Wiltshire & Swindon Biological Records Centre

Wiltshire and Swindon Biological Records Centre (WSBRC) is one of a national network of Local Environmental Records Centres (LERCs) across the UK which sits under the umbrella of a national body, the Association of Local Environmental Records Centres (ALERC). Housed at the Trust's headquarters, it has been the custodian of Wiltshire’s wildlife records since 1975.

The objective of the small team of staff and volunteers is to collect, collate, manage, interpret and disseminate biological and geological information for the area. To achieve this the team supports and encourages high-quality biological recording and monitoring by volunteers, community groups and organisations.  Around two million species records are held (for fungi, plants and animals) plus detailed information on habitats and sites of importance across Wiltshire and Swindon.

WSBRC’s work is underpinned by its network of volunteer County Species Recorders who are experts in their particular field, along with the work of its partner organisations who carry out survey and monitoring of species, sites and habitats. The County Recorders and local recording groups and their volunteer members play a hugely important role in conservation work by making and sharing high-quality biological records.

These records help to identify which species are declining or increasing, and areas where habitats may be under threat.  Up-to-date information on the distribution and abundance of species and habitats also informs decisions affecting Wiltshire’s environment made by local authorities and other bodies and organisations. Anyone can get involved in recording with a little bit of effort and thereby contribute directly to this work.

A key function of WSBRC is to provide biological information to a variety of users. These might be local authorities, statutory agencies, environmental consultants, landowners, voluntary organisations and members of the public. WSBRC provides products and services including data searches, production of species atlases and distribution maps, habitat mapping, data analysis or interpretation and MapInfo GIS and data management training. It also runs training courses from time to time, such as in use of Living Record online recording system, to improve the quality and flow of data being received.

Many of these services are provided via service level agreements with partner organisations that support the core aims of WSBRC.  We are more than happy to discuss new long-term agreements or the provision of ad hoc professional services, such as our standard data search service, with potential clients at any time.

By carrying out these and other paid professional services, WSBRC can continue to provide information and support services to the volunteer recorders and conservation groups who support our work.

This service is the easy way for anyone to request biological information from WSBRC. A standard search covers protected and otherwise notable species notified sites and priority habitats within a specified location and allows decision makers and other users a clearer picture of the wildlife interest of the site and its surrounding area. Other, bespoke outputs can also be produced on request.