Bioblitz: Big Butterfly Count

Join us for a bioblitz event in celebration of summer and a buzzing garden. Take part in citizen science by helping to record the wildlife at OmVed Gardens with Ecologist Kiran Lee.

A bioblitz is a wildlife recording event and a chance for anyone and everyone to contribute to the study of Europe’s trees, plants and wildlife. These records can be used by researchers and scientists to get a better understanding of our wildlife across Europe.

You don’t have to be an expert to take part as we will be using the iNaturalist app to help us. Simply download the free iNaturalist app on your phone (ideally before coming), and we will take a guided tour of the garden taking photos of as much wildlife as possible, whether that’s a tree, plant, animal or insect, and then upload it to the app. You don’t even have to know anything about the species you are sharing. iNaturalist is a handy identification tool that can identify groups of organisms, which is especially useful when you are on your own. Experts will be reviewing and updating the information that’s submitted, so you can log back in later and learn more about what you’ve spotted.

Whether you are an expert, a seasoned #BioBlitz participant or getting involved for the first time, it couldn’t be easier to join in during this session.

If possible, please bring a smartphone with mobile data and the iNaturalist App downloaded.

About the host:

Kiran Lee is OmVed Gardens ecologist. A naturalist with a passion for understanding nature, he has previously volunteered at the Natural History Museum, London Zoo and London Wildlife Trust. Kiran is currently a PhD student with the Seychelles Warbler Project using genomics (entire DNA sequences of individuals) to understand the ecology and evolution of island-endemic Seychelles warblers, which had nearly gone extinct in the 1960s. Key influences are his mother, a keen gardener and grandmother, both botanist and biology teacher. He also aims to improve diversity and accessibility in science and in natural spaces. His research can be found on GitHub.

About OmVed Gardens:

OmVed Gardens is a garden, exhibition, events, and learning space in North London dedicated to exploring the connections between food, ecology and creativity for health and climate resilience. We are on a mission to inspire ecological awareness and action, and deepen our understanding of interconnectedness with the natural world.

As a registered Community Interest Company, all our activities prioritise social and ecological objectives. Whether collaborating with chefs, creatives, gardeners, or schools, OmVed Gardens is a hub for education, connection, and action. We aim to inspire individuals and communities to reimagine their role in building a healthier, more resilient world.

We work to increase biodiversity - of species, seeds, food systems, and participation, through regenerative gardening, seed saving, habitat creation, and ecological education. Our space serves as a living example of how urban areas can be transformed into thriving ecosystems that support both human and non-human communities.

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