This eNews will inform you about...
- Solway Nature Networks - our new project.
- NBN Atlas - CBDC datasets
- Reminder - send in your 2017 records.
- Can You Help? Volunteers needed for Bioblitz events.
Welcome
If like me you have used the darker, cooler winter months to catch up on your recording admin from last year...welcome to the 2018 Recording Year, which for me begins with snowdrops. CBDC is starting this year with some interesting projects. Moustafa is mapping Atlantic woodlands alongside lichen and bryophyte records for the new Plantlife LOST project and Stuart is planning a summer of recording days and training events. My focus for the coming months, as always, is looking for new ways to fund our support to recorders. Debs, CBDC Manager
Solway Nature Networks
CBDC is very pleased to announce it has just received £10,000 to develop recording on the Solway Coast south of Silloth. The project is funded by Eon through its Robin Rigg Community Fund (via Cumbria Community Foundation) and will be delivered in partnership with the Solway AONB. Stuart will be leading on this project and is in the process of sorting out the finer details of what will be happening and when. Watch this space.
NBN Atlas
After considerable discussion the CBDC steering group has decided to withdraw some of its data sets from the NBN for the time being. One reason for doing this is because there has been a considerable increase in the number of records downloaded from the Atlas compared to previous years. Many appear to be for commercial purposes although at the moment we cannot be sure. If they are, the downloader is contravening the data license conditions and getting data free of charge when they should be paying CBDC a fee. The fees are used to support the recording community of Cumbria.
Removing the data will help us establish whether or not the income we earn from consultant enquiries is being impacted by the NBN Atlas.
CBDC’s data will continue to be available to recorders, recording groups, national schemes, researchers and consultants. However, requests will need to be made to CBDC directly and this way we can monitor how it is being used. Depending on what we find out we may upload our datasets in the future.
The Tullie House Museum data and the Invasive and Non-Native Species data will continue to be shared with the NBN to ensure that anyone searching the NBN knows that CBDC exists and that it holds additional datasets.
If you have a comment about this or have concerns about the records you have sent to us
please contact Debs.
2017 Records
This is just a reminder that CBDC is happy to receive your records in any format. So paper, online recording schemes, excel spreadsheets. All are welcome. Thank you to all those that have already sent theirs in.
This picture and record as
sent in an email from Judy Palmer who spotted an Australian Flatworm (Australoplana sanguinea) on 27th January 2018 whilst at her allotment.
Can you help?
Sunday 8th July 2018 – Eycott Hill NR.
CBDC is helping CWT with a Family Day at Eycott Hill NR. If you are free and would like to help welcome and talk to the public in the marquee or help with a guided walk
please contact Stuart.Rusland Horizons has asked for CBDC’s help to organise a Bioblitz over this weekend. The site is Bowkerstead Farm which is a campsite so there is a guaranteed audience and good facilities for the Bioblitz hub, parking, loos and food (including their own sausages). The owners Dhanelle and Arthur are keen to find out more about the plants and animals that inhabit their woodland and fields, as they wish to ensure that their site is well managed and to educate their guests about the wildlife in the Rusland valley.
We would like to run an evening wildlife walk, set a moth trap, mammal traps, as well as the usual day time guided walks looking at the animals and plants around the site. If think you can help in any way
please contact Debs.
Just want to record?
We would also like to hear from any of our recorders who would just like to explore Bowkerstead Farm without having to be involved in the activities or would like to visit the site in the days running up to the public event. The more expert eyes the better!
Contact Debs to find out more. A Thank You from Simon
Simon Jackson sends a big thank you to the volunteers that helped with cataloguing the Spirit Collection and checking the condition of the stuffed birds in the Tullie House Natural History Collection. He will be organising a follow up event in the Spring.
