The Square Survey (Quadrat)
Ecologists use square frames called 'quadrats' to count plants and slow-moving creatures in a small area. It helps us guess how many there are in the whole habitat!
The Square Survey
Place a square frame on the ground and count all the tiny plants and bugs living inside it.
📓 The Square Survey Template
The Square Survey Template
Date
Location
Place your 1-metre square frame on the ground and record what is inside it!
Quadrat Map (Draw a quick map of the square)
1m x 1m
Species Tally (Count what you see)Environment
Sunlight:
Soil moisture:
Notes - record your observations, what was interesting, unusual, or questions you have
Example Observations (UK)
Example square survey observations
This list is to give you an idea of what to look out for. But nature is full of surprises! It is very important to pay close attention to what you find in the real world and make your own observations, even if you see something that is not on this list or that you weren't expecting to find.
- Daisy: Small white petals with a yellow centre.
- White Clover: Three-part leaves with round white flower heads.
- Moss: Green, spongy carpet growing in damp or shady spots.
- Bare Soil / Mud: Patches where no plants are growing.
- Ants: Tiny insects scurrying across the ground.
- Earthworm: Slithering just under the soil surface.