The West of England Wildlife Index is pioneering an ambitious regional approach to data collection and analysis that will inform our nature recovery actions.

The index will enable us to monitor and improve wildlife abundance across the region and direct investment towards the most effective interventions for nature.

Nature is changing

You might have noticed that nature is changing. There is evidence that many species are declining across the UK, but we need to know how nature as a whole is changing in the West of England, so we can make the best decisions about how to help. Protecting and recovering nature is good for communities and businesses – it underpins greener, healthier, more resilient places for everyone to live and work.

The West of England Mayoral Combined Authority, alongside the West of England Nature Partnership, has a long-term vision to increase the abundance of wildlife in the region, using the Local Nature Recovery Strategy to identify areas where this is best done.

 

Our vision and plan

As part of creating a robust evidence base, the West of England Wildlife Index is establishing a yearly count of plants and animals at sites across the region.

Twenty new sites have been established to capture data representative of the range of habitats across the region, building an exciting picture of varied land management approaches from golf courses to churchyards and residential streets.

Monitoring a broad range of species groups at these sites will plug gaps in existing data and combine with ongoing wider monitoring. There are opportunities to be involved in citizen science surveying and detailed survey methodologies published for project use.

Get to know the sites

Map titled “Wildlife Index Sites” showing locations of surveyed habitats across the West of England region. Points are colour coded by habitat type: green for grassland, dark green for woodland, blue for coastal, cyan for freshwater, purple for urban, and yellow for arable. Key sites include Badocks Wood, Stoke Park, Tyntesfield Woods, Felton Common, Blagdon Lake, and Ladye Bay.

Partners

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.

We are grateful for the support and input of Bristol Avon Catchment Partnership, WSP and the thousands of emergent, committed and experienced residents across the region who enjoy and monitor species each year who have contributed towards historic baseline data for the West of England Wildlife Index.

Explore the Local Nature Recovery Strategy and Toolkit

The Local Nature Recovery Strategy and Toolkit (LNRS) is a collaborative effort to help people and organisations within the Mayoral Combined Authority and North Somerset take the most effective action for nature. Whether you're a concerned resident, a farmer, a conservationist, or a policymaker, you'll find valuable resources to support your efforts in restoring and protecting precious habitats and wildlife in your local area and beyond.

Access the LNRS