Join plant surveys across the city!

Join our ranger team in parks across the city and take part in our annual plant surveys. Together we’ll complete walkover and quadrat surveys in your local green spaces and try to identify as many plants as we can.

Plant surveys are a brilliant way to assess the health and biodiversity of our grasslands, and the other animals and insects that rely on plants such as pollinators. By understanding what lives in our parks, we can ensure that we continue to manage them correctly for people and nature in the future.

You don’t need any plant knowledge to join us. Just a willingness to learn and a keen eye!

Check out all our Spring and Summer survey dates below or take a look at our events page. No need to book – just meet us at the What3Words (W3W) location at the start time.

Plants not your thing? Why not come along to our Central Park butterfly surveys every Monday. More insect surveys in other areas will be advertised shortly.

Please note that surveys will not take place if there is heavy rain, or if a weather warning is in place.

Central Park

Butterfly Surveys

Every Monday 13:00-14:00 from 6th April – 21st September. W3W: ///forum.shunts.proper

Please note that Butterfly surveys cannot take place in rain or medium-high winds.

Spring Surveys

Zoo Field composting site – 27th April - 9:30 -10:30. W3W: ///forum.shunts.proper

Southern Slopes – 4th May - 9:30 -11:00. W3W: ///firms.puff.bless

Golf Course – 11th May - 9:30 -11:30. W3W: ///yours.shower.mason

Zoo Field Orchard – 18th May - 9:30 – 11:00. W3W: ///forum.shunts.proper

Family Tree Field – 21st May - 9:30 -11:30. W3W: ///plates.margin.think

Meadow Field – 9th June - 9:30 -11:30. W3W: ///corner.match.comet

Mawsons Meadow – 15th June - 9:30 -11:30. W3W: ///plates.margin.think

Summer Surveys

Zoo Field composting site – 3rd August - 9:30 -10:30. W3W: ///forum.shunts.proper

Southern Slopes – 10th August - 9:30 -11:00. W3W: ///firms.puff.bless

Golf Course – 17th August - 9:30 -11:30. W3W///yours.shower.mason

Zoo Field Orchard – 24th August - 9:30 -11:00. W3W: ///forum.shunts.proper

Family Tree Field – 31st August - 9:30 -11:30. W3W: ///plates.margin.think

Meadow Field – 7th September - 9:30-11:30. W3W: ///corner.match.comet

Mawsons Meadow – 14th September - 9:30 -11:30. W3W:///plates.margin.think

For any questions for Central Park surveys please contact Jess: Jess.Jordan@nationaltrust.org.uk

West of the City

Spring Surveys

North Down Crescent – 30th April - 10:00-12:00. W3W: ///fuels.fees.loud (near Royal Navy Avenue entrance)

Knowle Avenue – 7th May - 12:30-14:30. W3W: ///bank.shady.unrealistic (near North Down Crescent road)

Marley Park – 7th May - 14:30-16:00. W3W: ///bank.shady.unrealistic (near North Down Crescent road)

Knowle Avenue Allotments – 12th May - 14:00-16:00. W3W: ///Rainy.wisdom.lawn (at end of Knowle Avenue road)

Blockhouse Park – 18th May - 13:00-15:00. W3W: ///record.fans.year (South East entrance off Mount Pleasant Terrace)

Keyham Green Places – 25th May - 10:00-12:00. W3W: ///limit.water.lifted (near Renown Street)

Alexandra Park – 26th May - 12:30-14:30. W3W: ///bronze.intervals.assist (at corner of Royal Navy Avenue and Renown Street)

St Levan’s Park – 09th June - 9:00-11:00. W3W: ///tile.earth.courier (East entrance to park off St Levan’s Road, near Welsford Avenue)

Summer Surveys

North Down Crescent – 06th August - 10:00-12:00. W3W: ///fuels.fees.loud (near Royal Navy Avenue entrance)

Knowle Avenue – 13th August - 11:00-13:00. W3W: ///bank.shady.unrealistic (near North Down Crescent road)

Marley Park – 13th August - 13:30-15:00. W3W: ///bank.shady.unrealistic (near North Down Crescent road)

Knowle Avenue Allotments – 20th August - 9:30-11:30. W3W: ///Rainy.wisdom.lawn (at end of Knowle Avenue road)

Blockhouse Park – 27th August - 13:00-15:30. W3W: ///record.fans.year (South East entrance off Mount Pleasant Terrace)

Alexandra Park – 3rd September - 12:00-13:30. W3W: ///bronze.intervals.assist (at corner of Royal Navy Avenue and Renown Street)

Keyham Green Places – 7th September - 10:00-12:00. W3W: ///limit.water.lifted (near Renown Street)

St Levan’s Park – 15th September- 9:30-11:30. W3W: ///tile.earth.courier (east entrance to park off St Levan’s Road, near Welsford Avenue)

For any questions for West of City surveys please contact Sophie: sophie.headdon@nationaltrust.org.uk

Devonport

Spring Surveys

Devonport Park, Headway – 28th April - 10:00 - 12:00. W3W: ///super.rocket.cared

Devonport Park, Soapbox Theatre – 5th May - 13:00 -14:00. W3W: ///clues.bugs.issue

Mount Wise (2 sites) - 12th May - 10:00 -12:00. W3W: ///tonic.museum.prop

Ferry Field (2 sites) - 22nd May- 10:00 -12:00. W3W: ///retail.clever.share

Devonport Park, Cafe – 26th May - 10:00 -11:00. W3W: ///drift.porch.modest

Pottery Key – 2nd June - 10:00 -11:30. W3W: ///garden.poppy.shell

Summer Surveys

Devonport Park, Headway – 4th August - 10:00 – 12:00. W3W: ///super.rocket.cared

Devonport Park, Soapbox Theatre – 11th August - 10:00-11:00. W3W: ///clues.bugs.issue

Devonport Park, Cafe – 18th August - 10:00-11:00. W3W: ///drift.porch.modest

Ferry Field (2 sites) - 25th August - 10:00-12:00. W3W: ///retail.clever.share

Mount Wise (2 sites) - 1st September - 10:00-12:00. W3W: ///tonic.museum.prop

Pottery Key – 8th September - 10:00-11:30. W3W: ///garden.poppy.shell

For any questions for Devonport surveys please contact Laura: Laura.BellHodges@nationaltrust.org.uk