Our Data

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Our species, sites and habitats records are gathered from a wide variety of sources including volunteers, county recorders and local recording groups, as well as research, commissioned surveys and published reports from ecological consultancies. This has allowed us to create datasets with far greater resolution and density compared to open source datasets.

We recognise that our data needs to be the best available and as accurate and up-to-date as possible. We are constantly making efforts to update our information and improve coverage, by identifying new data sources and running citizen science initiatives. Data is validated as fully as possible to ensure geographical and temporal accuracy of each record and minimise errors. Validation is done by manual checking as well as by automated routines within our database system. In addition, the County Recorders—a group of approved volunteer experts—undertake the verification of species records ensuring the quality of the WSBRC data.

Some of the species records come from systematic surveys, however, the majority are the product of casual recording efforts that do not follow a consistent strusture or sampling protocol. Therefore, they should be seen as a guide rather than a definitive statement of what species are present in an area or the condition of a site.

Records will be accepted by WSBRC on the understanding that the data will be used by WSBRC and made available to enquirers under the terms and conditions set out within this section of our website.

 

Photo credits: © Gary Mantle