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The Great Big Nature Survey: frequently asked questions

Thanks for taking a look at the Great Big Nature Survey!

You can find some frequently asked questions below.

If you can't see your question, please send it to us at enquiry@wildlifetrusts.org.

Why take the Great Big Nature Survey?

Are you concerned about the loss of nature and wildlife? Do you think society should be taking action protect nature before it’s too late?     

If your answer to both of these questions in “yes” then you’re one of many. Survey after survey reveals that most people in the UK are concerned about the loss of nature and wildlife. Most of us agree that nature needs to be protected, but we often disagree about how important the loss of nature is compared to other issues facing society. And we have many different views about how and why we should go about looking after nature in the first place. 

If we want the same outcomes for nature but have different views about how to achieve those outcomes, then it’s important that we try to understand our own views more completely. It’s surely even more important that we try to understand the views of others. GBNS is all about understanding and exploring our views on some of the biggest issues facing nature. The questions aren’t always easy, but we hope they are thought provoking and useful. 

What's in the survey?

The survey covers lots of ground. We try to strike a balance between detail and length throughout. In a nutshell, the survey asks the following: 

  1. What kinds of actions are you taking for nature? 

  1. What role does nature play in your wellbeing? 

  1. How and why do you think we should look after nature? 

  1. What do you think the biggest threats to nature are in the UK? 

How long will it take to complete the survey?

From extensive testing, we know that most people can complete the survey in 15 minutes or less. Some people take more time than this, particularly where they consider the questions in detail, and provide feedback in the open text fields.

Are there any correct answers?

Not at all. The survey is an opportunity to express your views on key issues, however strongly or loosely held, and whatever they may be.

I can’t provide clear answers to some questions, my answer depends on knowing more about what is being asked. For a question(s), I can think of instances where I agree and others where I disagree. This isn’t covered by the options. What should I do?

This largely results from the limitations of a survey as a tool to explore complex issues in a short amount of time. You can choose the midpoint answer (Neutral) if you come across this kind of issue. Others may have unambiguous views about the same question and will Strongly Agree or Strongly Disagree. In this way, the survey is effective at revealing the difference between people who have mixed or nuanced views versus those who hold strong positions. 

Isn't this survey too simple to be useful?

We think of GBNS as just the beginning of a conversation. As a survey it will always be a bit reductive, but it can still give us a better sense of the breadth of attitudes and actions across the UK. You can opt-in for future surveys with the Wildlife Trusts, which will include deeper dives into some of the issues touched on here, and rapid polling of emerging issues for nature in the UK.

I feel that my answers don’t properly capture my opinions on some key issues, can I elaborate?

You are very welcome to elaborate on any of the issues raised in the survey. We have provided a feedback question at the end of the survey that allows you to do just this.

Where do some of the threats to nature categories you use in the survey come from?

The categories we use are a mixture of the International Union for Conservation of Nature’s categories and threats outlined in the State of Nature Report. There are many more sub-categories of threat that we can’t include because they would make the survey prohibitively long.