Biological Records
Biological Recording is the scientific study of the distribution of living organisms. Biological records describe the presence, abundance and changes over time and in the distribution of species.
To make effective decisions regarding nature conservation, good quality biological records are vital. A biological record demonstrates that a particular species was found at a particular location at a particular time and therefore they aid the monitoring of species.
Local Environmental Records Centres (LERCs) collate individual records into a centralised database that provides high quality information on biodiversity. This can be used to support environmental research and to help make better decisions regarding the environment.
Your records from the Big Meadow Search will initially be analysed by the BMS team but we will then be sending the plant records on to the local environmental records centre (LERC) for the searched area. Records submitted to BMS will be analysed to assess the number of participants, geographical coverage, types of grassland searched, range and numbers of plant species encountered and the proportions of positive and negative indicator species per search area. Once the BMS analysis is complete, the submitted records will be forwarded to the relevant local environment record centre (LERC) so that the collected data can be put to maximum use.
To find your local record centre you can use the following link
The map below shows the boundaries for the UK LERCs. On the LERC website the map is interactive and tells you which centre your area is covered by.
