Guidance on Naturewardening

Thank you for becoming a CityWildlife Naturewarden.

We want to make sure you have fun recording! Before going out to record city wildlife, please make sure you follow these simple guidelines:

1. In open countryside, take a map and keep to public Rights of Way and Open Access Land - being a naturewarden is NOT a licence to trespass – abide by the law at all times!
2. Make sure you wear appropriate clothing and footwear for your trip. The top of the Downs can be a lot colder and windier than urban Brighton - keep a fold up waterproof with you just in case. Don't forget you can naturewarden in your own back garden too!
3. Keep safe - take a friend! Don't go into areas where you feel vulnerable, particularly if they are isolated from view. If naturewardening alone, take a mobile phone with you and let someone know where you are going. Some inner urban areas can have broken bottles, rusty nails and other dangers - if in doubt, keep out, or make your records from a nearby vantage point.
4. Be sure to take a paper and pencil with you so you can write down everything you've seen, ready to enter it onto CityWildlife when you get to a computer. You'll need to record:
   

• The date
• Where you were when you made the observation e.g. an Ordnance Survey Grid Reference (find out how to read an OS Grid Reference).
• A note of the habitat type.
• For animals, whether the animal is just passing through (eg a bird flying over) or living there (e.g bird on nest).
• For animals, whether the animal was alive or dead (we are interested in fossil records, road casualties and possibly illegal deaths).
• How long was spent observing / looking for the species (we are adding up the time that naturewardens spend out naturewardening).
• ... and don't forget the name of the species!