Photo: Scarlet Elfcap Fungus (Suzanne Keene)
Information from Imogen Cavadino, an entomologist who has been funded by the RHS to research slugs and snails with a view to improving pest management practices [March 2022].
RHS
Getting started with slug identification videos September 2020:
www.rhs.org.uk/slugscount
Cellar Slug Survey www.rhs.org.uk/slugsurvey
https://www.rhs.org.uk/science/help-our-research/slug
Programmes about slug identification
BBC Newsround video “Slugs: The rebels lurking in your garden” October 2019:
https://www.bbc.co.uk/newsround/49869547
Getting started with slug identification videos September 2020:
www.rhs.org.uk/slugscount
BBC Gardener’s World Episode 17 9th July 2021:
https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m000xpc8
Natural History courses
https://www.field-studies-council.org/fsc-natural-history-courses/
RHS
Getting started with slug identification videos September 2020:
www.rhs.org.uk/slugscount
Cellar Slug Survey www.rhs.org.uk/slugsurvey
https://www.rhs.org.uk/science/help-our-research/slug
Programmes about slug identification
BBC Newsround video “Slugs: The rebels lurking in your garden” October 2019:
https://www.bbc.co.uk/newsround/49869547
Getting started with slug identification videos September 2020:
www.rhs.org.uk/slugscount
BBC Gardener’s World Episode 17 9th July 2021:
https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m000xpc8
Natural History courses
https://www.field-studies-council.org/fsc-natural-history-courses/
What - where - how - why to report mammals - flowers - funghi - amphibians - birds - reptiles
Do you love wildlife in all its glorious variety? If so, one of the most helpful things we can do is support people who look after it professionally by telling them what we see - or of course, don't see. Our aim is to develop this page so that you can easily find the appropriate route for you.
Please let us know of any queries by filling in the Contact form: you may not get an instant response, but we'll do our best just as soon as we can.
Bear in mind wise counsel from Gareth Harris, the County Recorder for mammals and bats in Wiltshire: 'Recording wildlife has become frustratingly complex now, so for most enthusiasts iRecord (see below) will more than suffice……and as you learn more, you start asking more questions and you realise more of the issues and how other systems may be better for some groups…….'
Do you love wildlife in all its glorious variety? If so, one of the most helpful things we can do is support people who look after it professionally by telling them what we see - or of course, don't see. Our aim is to develop this page so that you can easily find the appropriate route for you.
Please let us know of any queries by filling in the Contact form: you may not get an instant response, but we'll do our best just as soon as we can.
Bear in mind wise counsel from Gareth Harris, the County Recorder for mammals and bats in Wiltshire: 'Recording wildlife has become frustratingly complex now, so for most enthusiasts iRecord (see below) will more than suffice……and as you learn more, you start asking more questions and you realise more of the issues and how other systems may be better for some groups…….'
Bats and other mammals
The joint Wiltshire Mammals and Bats Group shares it’s data with Wiltshire & Swindon Biological Records Centre (WSBRC) so it is therefore important that records are submitted only once, whether to WMG or WBG or to one of the routes mentioned below – this will ensure that records are not duplicated. Just decide which one suits you best.
Gareth receives mammal and bat records from all of the following sources and assesses and verifies them to ensure all records are accurate and of high standard. He is always interested in offers of access to record new roosts of bats, particularly if you know of roosting sites of horseshoe bats.
Records should comprise the species name, the date of observation, location name or address, national grid reference (use https://gridreferencefinder.com/ to generate grid refs), the number of individuals noted, observer’s name. Please include details of fieldsigns seen, age/sex of individuals noted and any other useful information.
Gareth would be pleased to receive records and information via email to wiltsbatrecords@gmail.com. He can supply a template recording in excel for multiple records - just email to request this.
Other reporting channels
Living Record 'makes it quick and easy for you to record the wildlife that you see. It provides you with your own records system and access to a selection of distribution maps. Records are reviewed and passed on to local record centres and to organisations working for conservation. Your records form part of the big picture which is used nationally and locally to understand species distribution and population trends, to identify key sites and to develop conservation plans.'
iRecord 'A site for managing 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.'
MammalMapper A smartphone app that can be downloaded free of charge from the relevant stores. 'Most wild mammals, including rabbits and iconic species like hedgehogs and mountain hares, are very poorly monitored. The Mammal Mapper is designed to record information on the location and number of animals spotted on walks or bicycle rides.'
The joint Wiltshire Mammals and Bats Group shares it’s data with Wiltshire & Swindon Biological Records Centre (WSBRC) so it is therefore important that records are submitted only once, whether to WMG or WBG or to one of the routes mentioned below – this will ensure that records are not duplicated. Just decide which one suits you best.
Gareth receives mammal and bat records from all of the following sources and assesses and verifies them to ensure all records are accurate and of high standard. He is always interested in offers of access to record new roosts of bats, particularly if you know of roosting sites of horseshoe bats.
Records should comprise the species name, the date of observation, location name or address, national grid reference (use https://gridreferencefinder.com/ to generate grid refs), the number of individuals noted, observer’s name. Please include details of fieldsigns seen, age/sex of individuals noted and any other useful information.
Gareth would be pleased to receive records and information via email to wiltsbatrecords@gmail.com. He can supply a template recording in excel for multiple records - just email to request this.
Other reporting channels
Living Record 'makes it quick and easy for you to record the wildlife that you see. It provides you with your own records system and access to a selection of distribution maps. Records are reviewed and passed on to local record centres and to organisations working for conservation. Your records form part of the big picture which is used nationally and locally to understand species distribution and population trends, to identify key sites and to develop conservation plans.'
iRecord 'A site for managing 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.'
MammalMapper A smartphone app that can be downloaded free of charge from the relevant stores. 'Most wild mammals, including rabbits and iconic species like hedgehogs and mountain hares, are very poorly monitored. The Mammal Mapper is designed to record information on the location and number of animals spotted on walks or bicycle rides.'
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