BirdTrek Adventure: How Artificial Intelligence Can Help Us Record Wildlife - Monday

  • Dates: 27 October 2025, 09:00 - 14:00
  • Cost: Free
  • Venue: Writtle campus
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An aerial view of the ARU Writtle campus

Join us for family-friendly orienteering activity, that's designed to promote environmental awareness and outdoor education.

Activity overview

Families will navigate a designated course at ARU in Writtle, finding out more about the birds on campus and the diseases known to impact their populations.

As you go, you'll solve ecological puzzles and complete challenges to find hidden clues, while learning about local ecosystems and sustainability. And if you successfully complete all the challenges, you may win a prize...

Your day starts with a quick briefing session. We'll introduce you to two apps (Merlin and iRecord – available on iPhone and Android), which will help you identify animal and plant species using the latest AI technology.

Once you identify a species, you can submit information through the app to specialist regional verifiers and national datasets.

It's citizen science at your fingertips!

About the course

The course is accessible and follows a public footpath through our campus in Writtle. There are opportunities to go off the path to discover more. Please bring wellies and dress accordingly.

Safety notes: the course may have areas of uneven and slippery ground. If leaving the path, there maybe fallen branches, vegetation at eye height and foot-catching undergrowth at low level. There is a reservoir in an enclosed field which is gated and signposted. Our course is designed to avoid the need for a close approach. A responsible adult should assess their group’s needs and abilities before attempting the course.

This event is presented as part of Chelmsford Science Festival.

Dates and times

We're running our Bird Trek Adventure on two dates, with timed entry slots.

When you book, choose the time you'd like to start – you can then take as long as you like to complete the activity.

  • Monday 27 October, slots available between 9am-2pm
  • Tuesday 28 October, slots available between 9am-2pm
  • Dates: 27 October 2025, 09:00 - 14:00
  • Cost: Free
  • Venue: Writtle campus
Book via Eventbrite