Charity asks for help recording endangered wildlife in gardens, parks and on local riverbanks
Volunteers across the UK are being asked to search their gardens, local green spaces or riverbanks this spring in a bid to help endangered wildlife, as part of a leading wildlife charity’s annual spring surveys.
Starting in March, wildlife conservation charity People’s Trust for Endangered Species (PTES) is calling for nature enthusiasts, families and individuals to take part in their annual surveys, which record wild mammals in gardens or other urban green spaces, rare water voles on riverbanks, in streams or canals, and iconic stag beetles at the start of summer.
David Wembridge, Mammal Surveys Coordinator at People’s Trust for Endangered Species said: “We often overlook the wildlife around us, but recording it and taking part in surveys like Living with Mammals, is a big part of conservation efforts. Slowing down and looking for wildlife on our doorsteps is good for people, too, for our mental health and well-being, and spring is the perfect time of year to appreciate and connect with nature, and help support and protect it.”
Living with Mammals (March onwards)
This survey couldn’t be easier – simply record online any wild mammals spotted in your garden, local park, or other shared green spaces such as allotments, churchyards and commons. This might be a sighting of a hedgehog, fox or grey squirrel, or of signs they’ve left behind such as footprints or droppings. The survey is open to everyone, and the survey website has lots of advice on how to identify the different mammals you might spot.
Last year, 736 sites were surveyed across the UK. The top five most seen mammals were hedgehogs, grey squirrels, foxes, mice and bats, but excitingly five weasels, a stoat, two polecats and 12 red squirrels (rare in England and Wales, but a few hotspots remain) were also recorded. Last year’s data also showed that rabbit sightings continue to decline, echoing the decline seen in the countryside.
National Water Vole Monitoring Programme (15th April – 15th June 2025)
Water voles have experienced one of the most serious declines of any native wild mammal thanks to habitat loss, fragmentation, and predation from non-native American mink.
Thankfully, anyone in England, Scotland and Wales can help these endearing mammals by visiting a nearby stream, river, ditch or canal between 15th April – 15th June in search for water voles (or their signs such as burrows in the riverbank, tic-tac sized droppings, or footprints) and record their findings online. This survey also requires no previous experience, and PTES offers free ID guides and online training to get started. The data produced is a vital contribution to the ongoing knowledge of this species and allows conservationists at PTES, and other organisations, to implement targeted conservation efforts to prevent further decline.
Last year, 113 sites were surveyed across England, Scotland and Wales, with water voles found at 47 of them. The counties where most water voles were detected were Essex (six), West Sussex (five) and Bedfordshire (four). Excitingly, volunteers in Essex and Lincolnshire are beginning to record increased water vole activity as ongoing American mink control efforts take effect. A good geographical range of sites were surveyed last year too, including more sites surveyed in Greater London than ever before. But, even if a site showed no signs of water voles, this is still incredibly valuable to PTES.
The Great Stag Hunt (May onwards)
This annual survey has been running for over 20 years and requires volunteers to record sightings of spectacular stag beetles – the UK’s largest terrestrial beetle – which are an iconic sight of early summer.
Males are instantly recognisable with their antler-like jaws and are often seen flying around gardens and urban parks on warm sunny evenings from late May onwards in search of females. Stag beetles are also often spotted basking on sunlit walls and warm tarmac surfaces, and their larvae (large white grubs) are found underground, among the roots of old tree stumps.
Volunteers are asked to record any stag beetles they spot online, so that PTES can continue to build a nationwide picture of how these amazing beetles are faring despite coming under increased pressure from habitat loss, urban development and other human activity. A free beetle ID guide is available online to help volunteers tell the difference between stag beetles and other insects, too.
Last year, over 15,000 records of stag beetles were submitted by the public, with over 1,000 sightings in Greater London alone.
Dr. Silviu Petrovan, Conservation Research and Strategy Manager at People’s Trust for Endangered Species said: “Data collected with the help of citizen scientists provides critical information on the distribution, abundance and conservation status of many much-loved wildlife species. More importantly, it also supports direct conservation practices by ensuring we target the right actions in the place that most needs it.”
To take part in any of these surveys or to find out more about PTES, visit ptes.org/surveys
For high-res images, and night-time trail camera footage**, interview and/or filming requests, or for more information, contact Adela Cragg:
T: 07532 685 614
E: adelacraggPR@outlook.com
**NB: Hedgehogs are a nocturnal species and therefore are not usually seen out during the day, unless they are moving nest sites or are unwell. BHPS and PTES therefore do not condone the filming of hedgehogs during daylight hours, or indeed hold such footage and/or still images for media use. We ask that only night-time or dusk footage and/or stills of hedgehogs are used by media outlets, and we have numerous stills and clips of hedgehogs in gardens (walking through Hedgehog Highways, eating, drinking and scratching, to name a few!) which we can supply for such use.
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For high-res images and footage, or to arrange interviews, contact Adela Cragg:
T: 07532 685 614
E: adelacraggPR@outlook.com
Notes to editors
Available for interview
- David Wembridge, Mammal Surveys Coordinator, People’s Trust for Endangered Species
- Emily Luck, Water Vole Officer, People’s Trust for Endangered Species
About People’s Trust for Endangered Species (PTES)
PTES, a UK conservation charity created in 1977, is ensuring a future for endangered species throughout the world. We protect some of our most threatened wildlife species and habitats, and provide practical conservation support through research, grant-aid, educational programmes, wildlife surveys, publications and public events.
PTES’ current priority species and habitats include hazel dormice, hedgehogs, water voles, noble chafers, stag beetles, traditional orchards, native woodlands, wood pasture and parkland and hedgerows.
Visit www.ptes.org and PTES on Facebook, Bluesky, Instagram, YouTube and LinkedIn.
Image credit Craig Jones Photography.