Recorders' Conference

Established in 2011, the Recorders Conference has become an annual event, welcoming speakers and recorders from Cumbria and beyond.

We aim for a range of speakers and posters on a wide variety of topics - focused on a particular species, group or habitat; results of recording and monitoring projects; and ideas, techniques and resources to help you get involved. The conference offers a chance to meet others interested in exploring nature, share discoveries and learn more about the species which make their home in Lakeland.

Recorders' Conference 2026

Coming in February 2026!

More information on date, venue and programme soon.

Recorders' Conference 2025 Presentations

Saturday 22nd February 2025, 10am-3pm, at Tullie House Museum and Art Gallery, Carlisle.

A summary of the conference is available HERE. If you would like a slightly more detailed overview, you can view it HERE.

Click the links below to see the slideshows from the conference.

Talks by:

Recorders' Conference 2024 Presentations

Click the links below to see the slideshows from the conference.

Talks by:

Recorders' Conference 2023 Presentations

Videos of the presentations can now be viewed at CBDC Recorders' Conference 2023. You will need a password to access the site which is available to all on request.  You can view the slideshows without the speaker's commentary via the links below.

Talks by:

Recorders' Conference 2022 - Presentations

Open Mosaic Habitats in brownfield sites - Stuart Colgate, CBDC

Updating County Wildlife sites - Deb Muscat, Stuart Colgate, CBDC

 Wildlife in Cumbria Highlights 2021

Designating LGS in Westmorland Dales area - Sylvia Woodhead, Cumbria GeoConservation

Recording the Past:  Black Dubb Sediments - Tom Garner,  Researcher

Improving Cumbria for Pollinators - Carolyn Postlethwaite and Ryan Clark, CWT

Fritillary Butterflies of Morecambe Bay - Chris Winnick, Butterfly Conservation

Image

Recorders' Conference 2020

Our keynote speaker was Steve Garland, Entomologist and Chair of The Wildlife Trusts England Committee who talked about 'Recording Recovery - Biological Recording for a Wilder Future." The main room contained displays and posters from a range of recorders and societies:

  • Cumbria Dragonfly Atlas Online
  • Cumbria Lichen and Bryology Group
  • Macro photography demonstration using a laptop and plug in camera
  • Cumbria GeoConservation
  • Get Cumbria Buzzing
  • Cumbria Amphibian and Reptile Group
  • Digitally colour coding red squirrel fur and the potential conservation applications
  • Searching for Chrysolina oricalcia
  • Found Species: Tufted Loostrife (Lysimachia thyrsiflora)
  • Second Hand Natural History books for sale
  • Cumbria Fungi Identification Guide for sale

Read more...

Recorders' Conference 2018

This year recorders watched the first camera footage of a Pine Marten in Cumbria and learned more about their hitch hiking behavior from Kevin O'Hara Project Officer Vincent Wildlife Trust.  Delegates also heard about:

  • Rural and wildlife crime
  • Moth recording without a trap
  • Slow-worm Project Update
  • Recording Geological Sites
  • LOST - Looking out for Small Things

Read more about the conference.

Recorders' Conference 2017

Recorders joined our Annual Conference to hear talks that included:

  • National Biodiversity Network Changes and the impact on the future of CBDC
  • Earthworms
  • Slow worms
  • House mouse project
  • Stories from the Wildlife Register CBDC Recording Day highlights

Recorders' Conference 2016

89 recorders joined our Annual conference to hear about:

Local recording updates included:

  • Cumbria Fungi Group – Paul Nichol
  • House mouse project
  • Swifts in the Community – Bryan Yorke
  • Bats in Trees – Rich Flight
  • Mapping Cumbria’s Dragonflies – David Clarke
  • Ecosystem Canaries – Peter Woodhead
  • Trail Cameras and Recording Technology – John Martin

Recorders' Conference 2015

Topics included:

  • Launch of the Cumbria Bird Atlas – Stephen Westerberg, Cumbria Bird Club
  • Movements of Wintering Gees and Swans on the Solway – Frank Mawby
  • Finding and Monitoring Dormice in Cumbria – Tony Marshall
  • Lost and Found Fungi Project – Brian Douglas, Royal Botanical Gardens, Kew
  • Alien vs Predator – the Harlequin ladybird in Britain, Richard Comont
  • Cumbria Geoconservation Group and the Local Geological Sites

Recorders' Conference 2014

Presentations included:

  • What would Darwin Tweet? – Richard Burkmar
  • Polecats and Pine Martins – Elizabeth Croose, Vincent Wildlife Trust
  • CBDC Habitat Connectivity Projects – Moustafa Eweda
  • Recording Cumbria’s bats – Rich Flight
  • Lichens of Cumbria – Allan Pentecost
  • What’s at Witherslack – Jim Thomas

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 CentreTuesday, April 1st, 2025 at 10:59pm
CBDC will be speaking at Bothel Community Wildlife Group next Tuesday, 8th April, ahead of the Bioblitz in May. Come along to find out more about recording, what makes a good record, how records are used to inform decision making across the county and what tools are available to help you on your recording journey! Naturalist Polly Pullar will be the main speaker of the evening....
Cumbria Biodiversity Data Centre
Cumbria Biodiversity Data CentreMonday, March 31st, 2025 at 9:47pm
Looking forward to speaking @Tullie Lunchtime Talk today!
Cumbria Biodiversity Data Centre
Cumbria Biodiversity Data CentreFriday, March 28th, 2025 at 10:55pm
First bluebell of the year!
Cumbria Biodiversity Data Centre
Cumbria Biodiversity Data CentreFriday, March 28th, 2025 at 4:39am
We'll be speaking about Cumbria Wild Watch at the next @Tullie Free Lunchtime Talk so come along to find out more! 1pm on 1st April

Book your free place: https://tullie.org.uk/events/cumbria-wild-watch-free-lunchtime-talk/
Cumbria Biodiversity Data Centre
Cumbria Biodiversity Data CentreTuesday, March 25th, 2025 at 10:02pm
The countdown to Cumbria Wild Watch 2025 begins today!

In three months time, the largest community science survey in Cumbria will take place. You can get involved by recording all the wildlife you see between 26-29 June 2025. So mark this weekend on your calendars and watch out for more information of how to take part over the coming weeks.
Cumbria Biodiversity Data Centre
Cumbria Biodiversity Data CentreTuesday, March 25th, 2025 at 12:31am
It is officially spring and we are now looking forward to our recording days (and bioblitzes) this year. The programme is on our website and you can book a place/express an interest in attending these events - all are welcome to come along and practice your wildlife recording skills.

https://www.cbdc.org.uk/get-involved/recording-days/

More events will be added as they are confirmed.