Hedgehog Citizen Science Project

RECORDS’s next Wildlife Exchange Session at Chester Zoo is hedgehog themed.

We'd like to invite you to our February Wildlife Exchange Session. Find out about an exciting new citizen science project all about hedgehogs that you could be involved with.

Wednesday 26 February

7 – 9 pm

Mottershead Suite, Cedar House, Chester Zoo

Book your FREE place via Eventbrite:

https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/wildlife-exchange-session-chester-zoo-hedgehog-project-tickets-91828428301

When was the last time you saw a wild hedgehog?

These much-loved animals have often been voted the nation’s favourite native species. But in recent years their populations here have declined dramatically, with rural hedgehog numbers plummeting by around 50% since the start of the century.

The species faces many threats including agricultural intensification, urban development and roads. However gardens, parks and other green spaces can provide perfect hedgehog habitat.

Chester Zoo scientists are launching an innovative new project that will see local people using camera traps to survey their garden visitors (including any spikey ones!). The aim is to find out which garden features are important to hedgehogs, understanding the habitat conditions needed for them to thrive. This knowledge will ultimately help to encourage and protect these charismatic animals and inspire communities to improve gardens and greenspaces for biodiversity.

Come along to find out all the details and learn how you could be involved with this exciting new project.

These evenings provide a brilliant opportunity to learn a bit more about UK native species from local experts. If you’re interested in meeting like-minded people in a relaxed environment, there’s also the chance to chat with conservationists, wildlife recorders and others to share experience, knowledge and ideas on Cheshire’s natural history and how we can all play a part in monitoring and protecting it.

What’s more…. There will also be tea, coffee and biscuits!

The event is hosted by hosted by RECORD and Chester Zoo.

Please note photos may be taken at this event for use in RECORD publications.

Volunteers Wanted at RECORD

RECORD are currently looking for more volunteers to join them in a number of roles. RECORD are based at Chester Zoo, although the Engagement Volunteer role will be in various locations across Cheshire depending on where events are taking place.

If you are interested in applying for any of the roles or want find out more about volunteering, please email: info@record-lrc.co.uk

Data Processor Volunteer: Help enter wildlife sightings onto RECORD's web-based bespoke software, RODIS. Full training on the package will be given. Full Role Description here.

GIS Volunteer: Help digitise habitat data using mapping software (MapInfo and/or QGIS). Full training can be given. Full Role Description here.

IT Volunteer: Help with programming such as web applications, database development, and computer maintenance. Full Role Description here.

Engagement Volunteer: Engage with the public at wildlife events. Help to spread the word about our amazing UK wildlife and the conservation importance of recording it. This would suit people with an interest in UK wildlife who enjoy interacting with others and inspiring them to take action. Full Role Description here.

Drop-in Session Volunteer: Help prepare resources for our invertebrate identification drop-in sessions. Engage with participants at the sessions, assisting with queries and questions. This would suit people with an interest in UK wildlife (in particular entomology) who enjoy interacting with others and inspiring them to take action. Full Role Description here.

Bumblebee Identification Session at Chester Zoo

RECORD are holding their first Drop In Session of the year at Chester Zoo next month.

Wednesday 12th February, 6.30- 9 pm

Mottershead Suite, Cedar House, Chester Zoo

Book your place on eventbrite here

We’ll have museum specimens, guides and microscopes on hand to use, so you can familiarise yourself with the bumblebees you are likely to encounter in Cheshire this year. If you’re new to invertebrate identification, we’ll help get you started and work together to understand what features to look out for. For anyone with an existing interest, it’s a great chance to find out some more detail about this group through practicing species identification in a friendly setting.

*Please note* This is not a formal workshop, just an opportunity to 'give it a go' along with other interested people in a shared learning environment.

These Drop-in Sessions are run in collaboration with the Tanyptera project.

Whilst each session will have a theme, you’re welcome to work on your own tasks making use of the RECORD/World Museum facilities. You can request museum reference specimens, equipment and literature in advance to help check identifications / practice with a particular group. Feel free to bring your own material too.

There is no need to be present for the whole session but if you would like to attend please book via eventbrite.

Email info@record-lrc.co.uk for more information or to request specimens or equipment for the session.

If you book on but can no longer attend, please cancel your place on eventbrite or by emailing us as soon as you can so that someone else can take your place.

Kind regards,
The RECORD Team
Tel: 01244 383749
RECORD LRC, Cedar House, Chester Zoo, Caughall Road, Upton, CH2 1LH.
WWW.RECORD-LRC.CO.UK

Monitoring Wildlife at Chester Zoo Nature Reserve

RECORD are holding another Wildlife Exchange Session at Chester Zoo this month.

Book your place on eventbrite here

Wednesday 30th October

7-9 pm

Cedar House, Chester Zoo

Come and find out about the regular wildlife monitoring that happens each year at the Chester Zoo Nature Reserve, and discover how you can get involved. Sarah Bird, Chester Zoo’s Biodiversity Officer will lead the session, with Eric Fletcher, RECORD Manager, telling us about the wildlife highlights.

