County Wildlife Sites

County Wildlife Sites, also known as Local Wildlife Sites, are defined areas, identified and selected locally for their nature conservation value based on important, distinctive and threatened habitats and species within a national, regional and local context.

There are more than 1,600 sites found on both public and private land in Cumbria. They vary in shape and size, and can be found almost anywhere in the county - from the coast to the top of fells. The 'short guide' provides more information about these sites.

County Wildlife Sites in Cumbria are designated and reviewed at a county level by the Site Selection Panel which meets a few times a year, convened by Cumbria Wildlife Trust (CWT). The Site Selection Panel ensure that sites are assessed against the strict selection criteria described in the CWS Selection Guidelines (see button on right).

Potential sites are initially identified through the study of existing habitat survey data and aerial photos. Site visits are then carried out by an experienced ecological surveyor who records wildlife habitats and species found on the site. Survey results are then assessed by an expert panel of ecologists from organisations across Cumbria who make up the Site Selection Panel (from the different partnership organisations). All sites meeting the necessary standard are selected as County Wildlife Sites.

A new project started in 2024 to assess all existing County Wildlife Sites as most sites have either never been surveyed or the last survey to assess habitat and condition was more than 15 years ago. The project is led by Cumbria Wildlife Trust in collaboration with Cumbria Biodiversity Data Centre. While new sites are not currently being considered, the existing 1,603 sites will be visited over the next few years to ensure that all are still providing much needed space for nature.

For more information about County Wildlife Sites and the project to assess all existing sites, please contact Cumbria Wildlife Trust at contact@cumbriawildlifesites.org.uk or visit the Cumbria Wildlife Trust website.

 
 
 
 

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, November 22nd, 2024 at 2:34am
Are you new to wildlife recording? Or would you like to find out how to make your wildlife observations REALLY useful to a range of different people and organisations?
Join our first Winter Webinar on Tuesday 17th December, 6:30-7:30pm to find out more about recording the wildlife you see at home, work or when out & about. There will be time for questions too.
The session is free and open to all but no apologies for the focus on Cumbrian flora and fauna!
Find out more and book your free place via our website: https://www.cbdc.org.uk/get-involved/winter-webinars/
Cumbria Biodiversity Data Centre
Cumbria Biodiversity Data CentreFriday, November 1st, 2024 at 5:19am
Did you take part in Cumbria Wild Watch 2024? If so, we would love to find out what you thought of it and how we might improve in the future.
If this is the first time you have heard of Cumbria Wild Watch, tell us too!
Survey here: https://www.cbdc.org.uk/get-involved/cumbria-wild-watch/
Cumbria Biodiversity Data Centre
Cumbria Biodiversity Data CentreWednesday, October 30th, 2024 at 1:19am
Join us for two winter webinars to brighten the long, dark evenings: an Introduction to Biological Recording in December and Updating Cumbria's County Wildlife Sites in January.
Find out more and book your places:
https://www.cbdc.org.uk/get-involved/winter-webinars/

Image: Beth Lightburn
Cumbria Biodiversity Data Centre
Cumbria Biodiversity Data CentreMonday, October 28th, 2024 at 4:22am
The Cumbria Recorders' Conference 2025 will take place @Tullie on 22 February 2025. For more information and to reserve your place, please visit the CBDC website: https://www.cbdc.org.uk/get-involved/recorders-conference/

Image: Beth Lightburn
Cumbria Biodiversity Data Centre
Cumbria Biodiversity Data CentreWednesday, October 23rd, 2024 at 4:06am
Event addendum to the CBDC Newsletter from BSBI:

Annual Scottish Meeting at Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh on Sat 02 Nov 2024. Small charge for registration.
British & Irish Botanical Conference on Sat 23 Nov at Natural History Museum, London. Free!
More details: https://bsbi.org/field-meetings-and-indoor-events
Cumbria Biodiversity Data Centre
Cumbria Biodiversity Data CentreMonday, October 21st, 2024 at 3:27am
Do you consider yourself a moth-trapper?

If so, researchers at Natural History Museum and University College London would like you to take part in a short survey about moth trapping. To take part, click the link below:

https://qualtrics.ucl.ac.uk/jfe/form/SV_4SbRHvviPE42jC6