Start exploring and recording the wildlife in your garden

Anyone across the UK can take part by sharing information about their garden and recording the wildlife that visits it.

The Big British Garden Survey is run by the National Garden Scheme in collaboration with the UK Centre for Ecology & Hydrology (UKCEH). This project brings together information about gardens with wildlife observations to celebrate and better understand the role that gardens play in providing space and resources for wildlife.

What’s involved?

Each step of the project is entirely voluntary, but you must complete step 1 if you want your citizen science records to count towards this project.

  1. Complete a short registration survey. This allows your wildlife records to be linked to your garden, and involves: 

    a) Drawing your garden boundary on a map.

    b) Answering a short set of questions about wildlife-friendly features in your garden.

  2. Record the butterflies and other insects visiting your garden when you choose using simple citizen science apps developed by UKCEH (FIT Count, iRecord Butterflies) available for iOS and Android. You will need to register with the apps to take part. If you already record wildlife in your garden using iRecord, these will automatically be included as long as you register your garden.
  3. Complete a short feedback survey at the end of the project.

Who can take part?

  • Anyone aged 18 or over with access to a garden can join in.
  • Families are welcome to get involved together, as long as an adult completes the registration and submits any wildlife records.
  • You can take part whether you have a big or small garden, a shared garden, an allotment, a balcony, or a courtyard.

Key terms and conditions

  • There are no anticipated risks beyond everyday gardening activities. We hope you will enjoy observing wildlife in your garden and contributing to environmental research.
  • Your garden boundary data will not be shared and is used by UKCEH solely to link your wildlife records to your garden.
  • Personal details will not be shared by UKCEH. Your personal data will be processed in line with the UKCEH Privacy Notice and stored securely and only for as long as needed to deliver and analyse this project.
  • You may withdraw at any time. UKCEH will delete your registration information on request. Any wildlife records you submit via FIT Count or iRecord can be managed or deleted directly in your accounts.

Who can I contact?
Project manager: Dr Abigail Lowe (abilow@ceh.ac.uk)
UKCEH Research Ethics Team: ukcehresearchethics@ceh.ac.uk

Acknowledgment
To strengthen the scientific value of this work, the questions used within the registration survey are informed by the Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) State of Gardening Report 2025 and have been used and adapted with permission from the RHS.

Full participant information is provided below. Please read and confirm you understand how your data will be used before submitting the form.

The UK Centre for Ecology & Hydrology (UKCEH), an independent environmental organisation and leader in citizen science research, is working with The National Garden Scheme to deliver this project. UKCEH will manage and summarise the data collected, producing anonymised summaries to help improve understanding of how gardens support biodiversity. Funding is provided by the National Garden Scheme through the Swire Charitable Trust, with summary findings shared with National Garden Scheme supporters and the wider public.

How we use your information

When you register, UKCEH will collect your contact details, your garden boundary, and your responses to the questions about your garden. We will use this information to link any wildlife records you submit through our apps (such as FIT Count, iRecord Butterflies or iRecord) to your garden for scientific analysis.

Your personal details and garden boundary will be used only by UKCEH for scientific and project delivery purposes. They will not be shared outside UKCEH. All findings reported to NGS will be provided in an anonymised form, meaning NGS will not receive any information that could identify you or your property.

Project communications

UKCEH may contact you by email to confirm your registration or to provide occasional project related updates or reminders during the survey period (April-September), and to communicate results. These emails are sent by UKCEH as part this project on behalf of the National Garden Scheme, may include NGS branding, and do not constitute marketing communications. 

Your contact details will be retained until March 2027 to allow for project follow-up and completion, after which they will be securely deleted unless the project is formally extended. If the project is formally extended, you will be contacted once with the option to continue. 

If you choose to withdraw from the project during 2026, or if you decide not to take part in any extension, your registration information (including your email address, garden boundary and habitat survey responses) will be deleted on request. Wildlife records submitted through FIT Count, iRecord Butterflies or iRecord are stored within those apps, and you can manage or delete these directly through your own account.

Optional updates from the National Garden Scheme

If you would like to subscribe to the NGS newsletter to receive information on gardening initiatives or related activities, you can choose to opt in by ticking the box below. If you opt in, UKCEH will share only your email address with NGS for this purpose. NGS will then act as an independent Data Controller for these communications, and you may unsubscribe at any time


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Email addresses will only be used by UKCEH to confirm your registration and to provide occasional project related updates, reminders, or results. They will not be shared.

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A short answer of one or two sentences is sufficient.

Please use the map to draw a shape around your garden. Instructions are provided below. This step can be done on a mobile but you may find it easier on a desktop.

  1. First, search for a place near your garden so you can locate it on the map using the tool below.
  1. Now, zoom in until you can see your garden clearly. You can drag the map to centre it, or hold shift and drag to define a box to zoom in to.
  2. Click on the drawing tool in the top right of the map.
  3. Click once on the map on your garden's boundary, then work your way around the garden clicking as you go until the boundary is defined. Please try to be accurate, but don't worry if the outline isn't perfect.
  4. Double click to finish.
If you make a mistake, either redraw your boundary using the same steps and the new boundary will replace the old one, or click the edit tool then drag the handles that appear to make fine adjustments to the boundary.
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2. Which of the following wildlife resources does your main gardening space have?

Tick all that apply.

Tick all that apply.

3. In the past 12 months, which, if any, of the following have you done in relation to providing for wildlife?

Responses may be quoted anonymously in project reports or communications.

8. How familiar are you with the National Garden Scheme?
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