Buglife - Curious Craneflies - Nature-Based Activities at Night

Participant Information Sheet

Project Title: Buglife – Nature-based activities at night – Curious Craneflies (T1)

Why is this research being done?

Research has shown that connecting with nature can be beneficial for people’s mental and physical well-being, and improve their quality of life. Activities that encourage us to actively notice and engage with the natural world—such as listening to birdsong or smelling flowers—are particularly effective at deepening this connection.



We invite you to take part in a unique citizen science event that explores the wonders of nature at night. Using an eco-friendly bug trap, we’ll attract crane flies, giving you the chance to observe these fascinating insects up close. This activity will not only deepen your awareness of nighttime creatures but also help us and Buglife (An organisation in Europe devoted to the conservation of all invertebrates) to understand how simple, nature-based activities at night may enhance well-being, and our connection to the natural world.



By participating, you’ll be part of an innovative study that seeks to expand what we know about the importance of nighttime nature experiences. No special knowledge or experience is required—just your curiosity and willingness to explore!



Who is doing this research?

This research is being conducted by Dr Chris Barnes and Professor David Sheffield at the University of Derby based in the School of Psychology.  You can visit our staff profiles by clicking here for Chris or here for David if you are interested in finding out more about our expertise and the work we do.  We are working in collaboration with Buglife on this project



Why have I been invited to participate?

We are looking for people who are 18 years or older and interested in nature or natural environments. It does not matter what level of interest or expertise you have—any level of interest or expertise is fine. It is ok to do this activity with other friends and family; we just ask that the same adult complete the surveys throughout.



What does taking part in the research involve?

This study involves the completion of a brief survey lasting up to 7 minutes.  The survey questions will ask you about things like - how you feel towards nature, and about your wellbeing. 



We will ask you to create a bug trap (using this guide - https://cdn.buglife.org.uk/2023/06/Buglife-Nurture-the-Night-Shift-Bug-Gazing.pdf), leave it outside for up to a couple of hours, and then count and record what you find – you can do this activity one or more times over the next seven days.  We would specifically like you to focus on craneflies though you might come across other insects attracted by the light on your bug trap.  No prior knowledge is needed, just an interest and curiosity to see what you can find.



During the activity, we would like you to take a small number of photographs of your favourite bugs.



After the activity, we will ask you to complete the same survey once again and upload up to three favourite photos from the week.  You’ll have an opportunity to say why you chose each photograph and what you like about it.  We will use these photographs at conferences or in publications, when it comes to telling others about our findings.



About a month later, we will ask you to complete the survey one final time so that we can see whether anything we measure has changed or remained the same.



What if I am interested in taking part in the research?

If you would like to take part then you can consent now and complete the survey straight away.



Contact information

Dr Christopher Barnes                                            

Email: [email protected]                               

Telephone: (01332) 592216 

Prof. David Sheffield 

Email: [email protected]

Telephone: (01332) 592038

What happens if I change my mind about taking part?

Taking part in this research is voluntary and you are free to withdraw from the study at any point. You also can withdraw your data up to two weeks following each time you complete the survey.  To withdraw your data, you will simply need to contact Dr Chris Barnes and provide your unique identification number. 



What happens if I decide not to take part?

It is your choice whether you take part in the research or not.  Taking part is voluntary.  There are no consequences of not taking part.



What will happen to the information that I give?

All information that you give will be stored securely using your ID code and kept on the researcher’s University OneDrive account for up to a minimum of four years. Only the researcher will have access to it. The overall results of this research study may be used in an academic publication, or conference presentation, or an anonymised dataset may be made available in an open research repository.



Where can I get more information about this research?

If you would like more information about this research, please contact Dr Chris Barnes.



How will my data be kept secure?

The information that you supply will be recorded and processed in line with the UK GDPR / Data Protection Act 2018 / EU GDPR.  

Thank you for taking a moment to read this information sheet



If you are happy to participate, please complete the consent form and the survey will follow immediately.