Biological Recording 101

Biological recording is the scientific practice of finding, identifying and recording the presence of living organisms, helping us to understand the distribution, abundance, associations and changes, both in time and space, of wildlife. Biological records are the bedrock of conservation science – essential for a wide range of conservation actions from assessing the impact of planning applications to undertaking conservation status assessments for species.

This course prepares those new to biological recording with an understanding of how biological recording works and how casual species observations can be converted into useful biodiversity datasets. Students will undertake a simple field recording activity and submit their data through the iRecord platform, generating real biological records as they learn.

What will be covered during this course?

• An introduction to the science of biological recording and the importance of biodiversity data.
• Practical experience of gathering species records in the field and the core data required for any biological record.
• Using iRecord to submit records, share data with other organisations and maintain a personal records database.
• Demonstrations of how various iRecord features can be used to get the most out of recording local sites and group activities.

Biological Recording Specialist: Keiron Derek Brown

Keiron Derek Brown is a dedicated advocate for biological recording and invertebrate education. As the developer and manager of the BioLinks project for the Field Studies Council, Keiron spearheaded the delivery of more than 200 in-person and virtual training sessions, supporting both new and experienced invertebrate recorders. In 2023, he founded the Biological Recording Company to further promote and support biological recording initiatives. Keiron has also led the National Earthworm Recording Scheme since 2014 and sits on the advisory council for the National Forum for Biological Recording.

Fees and refund policy

Non-professional Course Ticket (Free): Select this option if you are a non-professional (e.g. amateur naturalist, local group volunteer, undergraduate student or biological recorder). Tickets subsidised by Hammersmith and Fulham Council.

Professional Course Ticket (£50): Select this option if you are a professional (e.g. ecologist, graduate student, researcher or are attending in relation to your vocation).

Ticket fees include an administrative fee of 20% that is non-refundable. This consists of approximately 10% for Eventbrite fees and 10% for time spent by the Biological Recording Company processing the order.

Further cancellation charges will also be incurred for the following:

• 20% admin fee + 10% cancellation fee for cancellations made over 90 days in advance of the date of the course.
• 20% admin fee + 30% cancellation fee for cancellations made within between 30 and 90 days of the date of the course.
• 20% admin fee + 80% cancellation fee for cancellations made within 30 days of the date of the course.

Queen Caroline Estate

This course will take place at the Community Hall at Queen Caroline Estate, a large housing estate with over 300 properties located next to the picturesque Hammersmith Bridge. Over the years, the estate has played host to lots of exciting green projects, including a Surface Urban Drainage Solutions (SUDS) project, green roofs, a herb garden, and tree planting. The field component will take place in the small gardens and green spaces weaving through the estate.

This event is being delivered by the Biological Recording Company in partnership with Hammersmith and Fulham Council.