Pollinator Counts

Enhancing green spaces in London where all natural pollinators can thrive, and their habitats can be enjoyed by all.

Pollinator Counts

A City-Wide Monitoring Initiative

Each summer, Pollinating London Together coordinates a structured, city-wide pollinator monitoring day across key green spaces in the City of London.

Our Annual Pollinator Count brings together volunteers, businesses, schools and members of the public to contribute to a growing body of scientific data on urban pollinator populations.

This is not just an event.

It is part of our long-term monitoring programme.

Why the Annual Pollinator Count Matters

Pollinators are essential to biodiversity and food systems, yet many wild species are under pressure.

Understanding how pollinators use urban landscapes requires consistent, repeatable data.

The Annual Pollinator Count:

Contributes to the UK Pollinator Monitoring Scheme (PoMS)
Strengthens PLT’s multi-year urban dataset
Engages the public in science-led conservation
Builds awareness of urban biodiversity challenges

Every survey helps build a clearer picture of pollinator health in London.

What We Observe

Across sites, participants record:

Bumblebees
Solitary bees
Hoverflies
Butterflies
Honeybees
Beetles and other flower visitors

Patterns observed across multiple years help inform our understanding of:

Species diversity
Relative abundance
Habitat performance
Floral resource use

Long-term repetition is key.
A single day provides insight.
Multiple years provide trends.

How the Count Works

The Annual Pollinator Count uses the nationally recognised FIT Count methodology under the UK Pollinator Monitoring Scheme.

Participants:

Download the FIT Count app
Observe a single flowering plant for 10 minutes
Record flower-visiting insects
Submit results under the PLT project

The method is simple — but scientifically robust.

Beyond a Single Day

The Annual Pollinator Count feeds into:

PLT’s multi-year Monitoring & Research programme
Urban habitat improvement planning
Corporate engagement initiatives
Public biodiversity education

It also strengthens collaboration between civic institutions, businesses and community groups.

Thank You to Our Supporters

Our Annual Pollinator Counts are made possible through the support of:

Sponsors
Corporate partners
Volunteers
Ecologists
Civic institutions

Urban biodiversity is a shared responsibility.

Looking Ahead

The Annual Pollinator Count will continue as a core part of PLT’s monitoring strategy.

Each year strengthens our dataset.
Each participant strengthens our impact.

Get Involved

If you would like to join us for our Annual Pollinator Count please register your interest using the form below.