Public encouraged to take part in wildlife survey

Residents in Coventry, Warwickshire and Solihull are being encouraged to take part in a project that records local wildlife.

The City Nature Challenge 2026 is an annual international event in which the public uses an app to record wild plants, animals and fungi where they live. It takes place from 24 to 27 April.

Information is then uploaded on to a shared database, which can help with knowing about an area's biodiversity.

Coventry City Council said locals could participate from anywhere in the areas, including gardens, school grounds, parks, rivers and waterways.

It is free to participate, and those taking part must download an app - iNaturalist - and then take photos of any wildlife they see, which is then uploaded to the app.

There are several events taking place in the area for families, groups or those who want to learn from experts. Locations include:

• Ryton Pools Country Park - 25 April, 10:00 to 15:00 BST. The event Includes park staff and Warwickshire County Council ecologists

• Kenilworth Abbey Fields - 26 April, 10:00 to 15:00 BST. The event Includes Warwickshire County Council ecologists and Friends of Abbey Fields

• Warwickshire churchyards - various dates and locations including Old Milverton and Salford Priors

• Coundon Wedge and Whitley - weekend events with expert-led guided walks

• Charterhouse, Coventry - 24 April, 15:00 to 17:00 BST.

• Longford Park, Coventry - 25 April, 10:00 to 14:00 BST. The events are led by City Council ranger and ecology teams

• Wyken Croft Nature Park, Coventry - 24 April, 10:00 to 12:00 BST. The event is hosted by Coventry University

• Charterhouse, Coventry - 24 April, 20:00 to 21:30 BST. The event features a guided bat walk using detectors

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