Projects

CBDC staff use their recording, IT, GIS mapping and analysis skills to support a wide range of projects linked to Cumbria’s Natural History.  Income from these projects helps CBDC support the 100’s of volunteer recorders in Cumbria that provide the records.

If you think CBDC can help you or your project please contact us.

Examples of CBDC project work:

Cumbria Local Nature Recovery Network (CLNRN) Habitat Mapping  Habitat datasets were collated and mapped in coordination with Westmorland and Furness Council, and in support of LNRS partners, for the development of the Cumbria habitat basemap and Local Nature Recovery Networks (LNRN). The mapping of the Cumbria LNRS Habitat Network was produced using Natural England’s Habitat Network model to identify zones where opportunities for nature recovery are strategically significant at the landscape scale.
Environmental Land Management Scheme (ELMS) test: "Forgotten Lands" The project aimed to explore approaches to encourage farmers to take part in mapping the natural capital of their farms. This involved mapping 21 farms in Cumbria, providing baseline information and creating online interactive maps for heling farmers collecting data, including identifying species (e.g. birds and other fauna), mapping habitats and associated flora on their farms.
Get Cumbria Buzzing - Pollinator Analysis and Mapping This project is a collaboration between CBDC and Cumbria Wildlife Trust (CWT). The purpose of this work is twofold, firstly to provide current habitat and species data that will help inform decisions on habitat intervention work and secondly to collate the project pollinator records. The collated records provide the basis for the development of a pollinator distribution atlas for Cumbria.
Cumbria Dragonfly Atlas This atlas was the first attempt for creating an online, updatable atlas for dragonfly in Cumbria. It was created in a collaboration with David Clarke, British Dragonfly Society County Recorder for Cumbria. The online map shows the distribution of dragonfly records represented by tetrad grids on top of ‘Google map’. The map provides a tool for searching for species recorded in Cumbria using common names. Species photos, number of records, information on location and records mapping period can be browsed by clicking on species pop-up markers.
Hidden Hedgerows Project Database The purpose of this work was to design and built a database to hold the hedgerow survey data from the Hidden Hedgerows Project run by Cumbria Wildlife Trust (CWT) with an aim to increase connectivity and reduce fragmentation of hedgerow habitat in the Rusland Horizons scheme area. The hedgerow data was also mapped and analysed and the findings used to contribute to the production of a hedgerow report for the project.
Mapping Atlantic Woodlands in Cumbria This project was commissioned by Plantlife with an aim to identify suitable Atlantic woodland habitats and map key lichen and bryophyte indicator species records and assess suitability of identified woodland based on presence or absence of species within the woodland areas. Environmental parameters were also mapped to assess how other external factors affect lichen and bryophyte distribution.

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, June 24th, 2026 at 8:01pm
go!

#CumbriaWildWatch 2026 has started! Log your wildlife sightings to help us better understand Cumbrian biodiversity - especially during the #heatwave.

Find out how to take part:
https://www.cbdc.org.uk/get-involved/cumbria-wild-watch/
Cumbria Biodiversity Data Centre
Cumbria Biodiversity Data CentreWednesday, June 24th, 2026 at 6:25am
get ready....

#CumbriaWildWatch starts at midnight and runs to 28 June. Help us to better understand the wildlife of Cumbria by recording animals, plants and fungi in your local green space.

You can record on iNaturalist, iRecord, download a spreadsheet or submit an observation form. Find out more by searching for Cumbria Wild Watch.

https://www.cbdc.org.uk/recording-wildlife/share-your-records/cbdc-online-records-form/
Cumbria Biodiversity Data Centre
Cumbria Biodiversity Data CentreTuesday, June 23rd, 2026 at 5:44am
on your marks.....

#CumbriaWildWatch starts on 25 June. Log your wildlife sightings using #iNaturalist or #iRecord as we try to better understand biodiversity in this glorious county!

We have created an iNat project and iRecord activity which should automatically pick up any records created on either app but you might also want to join the project/activity to see how the Wild Watch is progressing.

https://irecord.org.uk/join/cumbria-wild-watch-2026
https://www.inaturalist.org/projects/cumbria-wild-watch-2026
Cumbria Biodiversity Data Centre
Cumbria Biodiversity Data CentreWednesday, June 17th, 2026 at 5:24am
We love wildlife recording and want to share how simple but incredibly powerful recording is for nature recovery. We're working with @thelandtrust and the @greenangels programme to deliver a wildlife recording session in Whitehaven next week - perfect timing for #cumbriawildwatch. Come along to this free session to find out all you need to know to get recording!

https://greenangels.thelandtrust.org.uk/site/haig/
Cumbria Biodiversity Data Centre
Cumbria Biodiversity Data CentreTuesday, June 16th, 2026 at 5:23am
Cumbria Wild Watch is taking place at the end of this month, 25-28 June 2026. It is so easy to take part and do something great for nature.

Spread the word to friends, family, colleagues and students!

#CumbriaWildWatch
https://www.cbdc.org.uk/get-involved/cumbria-wild-watch/
Cumbria Biodiversity Data Centre
Cumbria Biodiversity Data CentreMonday, June 15th, 2026 at 3:00am
We published our latest newsletter last week, with recent news and upcoming events highlighted. Sign up to receive future newsletters direct to your inbox (one every two months) or visit our newsletter page to read online:
https://www.cbdc.org.uk/about-us/newsletters/

Can you spot the ID error in the newsletter? We'll provide a correction in the next newsletter.....