Mistletoe (Viscum album) is thought to be spreading in the Britain and Ireland, but where will the mistletoe go?
With a changing climate, an evolving treescape and shifts in distributions of seed-dispersing birds, the future of this Christmassy parasitic-plant is unclear.
To predict mistletoe distribution, a team of researchers from the University of Oxford and the Tree Council, is collecting data on local mistletoe abundance, and they need your help!
After a successful season of 1,250 records last year, they would like more data on where mistletoe is today – in order to forecast where it is going to be. This is where you come in, as a citizen scientist!
Using the “MistleGO!” survey via the Survey123 app, you can record how much mistletoe you see, on your winter walks. It is also helpful to know if there is no mistletoe in your area, as you can submit valuable ‘absence’ records.
For more information, please visit the Tree Council’s website.