Count local wildlife

As a National Park City, London is rich with wildlife and home to over 14,000 different types of plants and animals. Peregrine falcons nest on skyscrapers; stag beetles thrive in the suburbs; seals swim the Thames..

Some of the city’s plants and animals are doing well, like the urban foxes who live happily alongside people. Others have seen their numbers fall: there is only one population of hedgehogs left in central London.

Take time to notice our wild neighbours. Watching and counting local wildlife is fun, but also important. Recording what you see helps us understand whether different plants and animals are thriving or struggling, and what we need to do to help them.

There are lots of ways that you can get involved. You can:

1. Find London’s hedgehogs and send in your sightings through London Wildlife Trust.
2. Join the Big Butterfly Count with Butterfly Conservation in the summer.
3. Take part in the National Plant Monitoring Scheme to survey plant species across the UK.
4. Help London Wildlife Trust count some of the capital’s most important animals including dragonflies, stag beetles, kestrels, deer and owls.
5. Find out more about recording wildlife and submit sightings of other plants and animals at GiGL.

​​​​​Let us know what wildlife you see in London. Share your photos on social media with the hashtag #NationalParkCity

The Mayor is calling on Londoners to do simple things to make our city greener as part of his contribution to London being the world's first National Park City. Find out what else you can do.