Nature Overheard: Tune in to Your Streets

Nature Overheard: Tune in to Your Streets  

The Natural History Museum has launched its Nature Overheard Project.  Using innovative bioacoustics technology, this is the UK’s first mass study on the impact of road noise pollution on insects.  Play your part in the Museum's ground-breaking study into insect health in UK. All you need is the survey booklet, a few spare minutes and a mobile phone.   

In a 10x2m area of greenspace, parallel to any road: 

1. Record audio for 5 minutes – capturing both wildlife sounds and human-generated noise 

1. Walk through your area and record/take pictures of any insects you see 
2. Submit your results online 

Each recording contributes to real scientific research that will directly inform how we make our roads better for nature.  I’ve recently gone from rejoicing at how quiet my tree-lined residential street is to being hyper-aware of the near-total absence of birdsong, so I will be taking part in this study. 

 Find out more at: https://www.nhm.ac.uk/take-part/monitor-and-encourage-nature/nature-overheard.html  

Make this SEPERATE blog:

Resources & Reading   

How Carbon Affects Nearly Everything on Earth – Including Our Future 

This is an entertaining animation about how humans have thrown the carbon cycle out of adjustment, with increasingly severe consequences for climate, oceans, and ecosystems.  

 The Green Potential of Gardens, Parks, and Balconies  

Our gardens and green spaces could be an important part of the solution to the climate and biodiversity crisis, but between 2008 and 2018, hard surfaces in London increased by 26% (which also has ramifications for surface water flooding).  In a column for the Guardian, Kate Bradbury explores how, by transforming our gardens and liminal spaces into more natural environments, we can create green corridors, connecting ecosystems and give our urban wildlife a fighting chance. 

Mapping Urban Tree Access and Wellbeing 

Speaking of green spaces, an interesting study from the US has just made it across the pond: Trees are essential to public health and wellbeing, yet not everyone has good access to trees and their benefits where they live. Tree Equity Score UK, looks at urban tree disparities – and you may not be surprised to hear there’s a clear correlation between deprivation levels and tree cover.    

There’s lots of South Ken ZEN+ activity going on behind the scenes, so watch this space for lots of updates in the Autumn.