County Recorders

County Recorders are experts in their fields who review and verify records for CBDC on a voluntary basis. Only records which have been checked and verified by one of these experts are included in data provided by CBDC to our partners and clients.

You can contact a County Recorder about unusual sightings or for detailed queries relating to the identification of challenging species. For most identification related queries it is better to get in touch with the CBDC Recording Officer.
As the individuals carrying out these roles change from time to time, CBDC maintains a list of proxy emails to make contacting a County Recorder for a particular taxonomic group easier. The list of contact emails is below.

County Recorders may need to contact recorders to discuss their records, especially in the case of records of unusual or hard to identify species. By submitting your records to CBDC, you consent to CBDC sharing your contact details with any relevant County Recorder(s) for this purpose only, and only if requested to do so by the relevant County Recorder. CBDC will never share any recorders’ contact details for any other purpose without separate permission.

List of County Recorders (updated November 2025)

Aculeata (Bees and Wasps)
Nick Franklin

Amphibians (Frogs, Toads and Newts)
Tony Marshall
amphibianverifier@cbdc.org.uk

Ants
Gary Skinner
antverifier@cbdc.org.uk

Birds
Chris Hind, Cumbria Bird Club
countyrecorder@cumbriabirdclub.org.uk

Bryophytes (Mosses and Liverworts)
Andy McLay (VC69) and Clare Shaw (VC70)

Coleoptera (Beetles)
John Read

Diptera (True Flies)
Steve Hewitt
trueflies@cbdc.org.uk

Fungi
Colin Doull
fungiverifier@cbdc.org.uk

Hemiptera (True Bugs)
Steve Hewitt
truebugs@cbdc.org.uk

Lichens
Pete Martin

Mammals
John Martin
cumbrianmammals@gmail.com

Moths
Steve Benner, Roger Fellows, Rob Pickett and Gerry Rawcliffe
cumbriamothverifiers@cbdc.org.uk

Neuroptera (Lacewings and allies)
Steve Garland

Odonata (Dragonflies and Damselflies)
David Clarke
dragonflyverifier@cbdc.org.uk

Orthoptera (Grasshoppers and Crickets)
Steve Hewitt
grasshoppersandcrickets@cbdc.org.uk

Plants
Peter Bullard, Gary Lawrence and Jeremy Roberts
Contact Flora of Cumbria Recording Group

Reptiles (Lizards and Snakes)
Tony Marshall
reptileverifier@cbdc.org.uk

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 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
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