This morning I did one of the monthly Oxford Earth Academy "training" walks for Duke of Edinburgh students enrolled in the Oxfordshire Doorstep Nature Project. Students enrol as volunteers and use the Seek and iNaturalist apps to add wildlife observations to our iNaturalist project. They are asked to focus on their school catchment, and particularly in urban areas.

This data is contributing to the Oxford Nature Park, a citizen science project engaging local people to map the lacework of green and blue spaces across our city, regardless of who they belong to - a butterfly eye view - because nature doesn't care and needs every tiny space.

The purpose of the Doorstep project is to engage the eyes of young people who are the citizens most often out and about, to enthuse them about the natural world, give them a sense of purpose in contributing observations and agency in doing something to address the loss of biodiversity, and to give them a sense of interest and pride in their local spaces.

The monthly walks are so that we can meet the students, check they know what to do, and introduce them to the nature rich spaces in and around Oxford. The students are accompanied by family members, which is a wonderful opportunity to meet interesting people who are supporting their kids to enjoy nature, and often enthusiastic younger siblings.

This month we were at Wytham Woods, checking out a moth trap I set last evening. We ID'd the moths, admired their gorgeous patterns and cute furry faces, and then explored more the Woods on a perfect spring day.