CBDC Recording Days
Each year CBDC organises a small programme of recording days on county wildlife sites, SSSIs that have not been recently recorded or private land that has never been recorded. Recording days allow recorders to share their particular expertise with others and visit sites that they would otherwise not have access to.
If you want to get involved or have a site you believe would be suitable for a recording day please contact our Recording Officer.
2026 - Recording Days
CBDC is contributing to events organised by other groups or societies through 2026. If you would like CBDC to be involved in your event, please do get in touch with us.
Saturday 20 June 2026: Beck House Farm, Grayrigg, nr Kendal
Joint recording day with Cumbrian Invertebrate Group
Join us for a recording day at Beck House Farm with Cumbrian Invertebrate Group. The farm is being managed using nature positive methods and features a variety of habitats but is particularly notable for its species-rich hay meadows which offer a variety of interesting botanical and invertebrate recording possibilities.
As this is a joint event with CIG then there is a focus on invertebrates but recorders with specialisms in other groups are of course very welcome!
Please complete the expression of interest form if you are interested in coming along.
Other recording events will be added here as they are confirmed. For other events with a wider remit (beyond recording!), please see our 'Bioblitz and other events' page.
More information will be sent out in the CBDC newsletters so please do sign up for the newsletter - see top or bottom of the page.
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2025 - Recording Days
This year, we are taking part in quite a few events - all are recording days that everyone with an interest in recording are very welcome to attend. Details are below so please do come along!
All are free to attend (unless otherwise specified) and we welcome recorders of all abilities and specialisms.
Thursday 09 October 2025: Watchtree Nature Reserve Recording Day
The last CBDC recording event of the year - and much later than most events we have run. Come along to help us celebrate our 15th anniversary. Watchtree was the site of the first ever CBDC Recording Day so it is fitting that we are returning for an early celebration of CBDC and recording in Cumbria more widely. We're hoping to be joined by students from the University of Cumbria's Wildlife Media course who will be filming the event and talking to recorders to create a mini-documentary about wildlife recording. Come and explore this fantastic site, which benefits from a café and toilets as well as parking. Perhaps hire a bike to explore the site! Please contact recordingofficer@cbdc.org.uk to confirm attendance.
Previous events:
- 10-11 May, Wild Weekend Bioblitz at Torpenhow. Organised by Park House Farm and Bothel Community Wildlife Group. This is set to be the wildlife event of the year!
- 25 May, Cold Springs CWT Nature Reserve, Penrith. This is the grand opening of the reserve.
- 22 June, Lawson Park, Grizedale Park: a recording day exploring the gardens, meadows and ponds at this renowned garden.
- 27 June, Elizabeth's Wood in Keswick: this site is only a few years old, on a site in the centre of Keswick. While only a small area, it has young trees, grassland areas (some managed) and wetter areas (beck and pools).
- 28 June, Whitehaven Coast wit h the National Trust: recording the coastal meadows with the help of recorders and visitors alike.
- 29 June, Throstle Park, Wigton: the park was developed in 2020 to benefit the people of Wigton and visitors, in collaboration with Wigton Town Council who owns the park. The recording day will establish a baseline for the park and inform future managemnt of the site by Wigton for Wildlife.
More information will be sent out in the CBDC newsletters so please do sign up for the newsletter - see top or bottom of the page.
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2024 - Recording Days
Saturday 29 June 2024 - Bassenthwaite Lake
Thursday 11 July 2024 - Rose Castle, near Dalston
Tuesday 23 July 2024 - Drigg NWS
Every year, CBDC organises an number of recording days across the county to allow recorders to come together to record a site. This year, we are organising the following recording days:
On 29 June, CBDC will join the Lake District National Park Authority (LDNPA) at Bassenthwaite Lake. LDNPA will run a community engagement event alongside the CBDC recording day. If you are interested in taking part, please complete the booking form to express your interest. If you have any questions about the day, contact Rebecca Slack.
On 11 July, CBDC will re-visit Rose Castle near Dalston. Open to all, from beginners to the most experienced recorders, our aim is to develop a new species list to compare to that obtained when we last visited the site in 2018: what has changed and has biodiversity increased or decreased? If you are interested in taking part, please register your interest using the booking form. If you have any questions about the day, contact Stuart Colgate.
