Publicise your society at OPAL events

Promote your work and attract new members

OPAL events provide a fantastic opportunity to share your expertise and enthusiasm with interested members of the public, and to tell them about your group and the benefits of joining.

OPAL partners organise a wide range of wildlife identification and recording activities across England, and all members of wildlife groups are invited to take part and promote their work.

By encouraging people to join natural history societies we hope to inspire the next generation of wildlife enthusiasts, which is one of OPAL's key objectives.

A diverse range of activities to suit everyone
Our events include identification courses, open days, school field trips, drop-in survey days, GIS mapping projects and practical conservation tasks.  A wide range of animal and plant groups are studied at these events – our national surveys alone cover earthworms, lichens, sycamore trees and the tar spot fungus, aquatic invertebrates, amphibians, dragonflies, duckweeds, terrestrial invertebrates, mammals, hedges, trees and shrubs.

Our regional activities expand this even further, covering groups as diverse as moths, bryophytes, hedgehogs, frogs and bats, and habitats ranging from heathlands, woodlands and orchards to urban parks and gardens. There really is something for everyone and we welcome all natural history groups and recording schemes that would like to take part.

For more information on publicising your society at OPAL events and to be linked up with OPAL staff in your area, please email Lucy Carter: lucy [dot] carter [at] nhm [dot] ac [dot] uk.

Claim back your expenses

We are happy to reimburse all travel and subsistence costs for attending OPAL events. Simply download and complete the claim form. Be sure to read the instructions on the cover page carefully.

Nature Societies Online - are you listed?

OPAL encourages people to find their nearest wildlife group by searching Nature Societies Online. Please check that your group is listed correctly. If any details need updating or you would like us to add a new group, please email lucy [dot] carter [at] nhm [dot] ac [dot] uk.

Naturalists wanted!

Do you have a passion for plants or invertebrates? We're looking for enthusiastic people to help out with OPAL survey events in your area.

You don’t need to be an expert, just have a little knowledge and a willingness to share this with others. If you're interested in helping out for one or more days, email lucy [dot] carter [at] nhm [dot] ac [dot] uk.