THE West of England Regional Wildlife Index is now moving into its first year of surveying.

The index is pioneering an ambitious regional approach to data collection and analysis that will inform nature recovery actions in the region.

The project’s vision is a new long term monitoring programme covering 20 sites, designed to build a clearer picture of how nature is changing over time.

Three sites in Somer Valley will all need surveying as part of the project. They include and include a residential road area in Radstock, a farmed field in Midsomer Norton, and Haydon Batch where a rare fungus was discovered last Autumn, the first of its kind on mainland Britain.

A spokesperson for the project said: “As the project gets underway, we’re hoping to work with people locally who know and care about their local area to help build a strong, long term dataset for the site.

“Alongside ecologist-led surveys each site will have citizen science led surveys following the National Monitoring Scheme methodologies.

“You can get to know the sites, find out which species are being surveyed at your local site.”

Citizen science data forms much of the evidence to understand where species are declining, recovering or thriving. Local knowledge is central to building that evidence base to influence change.

Monitoring starts imminently and volunteers can register their interest and find out more via https://www.westofengland-ca.gov.uk/what-we-do/environment/nature-recovery/wildlife-index/.

The West of England Wildlife Index is a partnership project, bringing together the West of England Mayoral Combined Authority, West of England Nature Partnership, Bristol Regional Environmental Records Centre, the University of Bristol, Avon Wildlife Trust, Natural History Consortium, South Gloucestershire Council, North Somerset Council, Bath & North East Somerset Council and Bristol City Council.