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, April 22nd, 2026 at 6:55am
#CityNatureChallenge takes place this weekend. While we don't have many cities in Cumbria, hamlets, villages and towns can all take part! What better way to celebrate #EarthDay2026...

Find out how to take part: https://www.citynaturechallenge.org/
Cumbria Biodiversity Data Centre
Cumbria Biodiversity Data CentreWednesday, April 22nd, 2026 at 6:42am
Cumbria Biodiversity Data Centre
Cumbria Biodiversity Data CentreMonday, April 20th, 2026 at 3:07am
If you love trees and want to find out more about tree nurseries, join us at Tebay this Friday for a tree growing session with Growing Well! Free session - all welcome but booking is required:
https://www.ticketsource.com/cumbria-ecoskills/from-seeds-to-trees/e-zkxkza
Cumbria Biodiversity Data Centre
Cumbria Biodiversity Data CentreThursday, April 9th, 2026 at 1:32am
What's this bird?

Okay - this is an easy one. Even with a poor photo.

But if you don't know a mallard from a moorhen or are unsure how to tell a siskin from a greenfinch, we have a short morning course for you! Come along to the Introduction to Birds session on Saturday morning for a free introduction to bird identification and find out how you can improve your birding skills.

https://www.ticketsource.com/cumbria-ecoskills/introduction-to-birds/e-gppyjb
Cumbria Biodiversity Data Centre
Cumbria Biodiversity Data CentreTuesday, April 7th, 2026 at 6:06am
Join the 'Introduction to Birds' session this Saturday for a free course on getting started with bird identification and recording. All welcome!

https://www.ticketsource.com/cumbria-ecoskills/introduction-to-birds/e-gppyjb
Cumbria Biodiversity Data Centre
Cumbria Biodiversity Data CentreTuesday, March 17th, 2026 at 4:53am
We have a great training session this Friday focusing on Priority Habitats - what they are and what you need to know to survey and potentially manage them. The weather is forecast to be good so why not join us to explore a range of different habitat types?

More information and to book: https://www.ticketsource.co.uk/cumbria-ecoskills/identifying-priority-habitats/e-dyymjm