There are a number of other recording schemes and sources of records, both locally and nationally. The following is not an exhaustive list, but is a good starting point for accessing information.
The Biological Records Centre (BRC), established in 1964, is a national focus in the UK for terrestrial and freshwater species recording. BRC works closely with the voluntary recording community, principally through support of national recording schemes and societies.
The National Biodiversity Network (NBN) is a hub for data run by the National Biodiversity Network Trust, an independent charity set up in 2000.
iSpot and iRecord are sites for identifying and sharing wildlife records. The goal of iRecord is to make it easier for wildlife sightings to be collated, checked by experts and made available to support research and decision-making at local and national levels.
National recording schemes:
A comprehensive list of national recording schemes is available from the BRC website, but a few of the major schemes are listed below.
Birds:
Plants, Bryophytes, Lichens and Fungi:
- The Botanical Society of the British Isles (BSBI) covers ferns and flowering plants
- The British Bryological Society - Mosses and liverworts
- The British Lichen Society
- The British Mycological Society - Fungi
Mammals:
- The Bat Conservation Trust - National Bat Monitoring scheme
- The Mammal Society
Amphibians and Reptiles:
Local Groups in Essex:
- Basildon Natural History Society
- Colchester Natural History Society
- Essex Badger groups - there are a number of badger groups covering different parts of Essex. Please follow the links below for each area.
Essex Badger Protection Group (covers the south of Essex)
- Essex Bat Group
- Essex Birdwatching Society are the county bird society for Essex
- Essex Field Club - hold records for all taxa except birds and contact information for the Essex County Recorders
- GeoEssex - the local geology group
- South Essex Natural History Society
