Biological Recording 101

Biological recording is the scientific study of the distribution of living organisms, helping us to understand the presence, abundance, associations and changes, both in time and space, of wildlife. Biological records are a vital resource for conservation – used 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.

Fees and refund policy

1. Bexley Resident/Volunteer Course Ticket: £25
2. Standard Course Ticket: £50

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.

Biological Recording Specialist: Keiron Derek Brown

Keiron Derek Brown is a dedicated advocate for biological recording and invertebrate education. Since 2014, he has led the National Earthworm Recording Scheme, delivering over 100 training courses and events to inspire and equip wildlife enthusiasts. 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. Keiron’s expertise extends to his role on the advisory council for the National Forum for Biological Recording. In 2023, he founded the Biological Recording Company to further promote and support biological recording initiatives.

Lesnes Abbey Wood

This course will take place at Lesnes Abbey Wood. Situated in South East London, this unique site offers 88 hectares of ancient woodland, a park and a ruined abbey.

The nearest railway station is Abbey Wood Station and Lesnes Abbey Lodge is a roughly 10 minutes walk from the station. there is no parking on site. Details for getting to the site can be found on the Lesnes Abbey wood website: https://www.lesnesabbeywoods.org/plan-your-visit/directions-contact/

This event is being run as a collaboration between the Biological Recording Company and Lesnes Abbey Woods as part of the Lesnes 500 project funded by the National Lottery Heritage Fund.