(a species of owlet moth (Noctuid)) Some caterpillars, after they emerge from their egg, can increase their weight by 25,000 times.

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Get involved

There are societies all over the country to foster your interest in natural history, whether you like hunting for fossils or identifying insects. And you can take things a step further by participating in a national survey like the Museum's Big Seaweed Search.

By taking part, you will be helping the experts to map the distribution of different species in the UK, so they can be conserved for future generations.

  • Grinning volunteers at the Natural History Museum
    Volunteer

    Find out about volunteering and how to search and apply online for volunteer opportunities at the Museum.

  • Park trees
    Urban tree survey

    Join in a nationwide survey of trees in our streets, parks and gardens.

  • Bladder wrack, Fucus vesiculosus
    Big Seaweed Search

    Take a walk along the coast and help us monitor the effects of climate change and invasive species on the UK's seaweeds.

  • Bluebell - Hyacinthoides non-scripta
    Exploring British wildlife: bluebells

    Are bluebells flowering earlier than they used to? Help us find out by taking part in the Museum's bluebell survey each spring. Discover what past surveys have revealed about the spread of non-native bluebells.

  • Red Admiral - from 'Illustrations of British Butterflies and their Larvae', by Theo Johnson, 1892.
    Nature societies online

    Whatever your interest in natural history, from fossils and rocks to butterflies and bees, find other enthusiasts in your area in the Museum's directory of nature societies.

  • A child examining a flower
    OPAL Open Air Laboratories Network

    The Open Air Laboratories Network (OPAL) has been created to inspire people to become more involved with the natural world around them.

  • Cowslips, Primula veris, growing in the Museum's Wildlife Garden
    Public surveys

    Whether you are interested in insects, birds, reptiles or amphibians, find out how you can help the UK's experts to map the biodiversity of the UK.

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