Use Seek’s camera to identify plants and common animals, learn about the species around you, and earn badges through fun challenges and with no social media sharing, it’s safe for classroom use. One of our favourite features is that, with location access enabled, it provides a list of nearby species. A minor downside is that the information about each species is sourced from Wikipedia.

If you love exploring the UK’s woodlands, the British Tree ID app by the Woodland Trust is a must have. It makes identifying and naming a wide variety of UK trees easy, even for beginners. One of the features we love most is the ability to identify trees using multiple characteristics, so you can use it year round, whatever the season. The only downside is that it doesn’t include a photo-based identification feature, so you’ll need to rely on your observations rather than snapping a quick picture.

For plant novices this is a game changer. This AI-powered app can identify over 17,000 plant species with remarkable accuracy, up to 98%! The app is extremely user-friendly, making it perfect for children. However, while the app is free to download, many of the advanced features require a subscription, and these can pop up while using the app.

Turn your next walk into a wildlife survey with the Mammal Mapper app from the Mammal Society. This app lets you record sightings of mammals in your local area, helping contribute to important conservation data. Our favourite feature is its reliable ID guide, which gives clear information about each species. However, the images don’t always clearly label tracks and signs, which can make it less intuitive for children. Still, it’s a wonderful way to introduce citizen science.

Merlin Bird ID is a free and powerful bird identification app created by the Cornell Lab of Ornithology. It’s designed to help you identify birds through photos and real-time sound ID, making birding feel magical, akin to a real-world Pokémon Go for children. One of the standout features is its massive database, the world’s largest, so the app is extremely reliable. You can also download regional Bird Packs to use offline. The only thing to watch for is that sound identification can be confused by mimics or noisy environments, so results aren’t always perfect in busy areas or noisy playgrounds.

If butterflies and moths catch your eye, the Big Butterfly Count app is for you. Created by Butterfly Conservation, it supports the UK’s largest citizen science butterfly survey every July and August but is usable all year round. It’s very child-friendly, with a beautifully illustrated guide for easy identification. A small limitation is that it only includes key butterfly and moth species, so for broader biodiversity surveys, you might want to supplement it with something like iRecord Butterflies.

Dragon Finder, developed by the charity Froglife, helps you identify reptiles and amphibians at all stages of their life cycle. The app’s simple photo ID and questionnaires make it perfect for children. Our only minor critiques are the rather basic user interface and the absence of a full photo ID feature. Still, it’s a fun and educational way to introduce young people to these fascinating creatures.

Finally, Big River Watch from The Rivers Trust, is ideal for anyone interested in monitoring the health of rivers in the UK. This citizen science app guides you through river surveys, helping you identify wildlife and signs of pollution. We particularly love the photo guides, which make it easy for children to participate. The only downside is that the survey may overlook some ecological factors, but overall, it’s a fantastic tool for combining outdoor exploration with real-world science.

Now its time to get downloading! We hope these apps offer a wonderful way for you to learn, explore and contribute to Citizen Science.