Citizen Scientists
There are all kinds of opportunities run by charities and organisations across the country who are engaging in citizen science, as well as very locally based projects. Everyone can participate in citizen science – you do not need to have science experience! – and people participating in their local area helps create a picture of what is going on across the UK, as well as deepening your connection to your local environment.
Withyham Parish Council Projects
We have set up a Thermal Imaging Camera Project, which loans a thermal imaging camera along with instructions and resources to local residents. The borrowers will use the camera to find out about heat loss within their homes, and then can makes changes to reduce loss – both saving money, and reducing carbon emissions! We are compiling the results of the surveys, to build a picture about the nature of the buildings within the parish, and what we can do and signpost to help residents heat their homes effectively.
Local Projects
Wild Groombridge are recording what is growing and living in the area using iNaturalist, check out what they’ve found so far on the Groombridge iNaturalist page and get involved!
Project Ripple Effect is a citizen science project monitoring the health of the Upper River Medway in Groombridge and the Ashdown Forest, and welcome applications from interested volunteers.
District and County Council
Protecting Trees (Tree Preservation Orders)
Wealden District Council are responsible for planning in the local area, and through them you can apply to register trees to be protected, with a Tree Preservation Order. Find out more about this process on the Suggest A Tree Preservation Order page on the Wealden District Council website.
Volunteer Streets – Weed Maintenance Scheme
East Sussex County Council with East Sussex Highways are running a Volunteer Streets – Weed Maintenance Scheme where residents can opt-in to taking care of weeding their streets, to avoid them being sprayed with chemicals, including glyphosate by the East Sussex Highways team. At least 60% of the residents on the road need to be in agreement with volunteers taking care of the roads, and all the forms and information can be found on the East Sussex Highways website.
Withyham Parish Council have written to East Sussex County Council regarding their weed spraying programme, highlighting our concerns about the use of pesticides such as glyphosate and its negative impact on plant life, wildlife, insects as well as the health all residents, particularly children and pets. You can view the letter from Withyham Parish Council to East Sussex County Council about their continued use of Glyphosate as well as the response letter to Withyham Parish Council from East Sussex County Council.
When agreeing to share information about East Sussex County Council’s Volunteer Weed Maintenance Scheme, Withyham Parish Council’s Climate and Ecology Advisory Group noted that: “It did not seem right that ESCC would be getting residents to do the job, when this does not result in financial savings for the Parish. ESCC should still be looking at safer alternatives, not just relying on residents and cost cutting.” (from the Minutes of the 4th Septemeber 2025 CEAG meeting).
National Projects
Lots of national projects need help from citizen scientists in local areas to help build a picture of what is happening across the UK.
The Buzz Club is running experiments to help us understand the wildlife we share our gardens with, and what we can do to conserve it.
CPRE The Countryside Charity runs a Star Count each year.
Butterfly Conservation runs a Big Butterfly Count each year.
The RPSB runs a Big Garden Birdwatch each year.
The Big River Watch run by The Rivers Trust runs in September each year.
The Woodland Trust are undertaking an Ancient Tree Inventory, you can find out how to be part of the project on the Ancient Tree Inventory section of their website.
