UK Nature and Environment

‘Creepy crawlies’ are quietly helping keep gardens healthy, balanced and thriving by providing important benefits for gardeners and wildlife such as healthy soils and pest control but are under-appreciated and under-recorded say scientists from the UK Centre for Ecology & Hydrology (UKCEH).

As the RHS Chelsea Flower Show gets under way, UKCEH is asking the public to take an interest in unsung heroes of nature such as spiders, earwigs, woodlice and grasshoppers, by submitting their sightings to support vital scientific research.

Appearing at the show for the first time, scientists will be talking to visitors at UKCEH’s exhibit about their range of easy-to-use citizen science apps such as iRecord to report sightings of flora and fauna in gardens and nearby open spaces. These records provide important data and information to scientists about species trends at local and national levels, which will guide action to restore and create habitats.