Worcestershire Record No. 18 April 2005 p. 3

Simon Wood

It was very nice to catch up with many of you at the Worcestershire Recorders AGM 05 in March and take part in a very enjoyable day. As I mentioned our counterparts in Herefordshire have begun the process of forming a group along similar lines, WBRC wishes them luck for the future and if any of you record in Herefordshire and are interested in getting involved please call Steve Roe at Herefordshire BRC on 01432 261538.

Thanks again to everyone who has contributed data to WBRC recently, the database now stands at just over 682,000 species records. The Mammal Atlas is still generating a number of records but please do continue to send in your mammal sightings and encourage others to do so, I can provide additional recording forms if you need them, just give me a call. As Harry mentioned at the AGM one very ingenious recorder (John Dodgson – see article in this issue) has been sending in some very good small mammal records collected from remains found in discarded drinks cans, an unfortunate but seemingly rich source, so keep an eye out for records in society’s untidiness.

WBRC is trying hard this year to expand on the number of service level agreements we currently have, one key target being District Councils. Such agreements will become the mainstay to WBRC’s continued survival as a professional organisation, providing the decision makers with the most up to date and comprehensive picture of Worcestershire’s flora and fauna in exchange for a degree of financial stability.

We have been working closely of late with the other BRC’s in the West Midlands region to sort out cross border data exchange issues by aligning our own processes, and also to ensure the BRC’s have a voice at the Regional Government level. With the changes that are happening to nature conservation’s Statutory Agency, and the formation of an Integrated Government Agency, it is becoming increasingly important that WBRC has a voice at all levels to keep our valuable ecological data issues at the top of decision makers lists.

Worcestershire Biodiversity Partnership’s Vision Mapping project officer began her employment this month. Becky Lashley, known as Community Wildlife Officer, will be based at WBRC for 2.5 days per week to undertake the community liaison, encouragement and engagement parts of the project. If anyone has any questions or would like to get involved with Vision Mapping, which in this phase will be focusing on the Forest of Feckenham area, please contact Becky on the number below or e-mail becky@wbrc.org.uk

Please feel free to contact me on 01905 759759, e-mail simon@wbrc.org.uk to discuss any aspects of data collation or indeed other issues relating to WBRC.