Budding researchers have uncovered eye-popping statistics, showing that yellow meadow ants have silently created nearly half a million anthills in Richmond Park – many dating back more than a century.

The citizen science project is part of The Royal Parks’ Mission: Invertebrate project, which has received over £1M to date from players of People’s Postcode Lottery to shine a spotlight on these vital creatures.

The tunnelling action of the ants is vital for maintaining habitats and the ants also 'farm' greenfly by protecting them from predators in exchange for their honeydew, a sugar-rich liquid they secrete.

Dr Alice Laughton, project manager for The Royal Parks’ Mission: Invertebrate project, said: “Richmond Park is best known for its majestic deer roaming the vast landscape, but there is another, more secretive animal that shapes the landscape.

“Over the last four centuries, billions of yellow meadow ants have constructed hills that now support an abundance of insects, animals, plants and fungi, vastly improving the grassland.

“Our citizen scientists have revealed that the older the ground, the bigger the mound – with more bugs to be found. The results of this new study will help us prioritise conservation approaches and protect our parks for generations to come.”

Citizen scientists are non-professional ‘amateur’ scientists who help conduct research as volunteers.