NEYEDC’s support for naturalist’s ranges from the more technical aspects of data collection, collation, management and analysis through to providing help and support to those working to share data, making the process and streamlined as possible, to getting involved in local events which aim to promote and recruit interested members of the public into the world of biological recording.

The sensitivities that surround ecological data and personal information are well understood by NEYEDC.  We work with both new and well established organisations and individual recorders within data protection legislation and are registered with the Information Commissioner’s Office.  NEYEDC’s Privacy Statement can be downloaded at the bottom of the About us page.

Training

NEYEDC supports individuals, societies and organisations throughout North and East Yorkshire.  Recent training has included:

• An introduction to the use of Geographical Information Systems (GIS), in particular the open-source software QGIS, to collate, display and analyse biological records;

• The installation and operation of data management tools like the Recorder 6 species database;

• Guidance on how to use online recording platforms like iRecord to securely store, manage and make available your records;

• The successful use of freely available biological records on the NBN Atlas.

We can provide help and advice on the most appropriate method of data management depending on resources available, technical expertise and the desired outputs.

Species, Sites and Habitat Mapping

We can provide mapping of individual species, taxonomic groups, designation sets or personal datasets at scales ranging from site-specific through county distribution maps to wider sub-region maps.  We can provide these in various formats to suit your needs, including pdf maps, image files, GIS layers or online mapping services using QGIS cloud. Contact us to discuss your requirements.

“Since its formation in 1999, NEYEDC has worked with naturalists, volunteers and organisations to ensure that the best possible data is available to inform all decisions that affect conservation, land management and sustainable development in North and East Yorkshire.”

Regular submission of records

The organised study of Natural History has a tradition in Yorkshire going back more than 150 years and over that time a substantial knowledge-base has been developed.  It is important that data and information about sites, species and habitats are used to inform decision-making at all scales, but particularly in local forward planning and development control.

Regular recording of either a particular taxonomic group, site or area can provide extremely useful information in monitoring condition or populations over time and NEYEDC are more than happy to receive such records.

The easiest way to make sure that your biological records are used in local decision-making is to submit your records direct to us. This is best done in Excel as we can check them quickly and import directly into our database.  We have a downloadable template spreadsheet, NEYEDC Species Recording Form, which can be sent to us at records@neyedc.co.uk.

Licencing data

Where larger datasets are provided to NEYEDC, or data is passed to us on a regular basis we will issue a Data Collation licence.  This outlines the recorder’s rights as the data owner both in terms of data protection and how we intend to process the data and use it.  Further information can be found in our Data Access Policy, which can be downloaded at the bottom of the About us page.

“We realise that it can be time-consuming to collate records for submission to us and appreciate the efforts to which you go to ensure your valuable information is included in local decision-making.”

We would encourage individuals to join other like-minded naturalists, either through local natural history societies, local wildlife-based community groups or by joining the Yorkshire Naturalists’ Union (YNU), the large umbrella organisation for all naturalists, groups and societies in Yorkshire. The YNU run a number of interesting events, field meetings and an annual spring conference, dates and details of which can be found on the Events and Field Meetings page of their website.

Public events that encourage an awareness of wildlife take place each year and are a good way to meet others or learn about local groups. NEYEDC often get involved in the data collation side of bioblitz events. In 2018 we were involved in two events on consecutive days as part of Chris Packham’s UK BioBlitz 2018: Nature Reserves Are Not Enough campaign, at Nosterfield Nature Reserve and Filey Bird Observatory. These two sites ranked second and third for their species tallies out of all 50 sites involved nationally, only just falling behind Kings Dyke Nature Reserve in Cambridgeshire!

Data Providers’ Forum

Each spring NEYEDC hold an annual Data Providers’ Forum which gives our recorders and supporters the opportunity to come and talk to us, hear talks from other recorders and take part in discussion and workshops. We try to lead workshops on topics that our recording community feel would be beneficial, and are happy to receive suggestions. This helps them to gain expertise in areas they otherwise might not come across, such as online recording applications and computer mapping of species records. The group is open to anyone who records wildlife and we are always keen to hear from new people; click the button below to sign-up to the mailing list.