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Biological Record Centres
The UK is unique in the world in having an almost contiguous network of Local Biological Records Centres to collect, collate, store and disseminate biodiversity information. This is perhaps a result of our rich history of amateur natural historians. People like Charles Darwin sought to collect and understand the wildlife they saw around them, keeping detailed records of what they saw, where and when. It is only through recording wildlife that we can see when changes happen in our environment, whether this occurs in our towns or the countryside.
The UKs first biological records centre was set up by the Government in 1964, it covers the whole of the country it now boasts a dataset of over 15 million records covering over 12,000 species. In recent years the value of biological recording has been recognised as being of increasing importance at a more local level to inform on spatial planning and conservation strategies, as well as monitoring local change in species distribution (including newly arrived and introduced species).
In 2003 the Kent Biodiversity Partnership (including Kent Wildlife Trust) opened our own records centre: The Kent and Medway Biological Records Centre. Everyone in the County can now help to safeguard their local wildlife simply by contributing wildlife sightings to the database.
The KMBRC, based at Brogdale Farm in Faversham is now home to over 3 million wildlife records of over 17,000 species, sub-species and forms from all over the county, including our coasts and seas. The information held is made available to local authorities, industry, conservation organisations, naturalists, specialist recording groups, and the general public.
How you can help.
