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The Big Count is BACK: people across Somerset encouraged to take part in popular wildlife surveying event

Somerset’s annual citizen science event, The Big Count, returns for 2025, and as many people as possible are being asked to join in and help protect their local wildlife by recording the species living right on their doorsteps.

Somerset Wildlife Trust recently announced the return of The Big Count, its flagship citizen science event. Every year, the Trust encourages as many people as possible from across Somerset to head outside and record local wildlife in gardens, local parks, and community green spaces. Over the past three years, nearly 2,500 species records have been successfully collected through The Big Count, providing vital information about 150 different UK species. After this initial success, the event will be returning this summer for its fourth year, and anyone in Somerset can sign up and take part between 16th – 25th June. 

Hosted in partnership between Somerset Wildlife Trust and the Somerset Environmental Records Centre (SERC), The Big Count aims to monitor changes in both the diversity and abundance of wildlife throughout Somerset. SERC is the main reference centre for biological and geological information for the county, and it holds over 3 million data records. However, there are still gaps in those records, particularly around some of the county’s more ‘common’ species such as snails, slow worms, and certain species of butterfly. The Big Count asks the public to help fill some of those gaps by sharing sightings of as many of those ‘common’ species as they can. This information will help track species declines, inform conservation strategies within the county, and contribute to Somerset’s State of Nature Report. 

Taking part in The Big Count 2025 is simple: 

  1. Download the free Information Pack and ID Guides from Somerset Wildlife Trust: www.somersetwildlife.org/big-count-2025
  2. Join in between the 16th and 25th June by observing and photographing local wildlife
  3. Upload observations to The Big Count 2025 project on iNaturalist 

No specialist knowledge is required to take part in the count, and observations can be submitted from anywhere within Somerset. The event is also suitable for all ages, and school groups and families with young children are encouraged to get involved too.

Goldfinch

Becky Fisher, Head of Engagement at Somerset Wildlife Trust, explains: “The Big Count is an amazing opportunity to get outside and learn more about your local wildlife. You can give a little or a lot of time to tell us what you’ve seen close to home. This year we’d like it to be bigger and better than ever before so as well as taking part yourself don’t forget to share with your friends, family, neighbours and colleagues. From sharing on your neighbourhood chat group, to sending a photo to your best friend of what you’ve spotted, or even adding it to the work noticeboard, there’s lots of ways you can inspire others to take part!” 

Ellen Phillpot, SERC Manager, adds: “The data collected through The Big Count 2025 is absolutely critical. As we begin to further investigate the state of Somerset’s nature, we need more data records to accurately assess species trends across the county. Work on our Somerset State of Nature report identified a lack of records for common terrestrial mammals; due to this we have added the red fox, rabbits and hares to this year’s count. Records collected here will help in identifying population sizes and help direct our conservation and survey efforts.” 

The Big Count 2025 will take place between 16th – 25th June, but sign ups are already open through the Somerset Wildlife Trust website: www.somersetwildlife.org/big-count-2025 

Editor's notes

Press Office: 

Emily Weatherburn | emily.weatherburn@somersetwildlife.org | 07840 840737  

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Somerset Wildlife Trust, 34 Wellington Rd, Taunton TA1 5AW Somersetwildlife.org 

About Somerset Wildlife Trust:  

Somerset Wildlife Trust is a nature conservation charity. Its purpose is to restore and protect the populations of species across the county and the habitats they call home. Climate change is one of the greatest threats to nature, natural habitats and the ecosystems that support our life on earth.  Our aims are to help address both the ecological and climate crises and put nature back into people’s lives.  

Nature reserves and protected sites on their own are not enough. In order to reverse the decline in species diversity and abundance, and create resilient landscapes and habitats for wildlife and for people that can adapt to climate change, we need to:   

  • Encourage and support landowners to manage their land positively for nature; create more space for nature.  
  • Connect wildlife-rich spaces across the wider landscape to create a robust Nature Recovery Network for Somerset.  
  • Create a movement of people – at least 1 in 4 – that take action for nature’s recovery across Somerset as part of Team Wilder.   

This is at the core of our new 10-year strategy. Nationally the Wildlife Trusts are calling for at least 30% of land to be managed positively for nature by 2030. What we do in Somerset must contribute to that national ambition. You can read our full 10-year strategy, Wilder Somerset here.  

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