You did fantastically well during the City Nature Challenge 2019. Ensuring the Liverpool City Region made second place in Europe & Asia, an outstanding achievement for our first year!

By popular demand we have entered for the 2020 competition which will be running from the 24th to the 27th of April (inclusive). More information can be found here: http://citynaturechallenge.org/

We are again looking for people and groups to help support the event in the LCR, be it leading a small walk, nature recording session or running a bio-blitz to help encourage people to take part. If you can help please let us know so we can advertise your event however big or small! (ben.deed@merseysidebiobank.org.uk).

Obviously even if you don't feel able to run something for other people please do get outside by yourself or with your friends and family and photograph the plants and animals that you discover.

Don't forget to follow the new 2020 project over at https://www.inaturalist.org/projects/city-nature-challenge-2020-liverpool-city-region

Despite two days of Storm Hannah, it being our first year and a fairly laid back approach... the results are in..

And you did yourselves and the Liverpool City Region proud! Here are some of the stats from the 4 days;

The LCR 3 key stats are;

Observations: 12,326
Species: 1,075
Observers: 121

In the UK (total 7) this put us 2nd (Observations), 3rd (Taxon) and 5th (Engagement) – we were actually 2nd on species but the organisers included genus in the final count which put London ahead (boo!). On engagement we were 10 short of Newcastle and Manchester.

In “Europe & Central Asia” (total 26) we were 2nd (Observations), 4th (Taxon) and 8th (Engagement)

In the World (final participant total 159) 24th (obs), 41st (taxon) and 65th (engagement)

Other interesting stats;

An incredible thank you to all 121 of you that took part during the 4 days, you really did us proud and have given a massive boost to the wider Greenspace Challenge, helping to raise awareness of our local wildlife as well as adding to the vital information required to monitor and protect it into the future!

Don't forget it's not over! Continue exploring and adding your observations. We'll be continuing to use them to promote biodiversity and the value of Parks and Greenspace as well as monitor wildlife and plan for a better future for wildlife.

The latest on the Greenspace Challenge can be found here: https://www.inaturalist.org/projects/2019-greenspace-challenge

The League to see how well each local authority is doing can be found here: https://www.inaturalist.org/projects/year-of-the-environment-district-activity-league

If you managed to get out and take photos of #wildlife in #Liverpool, #Sefton (that includes you #Southport!), #Knowsley, #Wirral, #Halton or #StHelens then you have until midnight on the 5th or May to get them uploaded to #iNaturalist for them to be counted in the #CityNatureChallenge

We've already seen an impressive variety of wildlife 900+ species found by 100+ people sending in 6,500+ observations!

We're currently 2nd in the UK some distance behind Bristol & Bath and a short way ahead of London and Manchester. It could all still change so keep your sightings coming in!

Don't forget it's not (just) about the competition! The sightings of wildlife you share will help to build a long term picture of #biodiversity across the region. Shaping everything from #conservation to City Region strategy.

We'll be picking back up with the #GreenspaceChallenge once the final results are out and we've all had a little time to recover!

Thanks again to everyone who helped to deliver an activity or promote the Challenge and to all of you that have taken part. #PeoplePower #iwill4nature #yoe2019lcr

We have begun the final day of the Challenge and what a day! Glorious sunshine and life everywhere. We have seen a great effort from people across the region despite the rain and storm. You have brought us within touching distance of 5,000 wildlife observations, a truly amazing number!

Don't give up just yet, help us across the finish line in style. If you're working why not snap a couple of shots during your lunch break or perhaps chill out in the garden or a local park this evening and see what's about.

Don't forget you can explore what other people are seeing using iNaturalist using the Explore button or by clicking on observations on the project page. If you need a hand then let us know!

As each timezone hits cities around the world the will begin their Challenge!

The league is now live with Hong Kong and Christchurch having started. You can follow the league live and see wildlife sightings as they are added to each city here: https://www.inaturalist.org/projects/city-nature-challenge-2019

On the outside chance that you didn't already know.. The Liverpool City Region will be competing on the global stage from (and including) the 26th to the 29th April. Cities around the world will be ranked on the number of observations, the number of species and the number of people who take part.

The City Nature Challenge countdown and live updates can be seen here: https://www.inaturalist.org/projects/city-nature-challenge-2019-liverpool-city-region

You can take part from anywhere within the Region and share any wildlife you like! There are also a series of events being run by supporters which you would be welcome to attend. Check out the calendar here: http://yoegreenspace.eventbrite.com

During the course of the event please keep in touch and let us know how you get on!
https://www.facebook.com/groups/ActiveNaturalists/
https://twitter.com/yoeGreenspace

CNCUK

yoe2019lcr

CityNatureChallenge