Scottish Borders Biological Records Centre

SBBRC Newsletter now available to download!

The winter 2007/08 issue of the popular SBBRC Newsletter is now available as a PDF to download.

We hope to make as many as possible of the previous seven issues available to download during the next few months.

Hard copies of the newsletter will be available in Scottish Borders Council librairies during early January 2008.

Why record wildlife?

Scottish Borders Biological Records Centre (SBBRC) is your local records centre, specialising in the management of wildlife information, using a database of over 620,000 verified wildlife records.

Information comes from members of the public, expert naturalists (many of them volunteers), nature conservation bodies and researchers.

Since its beginnings in the local recording community of the 1970's, SBBRC has developed into one of Scotland’s most dynamic records centres, providing essential services for planners, developers, natural heritage groups, naturalists, schools and local communities.

Based at Harestanes Countryside Visitor Centre since 1996 and managed by the Council’s Education and Lifelong Learning department, SBBRC is part of a growing network of centres, all working to national standards.

SBBRC is a member of BRISC (Biological Recording in Scotland) and receives grant assistance from Scottish Natural Heritage. Visit the National Federation for Biological Recording (NFBR) for details of all UK records centres.

Start recording wildlife today!

Wildlife records are essential to understanding the natural world. The UK has an unparalled history of wildlife recording extending back hundreds of years. You can add to that pool of knowledge, whatever your level of expertise. Start recording today with our downloadable SBBRC Wildlife Record Sheet.

Borders Backyard Biodiversity

Launched in Spring 2004 and still going strong, ‘Borders Backyard Biodiversity’ is a wildlife survey for anyone with a bit of green space on their doorstep. It's ideal for small gardens, school grounds and community areas. A colourful brochure contains all the information necessary to take part, including a wildlife identification guide.

‘Borders Backyard Biodiversity’ brochures are available from Harestanes Countryside Visitor Centre and SBBRC.

Using Wildlife Information

Increasing obligations on local authorities and others to monitor and conserve biodiversity can only be met with comprehensive, well-managed wildlife data.

Wildlife information is defined as ‘information on species, habitats, natural populations, natural communities and their interactions with the environment. Associated environmental data comprises other physical, geographical and social information that have a bearing on regional biodiversity’.

Wildlife information can be used for

Fulfilling statutory requirements (UK and EU) for reporting of environmental and sustainability indicators. Legislation and guidelines include the Wildlife Conservation (Scotland) Bill, Scottish Biodiversity Strategy, Environmental Impact Assessment and Strategic Environmental Assessment Directives and the Water Framework Directive.
Providing baseline and monitoring information for the Scottish Borders and UK Local Biodiversity Action Plans (LBAP).
Contributing data toward sustainable development policies, including the Local Housing Plan, Community Plan, Environmental Strategy, Tweed Catchment Management Plan, Open Spaces Audit and Scottish Borders Woodland Strategy.
Assessing the environmental quality of sites affected by planning applications in the interest of sustainable development and rural diversification. Biological information relevant to planning applications is needed for housing or industrial development, roads, forestry, pipelines and other linear routes, and other changes in land use.
Assessing sites for protected status, including the designation of Special Areas of Conservation (SAC), Special Protection Areas (SPA), National and Local Nature Reserves (NNR / LNR), Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI), Environmentally Sensitive Areas (ESA), and Wildlife Sites (WS).
Providing information to assist the development of local tourism, through maps, access routes and development of nature-based attractions.
Educational use in schools and local community groups.
Assisting wildlife projects, national recording schemes and research.
Adding value to data from local recorders, and stimulating recording activities, through production of atlases, newsletters and other publications.

Wildlife Information Services

List of species for a known location or polygon, annotated with National and/or Local Status.
List of records for a location or polygon.
List of species for a range of National grid squares.
List of records for a range of National grid squares.
Details of further conservation status for a list of species (e.g. Red Data Book, Wildlife and Protection Act Annexe species, UK BAP, LBAP, EU Habitats and Species Directives and UN Conventions designations).
Details of Scottish Borders Species and Habitats of Conservation Concern.
ArcviewTM shape files including information detailed above.
Distribution maps.
Coincidence maps.
Recording scheme / survey and sheet design.
Collation of data and data management.
Digitisation of boundaries and survey data.
Production of publication standard maps with an environmental theme.
Provision of land cover maps at a Broad Habitat Level.
Provision of land use change data.
Provision of Phase 1 and NVC land cover for selected sites.
Environmental data project design and implementation.
Natural Heritage data analysis and interpretation.*

*Interpretation of ecological data is carried out with the assistance of sub- contracted ecologists.

A list of GIS layers held by SBBRC with environmental information relating to the Scottish Borders is available on request. In addition, SBBRC has a growing reference library, and assistance can be offered in species identification. SBBRC will be only too pleased to help with any other needs for biological and associated environmental data in the Scottish Borders.

Your Local Records Centre

SBBRC provides a not-for-profit service, involving the collection, collation, management and dissemination of biological information of known quality within the Scottish Borders. SBBRC holds over 620 000 records on individual species of animals and plants, each with a location and date. In addition, over 9000 sites have been defined, containing a growing base of habitat data. Data are recorded and stored on a Recorder database, to a nationally accepted standard recommended by the National Biodiversity Network. Spatial data is related to the Ordnance Survey National Grid and a powerful Arcview^TM Geographical Information System is used for querying. This information is available to all.

Data Quality

All information received by SBBRC has been offered free of charge and has been collated in good faith. Whilst every effort has been made to validate records wherever practical, SBBRC accept no responsibility for the veracity of information held. It is worth noting that absence of a record does not necessarily indicate that a species is not present in a given location. There are many gaps in the database in terms of coverage of both taxa and locations. Any records that can be offered to help fill these gaps will be gratefully received.

Charging Policy

No charges are levied on records provided to third parties. A service charge covers staff time. All monies received are channelled into the Records Centre and used to improve and develop services.

Service Charges (excl. VAT)

Commercial users: £50 per hour or £175 per day.

NGOs and commercial contributors of records: £25 per hour or £100 per day.

Public access, educational and academic use up to 3 hours: Free of charge; £25 per hour thereafter. Please contact SBBRC for project work quotations.

Contact us

Scottish Borders Biological Records Centre, Harestanes Countryside Visitor Centre, Scottish Borders Council, Ancrum, JEDBURGH TD8 6UQ

Tel. (01835) 830405, Fax (01835) 830734