The easiest way to do a count is on your mobile phone. Download the app here: https://ukpoms.org.uk/fit-count-app. But you can also download a form (when you have done a few counts you probably won’t need a fresh form every time to remind you which details to record, just a notebook.)

You could make one with stiff cardboard, wire, or 50cm lengths of cane etc, or with a 2-metre loop of string, knots tied every 50cm. Or with folded gaffer tape:

Or if you don’t have a ruler with you, you can measure with your foot or phone:

• If you know your shoe size, then you can easily convert it into a measure and pace out your quadrat. At size 10.5, I know that my quadrat is 2.5 x 2.5 shoes.
• Or, if you are going to be recording on your phone, how many phone lengths equals 50cm.
• If you are measuring a quadrat vertically, say if you have a vertical face of a hawthorn hedge, then you might need some other method.

We are not looking for outright precision here – just make sure your quadrat is about right within the nearest few cm.

(Above 13 degrees if clear, above 15 degrees if sky half or more cloudy – but don’t get hung up on the exact figures.)

The stars refer to approximate areas, rather than specific points, for example, anywhere along the Longstanton Road verge where ragwort or other flowers are growing would be acceptable. As well as these ‘stations’, we want records from any place of your choice, especially gardens.

For each station or location, we’d love at least one count each week. More information on the recording stations

These are the fourteen target flower types:

If you’re not familiar with any of these there are pictures in this guide.

If one of these isn’t available, then just choose an area with another species that is attractive to pollinators (it doesn’t matter if there are other sorts of flowers among them.) (List of suggestions here.)

You will also be asked what type of habitat you are in – eg garden, woodland, school grounds. For orchard pick “grassy verge or hedgerow edge”.

When you start a new count on the app, it will ask you how much of the 50cmx50cm patch is covered by the flowers, and to count the flowers (not any dead ones). Depending on the flower structure you count in different ways:

You can just estimate (by counting a small area and multiplying) if there are a lot!

You will also be asked to upload photos – take two, one of the flower itself close-up, and another of your whole quadrat.

(Or were there to start with.) Only on the flowers of the type you are counting – not on the leaves etc. And if it’s the same insect visiting several flowers, only count it once (just do your best if it’s hard to keep track!). Ignore things which don’t land, or which aren’t insects (eg spiders, snails) – also ignore caterpillars.

You record insects in groups: bumblebees / honeybees / solitary bees / wasps / hoverflies / other flies / butterflies and moths / beetles / small insects (of any type) less than 3mm / other insects. If you’re not sure put it as “Other insect”.

Some of these are easy to tell apart but others are trickier. Have a look at this useful identification guide or press the insect icon at the bottom centre of the app for tips.

If using the app, it will count the time for you (buzzing at two minutes) and you can tap the insect groups to do the counting.

Even if you don’t see anything, this is still a useful count – it gives valuable data. (Those who return such counts are known as Zero Heroes!)

(Select the Oakington & Westwick Nature Recovery Project from the list.) If not using the app, upload your results to the FIT Count recording page, or drop them through the coordinator’s letterbox – email for details.