Bugs Matter vs Smarter Soil

The number of insects has been falling at an alarming rate for many years. It's no exaggeration to say that unless something is done to halt the decline, our own future could be at risk. Patterns and trends in insect numbers are nuanced, however, and we still don't have that much information on the relative rate of decline over time, and there are too few studies looking at this problem. The Bugs Matter app is an application that enables you to get involved in this critical biodiversity monitoring. Splatted insects are an unfortunate by-product of our habitual use of vehicles, but also presents us with a prime way of monitoring them. With Bugs Matter you can contribute counts of insects and other ‘bugs’, along with the route of the journey you make in a vehicle. You can also provide details about the vehicle used (needed for data analysis) by entering the registration number. This will provide scientists with important new information that will contribute to conservation, evidence, planning, and education. Anyone with a phone and use of a vehicle can get involved with recording insect counts. It is very easy and quick to submit useful data without specialist knowledge. You do not need to be the driver of the vehicle in which you make a journey. Take action for insects and help us to study this important subject!

Use your Smarter Soil DIY test kit to measure nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), potassium (K) and pH from your own plot. Open the app, enter your results, and get instant guidance - matched to what's actually in the ground beneath you. Smarter Soil helps allotmenteers, home-growers, and gardeners make soil health simple, visual and actionable - helping to grow healthier plants and more resilient plots. 300+ PLANT SOIL PROFILES: Explore a database of commonly grown UK plants, each with its own optimal soil properties across the five pillars of soil health: pH, nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, and moisture. TRACK YOUR PROGRESS: See how you soil improves over time and how it affects plant growth and yield. FIX IT NATURALLY: • Get tailored amendment recommendations based on your results and what you want to grow • Suggestions use natural inputs -> compost, manure, wood ash, and more • Know not just what's missing, but how to fix it before you sow GROW SMARTER, NOT HARDER: • Companion planting tips to get more from every square metre • Soil education built in -> learn why nutrients matter, not just what to add • Build real knowledge about your plot over time PERFECT FOR: • Allotment holders getting serious about their yields • Home gardeners tired of trial and error • Beginners who want a reliable, science-backed starting point • Anyone who's ever wondered why their tomatoes underperform WHY IT MATTERS: Plants are precise. A brassica and a blueberry want completely different things from the same patch of earth. Smarter Soil helps you stop guessing and start matching your soil to what you want to grow, then tells you exactly how to get there. Dirt has a PR problem. We're fixing it. Join the growing movement - help shape the future of smarter, more sustainable home growing. Your feedback will help us build better tools for everyday growers.