Returning Keepers

We look forward to welcoming you back to our 2026 cohort of Citizen Keepers, to help restore one of Britain’s most iconic grasshoppers back to their historical range.

School kids

Project Summary

We started the project eight years ago, aiming to re-introduce the Large Marsh Grasshopper (Stethophyma grossum) into restored, suitable habitats in East Anglia. Fifty years ago, it became extinct in Norfolk due to drainage, changes in land use and habitat fragmentation. Its UK range has now contracted to a few scattered bogs and wet heaths in Dorset and Somerset, leaving it vulnerable to the possible impacts of climate change and reducing its prospects of survival. This project trains volunteers in husbandry methods for grasshoppers, enabling local people to hand rear them and release them back into the wild. Using this methodology, we have released over 7,500 individuals back into numerous sites in Norfolk.

What is a Citizen Keeper?

As part of this project, we’ve developed a captive breeding programme for the hoppers which are in their fifth year of rearing. The eggs have incubated over winter, and will soon be ready to hatch. Once this happens, hundreds of baby hoppers will be born. We’re looking for a dedicated team of Citizen Keepers, people who can rear and feed them in two phases of 3-4 weeks until they reach maturity and are ready to be released into the wild.

What’s new in 2026?

We will run our training day and equipment collection in person on Saturday 6th June. This year the training venue will be BCN Head Office, Cambourne in Cambridge. The exact timings are TBC.

As with last year, we expect both release days to go ahead in person and these are scheduled for Sunday 12th July and Sunday 16th August.

During the rearing phases, we will be in touch daily through a dedicated Facebook group and send further instructions on release logistics during phases one and two.

Project insurance & training fees

As in previous years, we ask that participants pay a £40 fee to enrol in the project, which covers the provisioning of kit insurance and minor training costs associated with the programme. For corporate teams, the project fee is £60 in total for each group.

To pay your fee, please visit the and follow the instructions.

Project schedule

Citizen Keepers need to be available on Saturday 6th June to pick up the rearing kit & the first batch of eggs from BCN Head Office, Cambourne in Cambridge.

Two batches of grasshoppers will be reared, one after the other, so Citizen Keepers will need to sustain their efforts over a 9-10 week period, with Phase 1 running from mid June to Sunday 12th July, and Phase 2 following on straight after, running to release on Sunday 16th August.

What’s involved?

  • Between 15-30mins/day feeding. This is mostly dependant on how close you live next to a reliable source of grass.

  • Both phases will last around 5 weeks, each phase will involve incubating and rearing a separate set of hoppers.

  • Keepers should ideally be based in or around Norfolk or Cambridgeshire, but we’ll consider people based elsewhere if it won’t present too high a burden for you to get to the collection/reintroduction sites later in the project.

  • Ability to drive or car pool to kit/egg collection site (Cambridge).

  • Citizen Keeper’s will need to join our Facebook group where we share updates, training resources and coordinate all Keepers.

Keepers must also have space at home/office for a rearing vivarium (approx. 0.5m x 0.5m) which we’ll provide, and be able to collect grass for the rapidly developing and very hungry hoppers on a daily basis during this time. Keepers will receive full training on hopper husbandry as well as the feeding protocol involved, and online support will be provided throughout the project duration.

Who can apply?

We’re looking for Citizen Keepers who can help us rear baby hoppers to full maturity over two 5 week phases.

  • Citizen Keepers must be at least 18 years old.

  • No previous experience is needed, although a passion and dedication to saving species from extinction is key!

  • All Citizen Keepers involved must declare that they do not currently keep, collect or work with insects/invertebrates or reptiles as pets at home or as part of a wider animal collection elsewhere (for reasons related to biosecurity).

  • All Citizen Keepers involved must also declare if they own cats or dogs. We have special guidance for pet owners related to managing flea collar and the risk they pose to grasshoppers.

  • Keepers should ideally be based in or around Norfolk or Cambridgeshire but we’ll consider people based elsewhere if it won’t present too high a burden for you to get to the collection/reintroduction sites later in the project.

  • Keeper should be willing to join our Citizen Keeper Facebook group where we share updates, training resources and coordinate all Keepers.

Who can’t apply?

  • Anyone under the age of 18.

  • Anyone who currently keeps, collects or works with insects/invertebrates or reptiles as pets at home or as part of a wider animal collection elsewhere such as at work.

  • Anyone who can’t commit to the full 10-week period of the project from the 10th of June to the 20th of August.

Next steps

Please fill in the participant agreement & contract by the 31st March so that we can start planning the training day and send you further information.

Participant Agreement >

Participant Contract >

Project enrolment fee >

HELLO@CITIZENZOO.ORG