Recorders’ Conference

Established in 2011 the Recorders Conference has become an Annual Event welcoming speakers and recorders from Cumbria and beyond.

We aim for a range of speakers and posters on a wide variety of topics – focused on a particular species, group or habitat; results of recording and monitoring projects; and ideas, techniques and resources to help you get involved. The conference offers a chance to meet others interested in exploring nature, share discoveries and learn more about the species which make their home in Lakeland.

Recorders’ Conference 2022

This will be another online conference, but CBDC is hoping to do a half day in person event later in 2022.

Click below to book your place.

Book Now

Recorders’ Conference 2021

Thank you to all those that attended this years’ online conference and a bigger thank you to the 16 presenters. Some presentations are now uploaded to our Wildlife Reports page.

Recorders’ Conference 2020

Our keynote speaker was Steve Garland, Entomologist and Chair of The Wildlife Trusts England Committee who talked about ‘Recording Recovery – Biological Recording for a Wilder Future.” The main room contained displays and posters from a range of recorders and societies:

Cumbria Dragonfly Atlas Online
Cumbria Lichen and Bryology Group
Macro photography demonstration using a laptop and plug in camera
Cumbria GeoConservation
Get Cumbria Buzzing
Cumbria Amphibian and Reptile Group
Digitally colour coding red squirrel fur and the potential conservation applications
Searching for Chrysolina oricalcia
Found Species: Tufted Loostrife (Lysimachia thyrsiflora)
Second Hand Natural History books for sale
Cumbria Fungi Identification Guide for sale

Recorders’ Conference 2018

This year recorders watched the first camera footage of a Pine Marten in Cumbria and learned more about their hitch hiking behavior from Kevin O’Hara Project Officer Vincent Wildlife Trust. Delegates also heard about:

Rural and wildlife crime
Moth recording without a trap
Slow-worm Project Update
Recording Geological Sites
LOST – Looking out for Small Things

Recorders’ Conference 2017

Recorders joined our Annual Conference to hear talks that included:

National Biodiversity Network Changes and the impact on the future of CBDC
Earthworms
Slow worms
House mouse project
Stories from the Wildlife Register CBDC Recording Day highlights

Recorders’ Conference 2016

89 recorders joined our Annual conference to hear about:

Local recording updates included:

Cumbria Fungi Group – Paul Nichol
House mouse project
Swifts in the Community – Bryan Yorke
Bats in Trees – Rich Flight
Mapping Cumbria’s Dragonflies – David Clarke
Ecosystem Canaries – Peter Woodhead
Trail Cameras and Recording Technology – John Martin

Recorders’ Conference 2015

Topics included:

Launch of the Cumbria Bird Atlas – Stephen Westerberg, Cumbria Bird Club
Movements of Wintering Gees and Swans on the Solway – Frank Mawby
Finding and Monitoring Dormice in Cumbria – Tony Marshall
Lost and Found Fungi Project – Brian Douglas, Royal Botanical Gardens, Kew
Alien vs Predator – the Harlequin ladybird in Britain, Richard Comont
Cumbria Geoconservation Group and the Local Geological Sites

Recorders’ Conference 2014

Presentations included:

What would Darwin Tweet? – Richard Burkmar
Polecats and Pine Martins – Elizabeth Croose, Vincent Wildlife Trust
CBDC Habitat Connectivity Projects – Moustafa Eweda
Recording Cumbria’s bats – Rich Flight
Lichens of Cumbria – Allan Pentecost
What’s at Witherslack – Jim Thomas