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 CentreFriday, January 2nd, 2026 at 12:01am
One month left to apply to the CBDC Small Grants Scheme.

If you have submitted records to CBDC, you will be eligible to apply for funding to support your ongoing recording activities. Individuals, groups and societies are welcome to apply. More information:

https://www.cbdc.org.uk/get-involved/small-grants-scheme/
Cumbria Biodiversity Data Centre
Cumbria Biodiversity Data CentreThursday, January 1st, 2026 at 1:00am
Challenge 365 starts today!

Aim - to record a wildlife observation every day of the year.

https://www.cbdc.org.uk/recording-wildlife/challenge-365/

These camels definitely don't count!
Cumbria Biodiversity Data Centre
Cumbria Biodiversity Data CentreMonday, December 29th, 2025 at 12:15am
We're very excited about working with more people across Cumbria in 2026 in our aim to get more people recording wildlife, connecting to nature and doing something positive for nature.

- Take part in Challenge 365 to record something each day of the year
- Join a Cumbria Ecoskills training session
- Do something during Cumbria Wild Watch in June 2026
- Take part in the Cumbria Festival of Nature (more on this very soon!)

Find out more from our website:
https://www.cbdc.org.uk/recording-wildlife/challenge-365/
https://www.cbdc.org.uk/get-involved/cumbria-ecoskills/
https://www.cbdc.org.uk/get-involved/cumbria-wild-watch/
Cumbria Biodiversity Data Centre
Cumbria Biodiversity Data CentreTuesday, December 23rd, 2025 at 11:44pm
A huge thank you to all our partners, collaborators, colleagues and particularly wildlife recorders and verifiers - we have enjoyed working with you in 2025 and would like to wish you a very Merry Christmas!
Cumbria Biodiversity Data Centre
Cumbria Biodiversity Data CentreSunday, December 21st, 2025 at 11:24pm
If you need some reading for the Christmas period, the CBDC newsletter is available to read from our website (where you can see all the back issues) or simply click the link below:
https://mailchi.mp/b163da6742af/cbdc-newsletter-december2025

Happy reading!
Cumbria Biodiversity Data Centre
Cumbria Biodiversity Data CentreMonday, December 15th, 2025 at 11:11pm
Join our first winter webinar this evening at 7pm:

Recording winter birds with Martin Harris, CBDC Recording Officer.

Mulled wine and mince pie optional but very welcome!

Sign up for free here: https://www.ticketsource.co.uk/cumbria-ecoskills/recording-winter-birds/e-qgerqp