More Resources

CBDC and Tullie House Museum have a number of resources available to support local recorders.

CBDC Publications

From time to time CBDC publishes from the local recording community in Cumbria.

1. Inventory of Urban Gull Colonies in Cumbria
2. Pug Moths of Lancashire and Cumbria
3. Ornithology in Cumbria in the 16th, 17th, 18th and 19th Centuries: A Bibliography.
4. Birds in Cumberland in the 18th Century

Tullie House Collections and Library

The museum holds a large amount of zoological, botanical and geological material. Items in the collection can be viewed by appointment by local recorders and researchers.

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Equipment Loans

Specific equipment is necessary to successfully record some taxon groups. For new recorders the expense may be off putting. Therefore CBDC has some a moth trap and micrscopes that it can loan out.

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Mapping Tools

We have selected some common tools that help you map and record the correct OS grid references.

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Identification help

There are a number of field guides, species keys and websites on the internet that will help you with identification.

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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 CentreMonday, April 20th, 2026 at 3:07am
If you love trees and want to find out more about tree nurseries, join us at Tebay this Friday for a tree growing session with Growing Well! Free session - all welcome but booking is required:
https://www.ticketsource.com/cumbria-ecoskills/from-seeds-to-trees/e-zkxkza
Cumbria Biodiversity Data Centre
Cumbria Biodiversity Data CentreThursday, April 9th, 2026 at 1:32am
What's this bird?

Okay - this is an easy one. Even with a poor photo.

But if you don't know a mallard from a moorhen or are unsure how to tell a siskin from a greenfinch, we have a short morning course for you! Come along to the Introduction to Birds session on Saturday morning for a free introduction to bird identification and find out how you can improve your birding skills.

https://www.ticketsource.com/cumbria-ecoskills/introduction-to-birds/e-gppyjb
Cumbria Biodiversity Data Centre
Cumbria Biodiversity Data CentreTuesday, April 7th, 2026 at 6:06am
Join the 'Introduction to Birds' session this Saturday for a free course on getting started with bird identification and recording. All welcome!

https://www.ticketsource.com/cumbria-ecoskills/introduction-to-birds/e-gppyjb
Cumbria Biodiversity Data Centre
Cumbria Biodiversity Data CentreTuesday, March 17th, 2026 at 4:53am
We have a great training session this Friday focusing on Priority Habitats - what they are and what you need to know to survey and potentially manage them. The weather is forecast to be good so why not join us to explore a range of different habitat types?

More information and to book: https://www.ticketsource.co.uk/cumbria-ecoskills/identifying-priority-habitats/e-dyymjm
Cumbria Biodiversity Data Centre
Cumbria Biodiversity Data CentreThursday, March 12th, 2026 at 2:50am
There are two Cumbria Ecoskills courses next week focusing on understanding habitats and habitat surveying:
- Habitat Surveying (using UKHab) on 19 March at Loweswater
- Priority Habitats on 20 March at Threlkeld

Still places available if you would like to expand your habitat knowledge!

https://www.ticketsource.co.uk/cumbria-ecoskills
Cumbria Biodiversity Data Centre
Cumbria Biodiversity Data CentreFriday, March 6th, 2026 at 7:40am
At last weekend's Cumbria Recorders' Conference, we were privileged to premiere a short film by University of Cumbria Wildlife Media students Victoria, Ryan, Jack and co to celebrate the role of volunteer wildlife recorders in Cumbria and our 15th anniversary. We hope you enjoy it!

https://vimeo.com/1171115443?share=copy&fl=sv&fe=ci