[C]umbria Wildlife Trust and Cumbria Biodiversity Data Centre are looking for budding wildlife recorders to help contribute wildlife records for the county. Two fun and informal training days are taking place at Eycott Hill Nature Reserve and Mungrisdale Village Hall to show people how easy it is to get involved.
The events, on Sunday 13th and Tuesday 22nd August, will run from 10am to 3pm, and are free of charge, thanks to National Lottery Players and support from the Heritage Lottery Fund.
Starting in Mungrisdale Village Hall with an introduction to recording by Cumbria Biodiversity Data Centre, the days will also involve time at Cumbria Wildlife Trust’s Eycott Hill Nature Reserve to have a go at collecting, identifying, and recording the different types of wildlife found around the nature reserve. Participants will learn how to use basic keys to aid identification and also how to submit records using the iRecord app or website.
To book a free place please contact Cumbria Wildlife Trust on 01539 816300 or [email protected].
Debs Muscat, manager of Cumbria Biodiversity Data Centre said “Collating wildlife records is of local and national importance. Local records not only build up a picture of which species are doing well or declining, but also allow us to see if species like butterflies are emerging earlier than in the past. The local records are also fed into a database which is available to anyone who is curious about nature across the whole of the UK and can help shape policies and plans at a national level.”
The current species list for Eycott Hill Nature Reserve stands at 760 but there may be lots still to identify. “At a Bioblitz in 2016 members of the public, many trying recording for the first time, identified 125 different species, and 27 hadn’t been recorded before. This included some common species like ox-eye daisy so it highlighted the importance of sharing sightings of the things we admire every day. We want to show people at these events that recording is fun, easy, and that you don’t need to be an expert to get involved.” Jody Ferguson, Cumbria Wildlife Trust.
Located between Keswick and Penrith, near to the village of Mungrisdale, Eycott Hill Nature Reserve is 216 hectares of exceptionally rich wildlife habitat and is a Site of Special Scientific Interest for the plant life in the wetlands and its geology. Car parking and entry to the nature reserve is free of charge. To find out more, or to get the latest news by email, please visit www.cumbriawildlifetrust.org.uk/eycott-hill.
