Over the first five years of the OPAL project, more than half a million people from towns and cities up and down the country explored their local green spaces.
Many participants were carrying out a nature survey for the very first time and provided important data about biodiversity, including information about some places never sampled before by scientists.
Sarah West
OPALcommunity and research scientist, University of York
Sarah works throughout the Yorkshire and Humber region, organising nature events, running OPAL surveys, and enthusing the public about their local environment. She balances this with conducting her own research into environmental education.
iSpot is an online nature community that connects beginners with experts and fellow enthusiasts. It was developed by the Open University with funding from OPAL.
iSpot is an online nature community that connects beginners with experts and fellow enthusiasts. It was developed by the Open University with funding from OPAL.