The event on 23 July will take place at the Nuclear Waste Services Drigg facility. As this is a very secure site, numbers are strictly limited and will be offered to experienced recorders in the first instance. All recorders will be required to complete a security questionnaire and provide ID before the event. Nevertheless, this is a real opportunity to visit a site which is usually closed to the public.
2023 - Recording Days in August
Saturday 19 August 2023 - Walney Island, Barrow-in-Furness
Wednesday 23 August 2023 - Cannerhaugh Farm, Eden Valley
All Cumbrian Recorders are invited to take part in either or both CBDC Recording Days.
On 19 August, CBDC will join Natural England at Walney Island nature reserve. Natural England will run a community engagement event alongside the CBDC recording day. If you are interested in taking part, contact CBDC Manager, Rebecca Slack, to find out more.
The event on 23 August takes place on a working farm which uses regenerative farming practices. It is in the foothills of the North Pennines and includes woodland, pasture, ponds and many more habitat types. Please do join us by booking a place with the CBDC Recording Officer, Stuart Colgate.
2023 - Recording Day at National Trust Acorn Bank
14 June 2023
Nr Temple Sowerby, Penrith, Cumbria
All Cumbrian Recorders are invited to take part in the CBDC Recording Day at the National Trust’s Acorn Bank on Wednesday 14 June 2023 from 10am. A mix of habitat types, from wet woodland (County Wildlife Site) and traditional orchards to grassland pasture, hay meadows and bog as well as gardens, this site offers lots of opportunities to record wildlife.
Please do join us by booking a place with the CBDC Recording Officer, Stuart Colgate.
2021 - Fungi Forays
Cumbria Fungi Recording Group's Leader Paul Nicol has moved and so CBDC has stepped in to run the group for the time being.
Wednesday, 20th October, 10:00am
Great Wood, Borrowdale.
Meet in the car park NY272214 (This is a National Trust car park with a payment machine!)
Wednesday, 27th October, 10:00am
Hutton-in-the-Forest, Unthank, Penrith, CA11 9TH.
Meet in the car park at NY461359, accessed via public entrance at NY46093611, off the B5305 road (from junction 41 of M6). Leader of foray Jane Rushworth. Entry fees have kindly been waived.
Wednesday, 3rd November, 10:00am
Ridgewood, Brampton, CA8 1UQ.
On-road parking along The Swartle at NY535612. The Ridgewood is to the northeast of the parking point, accessed via footpaths.
Additional Date:
Monday, 8th November, 10:00am
Hutton-in-the-Forest, Unthank, Penrith, CA11 9TH.
Meet in the car park at NY461359, accessed via public entrance at NY46093611, off the B5305 road (from junction 41 of M6).
Entry fees have kindly been waived.
Full Details (PDF): Cumbria Fungi Recording Group 2021.
2019
34 Recorders visited Harrington Nature Reserve; Willowford Farm, Gilsland; Gowbarrow Hall, Watermillock and the Lowther Estate. Together they recorded species in at least 24 taxonomic groups.
2019
Gowbarrow Hall is a farm looking to change how it manages its land. CBDC recorders' infomarion will contribute to the farm's understanding of what species are there currently. This baseline will be used to inform future biodiversity monitoring.
2018
Rose Castle, Wharton Tarn, Coalfell, Dunsthwaite and Setmurthy Common were visited by Cumbria Recorders. Their keen eyes recorded a range of species from Adder's Tongue Fern to Great Crested Newts. Interesting discussions were held had over lunch regarding caddis fly nets and the egg laying of the dark giant horsefly.
2017
Jordan Hills, Thornhill Moss and Meadows, Haybridge Nature Reserve and Thorneythwaite Farm, Borrowdale were visited. As well as CBDC recorders we were pleased to welcome 14 trainee recorders to our Haybridge day.
Common Heath Moth Ematurga atomaria2016
This summer recorders visited Bolton Fell, Flimby Great Wood, Low church Moss, Silver Tarn, Argill Wood and Augill Pasture.
Hairy Rock Cress Arabis hirsuta2015
Hellbeck Woods, SSSI near Brough in June 2015 attracted 34 recorders, our largest number to a single recording event. With their combined skills and knowledge they made 926 records and identified 486 species.
