Expedition Singelpark
Scientific research with locals and schools on the biodiversity of the Singelpark in Leiden.
Due to the varied character of the different park areas (old cemeteries, traditional parks, the Hortus botanicus, recently constructed playgrounds and dog parks, etcetera) it is expected that the biodiversity is high, but for a large part this is still unknown. For example, the invertebrates (that together form more than half of the biodiversity) are largely unknown. In this project we want to change that by focusing mostly on invertebrates, but also mosses and lichens.
When?
The first inventory was on March 25, 2023 in the park area adjacent to the Vreewijk. On September 10, 2023 we were in the Rembrandtpark and on September 29, 2023 in the Hortus botanicus. In 2024 we were in the historic cemetery Groenesteeg on April 16, on September 28 in the Energiepark and Huigpark and on September 29 in the Ankerpark. On those days, local residents learned about the hidden biodiversity of the parks under the guidance of experts.
As soon as the dates and locations of expeditions in other parts of the Singelpark for 2025 are known, they will be listed on this web page.
How does it work?
From March 2023 onwards we repeatedly go “on expedition” in parts of the Singelpark. We will set up a field laboratory with tubes, petri dishes, nets, and microscopes with which the collected specimens can be observed and processed. With the help of experts, the participants learn how and where they can find and identify animals, mosses, and lichens, so that after the expedition they have the knowledge and skills to keep on monitoring nature in the Singelpark by themselves.
How to participate?
Everyone who is interested, of all ages, can participate, although the number of participants is sometimes limited. If and how you can participate will be mentioned with every activity that is being announced. Do you want to help organize an expedition in your neighbourhood? Please contact us!
And after?
In the period after the inventory, the discoveries are elaborated by experts in a partial report that is shared and discussed with the participants. It could be that we can find thousands of species in the entire Singel Park. It could easily take time for each partial report to be completed. In the meantime, the results can be followed via waarneming.nl and Stadsnatuurmeetnet. After all inventories have been completed, a final report will be written with the results of the entire Singelpark.
In this project, the Taxon Foundation collaborates with: Municipality of Leiden, Friends of the Singelpark Foundation, Friends of the Leiden Hortus Foundation, Hortus botanicus Leiden, Grachtwacht, Onder Water in Leiden, Naturalis, and Leiden University.