Ownership and Sharing

Ownership

For species data the original recorder always retains ownership/copyright of their own biological records and can ask anyone to remove them from their databases at any time. Usually the custodian is the person/organisation who first receives the record from the recorder.

Many local recording groups, conservation organisations and national schemes have their own datasets and wish to retain the ownership of their records and make them public. In these instances CBDC and the data owners enter into a Data Exchange Agreement that sets out how the information can be shared and used.

Please contact us if you have a further enquiry about record and data ownership.

Sharing Data and Privacy

CBDC is the custodian of much of the data it holds.  Anyone can contact CBDC for data.

Species records may be used by:

  • CBDC partner organisations
  • National and local recording schemes and societies
  • Naturalists interested in species distribution and occurrences.

The data will include the recorders name.  No contact details will be shared.  If there is an enquiry about your record CBDC will contact you if necessary.

Species records may be shared with:

  • Those in education including anyone carrying out an undergraduate projects
  • Researchers
  • CBDC Partners, ie local authorities
  • Ecologists and consultants as part of the planning and development process.

In this case data shared will not include the recorders name.  If the enquirer wants further information CBDC will contact you directly if necessary.

The following data is shared with the National Biodiversity Network Trust and is published on the NBN Atlas:

  • Cumbria Non Native Invasive Species
  • Tullie House Museum Natural History Collections
  • Wildwatch North Pennines AONB project records for Cumbria 2012-2015

This data is made public on the National Biodiversity Network (NBN) Atlas at the full geospatial resolution along with the name of the recorder.

If you wish your record(s) to be removed or anonymised please contact CBDC.

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