Volunteering & Events: Get Involved

Volunteering

Volunteers are vital to the work of CBDC, both in the role of volunteer recorders and helping us in the office. We are not currently taking on volunteers at the moment but this will change in the future.  Please keep a check on this page and click the link below to find out more.

Volunteering For CBDC

Training

 CBDC run training events and courses.

Please contact us for more information.

Events

We organise a small number of events each year that give our volunteers the chance to meet each other, gain new skills and practise recording.

Annual Recorders Conference

This annual event attended by over 50 recorders provides an opportunity to find out about national and local recording activities.

Training Days

Cumbria has a long tradition of highly skilled recorders across a wide range of plants and animals. CBDC provides training on Biological Recording and works with local experts to run plant and animal Identification skills.

Bioblitz

Each year CBDC works with local conservation organisations to run a Bioblitz. The purpose is to record as many different species in a short period of time. These events are open the public and those interested in wildlife whether an experienced recorder or just beginning.

Recording Days

A small programme, usually 4 days, over the summer months to visit and record wildlife sites that have not been visited for a while. These days are for experienced recorders and members of the local natural history groups and recording schemes.

Tullie House Museum Events

Please Note: All Tullie House Museum events are advertised on their website

Your Green Place – 28th January – 17th April 2023

Come and explore Your Green PLACE, an insightful family-friendly exhibition in our Community Gallery that looks at how an innovative community project inspired a whole network across Cumbria to connect with nature, engage with the environment, and improve their own wellbeing while doing so.

The gallery features a collection of photos, videos and artwork from artists and several community groups.

It also showcases the learnings gained from the various activities and workshops that helped participants build an understanding of their local environment, its heritage and the legacy they’d like to leave.

This project is funded by the Governments Green Recovery Challenge Fund. The fund was developed by Defra and its arms length bodies.

It is being delivered by The National Lottery Heritage Fund in partnership with Natural England, the Environment Agency and Forestry Commission. The project was led by Cumbria Development Education Centre (CDEC) and delivered in partnership with Playful Nature and the North Pennines AONB Partnership.

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, 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
Cumbria Biodiversity Data Centre
Cumbria Biodiversity Data CentreSunday, May 3rd, 2026 at 4:55am
How do you tell a mouse from a shrew or a vole? Find out on the Cumbria Ecoskills short course looking at small mammals. Join us at Selsmergh Village Hall on Sunday 17th May for this free session.

All welcome!

https://www.ticketsource.com/cumbria-ecoskills/introduction-to-small-mammals/e-qmmdve

#smallmammals #wildlifecourses #mammalID
Cumbria Biodiversity Data Centre
Cumbria Biodiversity Data CentreThursday, April 30th, 2026 at 4:59am
With the sun shining, there are plenty of butterflies on the wing! You might start to spot caterpillars soon too. Want a bit of help with your butterfly/caterpillar identification? We have a course for you! Join us on 15th May for a FREE half day session at Bothel Village Hall.

All welcome!

https://www.ticketsource.com/cumbria-ecoskills/introduction-to-butterflies/e-qmmdbe

#butterflies #identificationtraining #wildlifecourses