idea of the health of the area. Spotting a range of species can show that there is enough space, food and healthy competition for these animals.
Did you notice any particular plants like trees, bushes, wildflowers, grasses, mosses, or leaves on the ground?
The plants we see can tell us about the health and diversity of our local green spaces. You can also keep an eye out for invasive species which can cause harm to spaces, including giant hogweed.