Data Request Form Guidance

Section 1. Organisational details

If appropriate: Seek authorisation. If the enquiry is on behalf of another organisation with whom we have a Service Level Agreement (SLA), please seek the appropriate authorisation (your organisation will know the person to contact) and include a copy of the email/letter with your enquiry.

Section 2. Site details

Include the OS grid reference. Put the Ordnance Survey grid reference for the centre of the site on the form. Grab a Grid Reference or other online resources can be used to obtain the grid reference for your location.
If you have supplied the incorrect grid reference and we carry out the search using it you will be charged.

Optional: Include a map/layer of your site. A map showing the boundary of the site clearly marked will help us double check the grid reference you have given. A GIS layer (shapefile, Mapinfo or Google Earth file) if available, is very useful particularly for large or complex areas.

Section 3. Data required

Clearly indicate which search reports you require by ticking the boxes.
State the required search radius (buffer size) around the site for the search. Buffers are important both to highlight nearby species that may also be present on the site and also because the grid reference of the species record may be imprecise.  A 2km buffer will be assumed if this is left blank.

Section 4. Data use

This is to help us analyse how CBDC information is being used.

Section 5. – Confirmation of quote required or work to go ahead

Refer to our charging policy information. Most searches are covered by our standard charge, but large, linear or complex searches may incur an extra levy.

If you require a quote before we undertake the work then please tick the appropriate part of the form.

If you have requested a quote or the charge differs from our standard charges, we will email you a quote and wait for you to give the go ahead before proceeding.

Optional: Request a rapid response to prioritise your request. This is usually a same-day turn around but please contact us to check if this is important to you. Otherwise, work is carried out on a first-come first-served basis. A levy of 20% is applied for prioritised requests. Please ensure you check the box on the form if this is what you require.

Section 6. – Terms and conditions

Please read and tick when understood.
Completed forms and any queries should be forwarded to our Data Manager.

What Next?

Search reports are emailed to you within ten days of CBDC receiving the confirmation to go ahead with the work.  If you report does not reach you then please contact our Data Manager to check when you results were sent.

Cumbria Biodiversity Data Centre

The Cumbria Biodiversity Data Centre at Tullie House Museum, Carlisle keeps wildlife information for the county of Cumbria. Tullie House Museum, in its role as a local natural history museum, has collected and disseminated records of wildlife in Cumbria since its inception in 1893. From the early 1990s the Museum has developed a computerised database of species and habitat records in Cumbria and has taken the central role in providing a local biodiversity data service for the county. This role was restyled as Cumbria Biodiversity Data Centre (CBDC) in 2010, a not-for-profit organisation hosted by Tullie House Museum and advised by local stakeholders.
Cumbria Biodiversity Data Centre
Cumbria Biodiversity Data CentreWednesday, May 20th, 2026 at 11:15pm
Tickets are still available for our two penultimate #Cumbria #Ecoskills sessions:
- Introduction to Bees, Friday 22nd May at Orton
- Introduction to Moths, Saturday 23rd May at Houghton, Carlisle.

So for a last chance to improve your identification skills this summer, come and join us!

https://www.ticketsource.com/cumbria-ecoskills
Cumbria Biodiversity Data Centre
Cumbria Biodiversity Data CentreSunday, May 17th, 2026 at 10:28pm
Want to find out more about bees and how to identify them? Join us on Friday for a short course called 'Introduction to #Bees'.

This free session takes place 10am-1pm in Orton.

Book now: https://www.ticketsource.com/cumbria-ecoskills/introduction-to-bees/e-zeeoxr
Cumbria Biodiversity Data Centre
Cumbria Biodiversity Data CentreFriday, May 15th, 2026 at 10:23pm
Love small mammals but not sure how to tell a vole from a shrew or a mouse?

Join our short course 'Introduction to Small #Mammals' tomorrow.

Free session, 10am-3pm. Last few places remaining!

https://www.ticketsource.com/cumbria-ecoskills/introduction-to-small-mammals/e-qmmdve
Cumbria Biodiversity Data Centre
Cumbria Biodiversity Data CentreWednesday, May 13th, 2026 at 10:28pm
Love butterflies but want to find out more about them, including how to identify them?

Last chance to join the Introduction to #Butterflies short course tomorrow!

Free course, 10am-1pm

Book here: https://www.ticketsource.com/cumbria-ecoskills/introduction-to-butterflies/e-qmmdbe
Cumbria Biodiversity Data Centre
Cumbria Biodiversity Data CentreThursday, May 7th, 2026 at 3:08am
There are around 2,500 moths in the UK - from large and colourful hawkmoths to small LBJs*, Find out more at the 'Intro to Moths' course at Gosling Sike on 23rd May - last few places remaining.

All welcome.

https://www.ticketsource.com/cumbria-ecoskills/introduction-to-moths/e-aggego

#mothidentification #wildlifecourses

*Little brown ones
Cumbria Biodiversity Data Centre
Cumbria Biodiversity Data CentreWednesday, May 6th, 2026 at 5:04am
Love bees? Find out more and improve your identification skills at this free session at Orton Market Hall on 22nd May. All welcome!

https://www.ticketsource.com/cumbria-ecoskills/introduction-to-bees/e-zeeoxr

#bees #beeidentification #wildlifecourses