Now don’t get me wrong. I don’t advocate turning every walk into a job. Far from it, but chances are just about all readers of walk will have a heightened appreciation of the wildlife that surrounds us on every walk we take. With this in mind you might be interested to know that this appreciation could be put to very good use.

From a rambler’s point of view a garden or park birdwatch may prove a bit stationery – but if birds are your main interest then the British Trust for Ornithology will be more than happy to receive your recent sightings as you wander. A visit to the BTO’s website will show you just how many surveys and other reporting methods allow you contribute to their work.

Although you may like birds you may feel your interest lies more with the flora and fauna of the countryside. If this is the case then you won’t be at a loss to find a home for your observations. With climate change having an impact on wildlife you might find it interesting to submit your findings (relating to the first ‘this’ or the last ‘that’ of the year) into a system that compares these to other observations to graphically chart the trends. The Royal Meteorological Society began recording such information many years ago and in 2000 the Centre for Ecology & Hydrology and the Woodland Trust joined forces with them to promote the observing of such events. With that the UK Phenology Network took off. It now boasts something like 50,000 people recording these seasonal changes in our climate via its very useful and informative website.

I could go on and on as there are organisations and websites set up to record the observations on a wide range of subjects – from the weather to fish, butterflies to red squirrels. These observations also encompass the coastal areas as well, with the likes of the Marine Conservation Society holding Beachwatch every year for the last 16 years. So no matter where you are or what your interest is, you can add a new element to your walks.

But don’t go away thinking it’s only you giving something – helping with such surveys gives something directly back to you by helping hone your identification skills. You may also learn more about the wildlife and the environment you are visiting, and if you are not interested in becoming involved in submitting to large organisations you can always keep records for your own interest. You will soon see trends and by adding a few pictures, taken on a mobile phone or small camera, you can always use these as something of a log of your walks.

As I said at the outset, nobody wants to turn walking into a chore – but if you want to add an extra element to your time in the countryside, and want to contribute something to the work of conservation groups, then you might want to visit a few of the websites shown below.

RSPB
British Trust for Ornithology
UK Phenology Network
Royal Meteorological Society
Centre for Ecology & Hydrology
Woodland Trust
Red Squirrel
Marine Conservation Society