Cumbria in Bloom is calling on gardeners and non-gardeners to take five minutes out of their week to share the insects and animals they have seen, to help improve the biodiversity of the county.
The call follows a talk by Rebecca Slack of the Cumbria Biodiversity Data Centre at the horticultural charity’s annual general meeting in Threlkeld.
Cumbria Biodiversity Data Centre is based at Tullie House Museum and Art Gallery in Carlisle, which started collecting information about the area’s wildlife in the 19th century and established the Natural History Record Bureau in 1902 to recognise the work of the prolific naturalist Rev. Hug Alexander Macpherson.
Chair of Cumbria in Bloom, Ronnie Auld said: “If we don’t know what wildlife we have and where it is, we can’t conserve it. We risk causing more harm through poor decision making.”
Rebecca said: “We have a small team who work to collect, digitise and verify wildlife records, storing the records in a database that can then be used to help inform nature recovery, planning and development. The database is also used for education and research and much more.
“Our aim is to make Cumbria the most nature-connected county in England. We would like to get everyone in Cumbria recording the wildlife they see. It couldn’t be simpler. The only information we need for a wildlife record is what was seen, when it was seen, where and by whom.”
Records can be submitted through the Cumbria Biodiversity Data Centre website or through the iRecord app which is available as a free download. Each record will help to improve the understanding of biodiversity in Cumbria.
Ronnie added: “The better we understand our environment, the more positive difference we can make. This is why it is so important for as many people in the county to get involved – and why we are supporting the work of Cumbria Biodiversity Data Centre.”
More information and to record your wildlife signings, visit the Cumbria Biodiversity Data Centre website www.cdbc.org.uk .
