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Map climate change with The Woodland Trust

02 August 2007

Walkers and other outdoor enthusiasts are being asked to join Seasonwatch, a scheme set up by The Woodland Trust to map the onset of the seasons.

The Trust wants people to record events as they happen, for example, a sighting of the first leaf on the hawthorn tree or the first ripe blackberry to appear in the brambles.

The reason the Trust is asking people to take note of these events is so that they can map and monitor nature’s response to climate change. There are lots of things to look out for, from birds, flowers and trees to fungi and insects.

By mapping change, experts will be able to monitor variations more closely; the impact of climate change is still largely unknown. There are many changes that scientists have now identified, for example, the growing season for plants in central England is now a month longer than it was in 1900.

It’s easy to take part in Seasonwatch: just look out for seasonal changes whilst out walking or cycling, take a note of them, and then map them when you get home by entering information onto your personal online recording form.

There are already 2 million recorded seasonal changes dating back to the 1600s, so participants will be adding to the world’s longest ever written biological record.

Find out more about Seasonwatch (LINK)

 
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