Thames Valley Environmental Records Centre (TVERC) Autumn Conference 2025

Interested in wildlife and want to get involved in biological recording? Join our Autumn Recorders' Conference 2025. This exciting event will be held at Pangbourne Village Hall, starting at 10am (registration opens at 09:30).

Get ready for a day packed with captivating talks, interactive workshops, and engaging discussions with fellow wildlife enthusiasts. Our goal is to foster knowledge sharing, inspire action, and promote collaboration among like-minded individuals. Plus, lunch and refreshments are included!

Programme

• 09:30: Registration opens
• 10:00: Welcome
• 10:10: TVERC in Action (Steve Wilkes, TVERC Director & Ellen Lee, Biodiversity Data Manager)
• 10:30: A Connected Community Approach to Protecting and Restoring Local Landscapes (Catriona Bass, Long Mead Wildlife Site)
• 11:15: Break
• 11:45: Boosting Barn Owls in Wokingham Borough (Stuart Croft, Senior Ranger at Blackwater Valley Countryside Partnership & Finn Rothery, Countryside Ranger at Wokingham Borough Council’s Countryside Service)
• 12:10: Speed Update Session 1
• Lesley Dunlop, Oxfordshire Local Geological Sites (LGS) “Ferricrete churches in Berkshire - a recent building stone survey”
• Sofia Marlasca Aparicio, TVERC micro intern student "A short study of deadwood invertebrate records in the Thames Valley"
• Marcus Simmons, CAG Oxfordshire “Tips on using free mapping for species recording and NR planning / action”
• Jon Cole, BENHS "Insects of Dinton Pastures project"
• Dave Lowe, TVERC volunteer “Progress report on the nesting terns at Hinksey Lake”
• Judy Webb "Saving Orpine and Maiden Pink in Oxfordshire"

• 12:45: Lunch
• 13:45: Workshops
• Bob Cowley, Track & Sign Trainer for UK Mammal Society “20 Unmistakable Tracks & Signs - Kickstart your Mammal Recording in an Hour!”
• Marcus Simmons, CAG Oxfordshire & Julian Parfitt, Wild Wantage “Tips on using free mapping for species recording and NR planning / action”
• 15:00: Break
• 15:15: Speed Update Session 2
• Rob Curtis, TVERC Berkshire Biodiversity Officer "Berkshire Local Wildlife Sites Update"
• Cathy Notaras “Greenfield Site buildling developments”
• Des Sussex, Windsor Estate "Wildlife recording and monitoring across the Windsor Estate"
• 15:30: Recording Glow Worms (Robin Scagell, UK Glow Worm Survey)
• 16:15: Close (Steve Wilkes, TVERC Director)

Please note that the programme may be subject to change.

Speed updates:

Got something exciting happening in your local area? Share it with us in a 5-minute talk! Whether it's about specific species, sites, habitats, recording projects, or conservation campaigns, we'd love to hear from you. If you'd like to give a speed update, please indicate this on your booking form.

Displays:

Explore a variety of display stands from different recording and conservation groups during our refreshment and lunch breaks. If you'd like to bring a display or leaflets, please indicate this on your booking form.

Catering:

Getting there:

For directions, see: Google maps

Car share: liftshare

Parking: Please note there is limited amount of free car parking behind the hall. There is a large public pay and display car park (https://www.westberks.gov.uk/pangbourne-station-road-car-park) in front of the Village Hall.

About TVERC

TVERC are a not-for-profit organisation hosted by Oxfordshire County Council. We collect, analyse and share geodiversity and biodiversity information in Berkshire and Oxfordshire to help people make sound decisions about how to develop and manage land sustainably, where to direct wildlife conservation work and for scientific education and research.

There are many people collecting information about our natural environment and by collating all this information at TVERC, everyone can get a better picture of the status and distribution of wildlife.

This event is supported by The National Lottery Community Fund's WISH Partnership.

Programme:

We are currently working on the programme and the following is subject to change: