The National Garden Scheme invites people across the UK to take part in The Big British Garden Survey amid declining species and flowering plants.

Within the State of Nature 2023 report, it was found that 1,500 species are at risk of being lost completely while 54% of flowering plants have decreased.

In response, the National Garden Scheme says, “garden of all sizes can be a real lifeline for plant and wildlife species.”

With an aim to build a national picture of where wildlife is thriving in gardens and where there may be opportunities to encourage more diversity, the survey asks the UK public for help.

Dr Richard Claxton, chief executive of the National Garden Scheme comments:

“With around 2.5 million acres of gardens across the UK, these green spaces provide vital stepping stones for nature and are becoming a lifeline for many plant and wildlife species.

“We know from previous studies that gardens are often rich in wildlife and biodiversity, but this project gives us an exciting opportunity to link wildlife records directly with information about gardens themselves.”  

Running from April until the end of September 2026, the survey asks everyone with a garden to record wildlife visiting their green spaces.

Find out more: ngs.org.uk/the-big-british-garden-survey.