In the last 3 years Andy Jennings-Giles has developed a range of systematic monitoring methods for various species groups, to help us to understand how wildlife is changing on the reserve. We now need volunteers to help with this monitoring. Whether you want to help with regular recording or just drop in now and then, its all valuable data and we want to know what you see. We will describe the monitoring techniques, and explain how RECORD can support you to help us, and develop your own wildlife identification skills too.

These evenings provide an opportunity for wildlife recorders, conservationists and anyone with an interest in local wildlife to get together in a relaxed environment and find out about our natural environment and how it is changing. The ‘exchange’ sessions also allow sharing of ideas, knowledge, experience and views on Cheshire’s natural history and how we can monitor and conserve it.

Tea/coffee and snacks will be provided.

Hosted by RECORD and Chester Zoo.

Please note photos may be taken at this event for use in RECORD publications.

If you would like to sign up to the RECORD mailing list to hear about future events please click here

Kind regards,
The RECORD Team
Tel: 01244 383749
RECORD LRC, Cedar House, Chester Zoo, Caughall Road, Upton, CH2 1LH.
WWW.RECORD-LRC.CO.UK

Wildlife Exchange Session

Here is information about this month’s RECORD event, held at Chester Zoo.

We would like to invite you to our upcoming Wildlife Exchange Session, book your place on eventbrite here.

Join us on our September Wildlife Exchange Session as we welcome back Dr Hilary Ash, who will take us through the whys and wherefores of hedgerow recording; detailing how recording hedges can make a vital contribution to conservation. Not only does hedgerow recording identify important habitats within our landscape, but it ensures these wildlife-rich havens are conserved.

Hedges perform vital functions within our environment, from preventing soil erosion, retaining livestock and providing valuable connectivity for wildlife to commute into the wider environment. However, if you’ll excuse the pun, our hedges are often overlooked and underappreciated! In 1946 the UK had an estimated 500,000 miles of hedgerow, over half of which was lost by 1993; when only 236,000 miles remained (figures from PTES).

Join us to find out how you can get involved in hedgerow recording and help prevent further loss of these important wildlife highways.

These evenings provide an opportunity for wildlife recorders, conservationists and anyone with an interest in local wildlife to get together in a relaxed environment and find out about our natural environment and how it is changing. The ‘exchange’ sessions also allow sharing of ideas, knowledge, experience and views on Cheshire’s natural history and how we can monitor and conserve it.

Tea/coffee and snacks will be provided.

Hosted by RECORD and Chester Zoo.

Please note photos may be taken at this event for use in RECORD publications.

If you would like to sign up to the RECORD mailing list to hear about future events please click here

Kind regards,
The RECORD Team
Tel: 01244 383749
RECORD LRC, Cedar House, Chester Zoo, Caughall Road, Upton, CH2 1LH.

WWW.RECORD-LRC.CO.UK

RECORD Drop In Session

The RECORD team would like to invite people to the first of their new monthly drop in sessions, supported by Chester Zoo and the Tanyptera Project.

Date: Wednesday 14th March
Time: 19:15 - 22:00
Venue: Mottershead Suite, Cedar House, Chester Zoo

No need to book or be present for the whole session.

These are informal evenings where recorders can come together and assist each other with queries and mentoring at a convenient time. There will be opportunities to practise using keys and microscopes in a supportive environment or you could use the session to simply meet up, have a cup of tea and discuss recording or spend time on other indoor activities.

You can also request World Museum reference specimens and literature in advance to help check identifications / practise with a particular group.

Some ground beetle specimens will be brought for the first session but feel free to request other material or bring your own.

If you are thinking of attending and would like more information, please email RECORD

Kind regards,
The RECORD Team
Tel: 01244 383749

Summer 2017 issue of RECORD's newsletter

You can now download the Summer 2017 issue of RECORD's newsletter:

https://gallery.mailchimp.com/0d411acbcb6ff4fbac0618870/files/5a15a9fe-f662-4d5b-8204-5358bbfb8b93/RECORD_Newsletter_Issue_3_Summer_2017_cp2.pdf

You will find many interesting articles including:

'Wildlife on your doorstep' by Lisa Reeves  

'Species Spotlight - Natterjack Toads' by Susie Phillips

'New species in Cheshire'

'In Search of the Green Hairstreak' by Katie Piercy

'Chester Zoo’s Nature Reserve News' by Andy Jennings-Giles

'What to look out for in the coming months'

'Upcoming events in Cheshire'

There are also lots of wonderful photographs.

Well worth reading.

RECORD Conference: Strength in Partnership

Chester Zoo Lecture Theatre
7th May 2017
10.00 – 15.30

The theme of the 2017 RECORD conference is partnership working. They will be celebrating the diverse partnership projects RECORD is involved in and how collaboration on shared goals can deliver much more for conservation.

There will be presentations from The Chester Swift Project, Wirral and Cheshire Badger Group, Cheshire members of the Dipterist’s Forum and the Cheshire Hymenoptera Atlas project. They will also take a look at the new extension to the Chester Zoo Nature Reserve and hear what they have planned for the future.

The conference is open to all, regardless of experience or skill level.

Please book early to avoid disappointment.

The RECORD Team
Tel: 01244 383749
RECORD LRC, Cedar House, Chester Zoo, Caughall Road, Upton, CH2 1LH.
www.record-lrc.co.uk