Local Recording Groups
STANDING ON THE SHOULDERS OF GIANTS
In Birmingham and the Black Country we are very lucky to have many specialist Local Recording Groups, who help to record, monitor and protect the wildlife of our area. Joining a Local Recording group or taking part in their organised events is a great way to learn more about wildlife!
EcoRecord works closely with these groups to help support their activities.
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B&BC Botanical Society
B&BC BotSoc was set up to record the plants of Birmingham and the Black Country. This work resulted in the publication of the seminal book: The Flora of Birmingham and the Black Country (2013).
The group subsequently carried out a survey of Sutton Park and published The Flora of Sutton Park National Nature Reserve (2023).
Membership of the society is free and open to anyone.
The group carry out an annual program of field meetings, which anyone is welcome to attend. If you would like to hear about when these take place, you can sign up to the Birmingham & Black Country Botanical Society Mailing List.
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B&BC Amphibian & Reptile Group
B&BC A&RG are a volunteer-led group actively involved in the conservation of native species of amphibian and reptile and their habitats.
The group aims to establish and monitor the distribution and status of amphibians and reptiles in the area; conserve reptiles, amphibians and their habitats through surveys and practical work; foster public interest in amphibians and reptiles and their conservation; and develop the skills of those interested in these species.
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B&BC Bat Group (BrumBats)
The Birmingham and Black Country Bat Group (their friends call them BrumBats) was established in 1985 and re-launched in 2006. Since that time they’ve been working tirelessly to not only record and conserve bat populations in our county, but also to raise awareness of the importance of urban biodiversity. You’re probably thinking that this sounds pretty epic and you’d like to get involved, right? Well, hop on over to their Volunteer page and find out how you can be a part of the magic, the science and the awesomeness!
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Sandwell Valley Naturalists (SandNats)
SandNats are an active well established group of enthusiastic amateurs and professionals, who arrange indoor and outdoor meetings and study the natural history of the Sandwell Valley.
They are also involved in conservation issues and survey in Birmingham and the Black Country at large. The group aims to identify all finds, and keep accurate records on all sites we visit, including their own particular area of the Sandwell Valley.
Newcomers, whether beginners or experienced naturalists, are warmly welcomed. Please come along and get the flavour of the organisation before you decide to join officially.
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B&BC Invertebrate Group (BIG)
The Birmingham and Black Country Invertebrate Group (BIG) aims to bring together both existing invertebrate specialists and those with a growing interest in invertebrates to record, study and help conserve invertebrates in Birmingham and the Black Country.
The group plans to hold practical field visits, indoor lectures and taxonomic training events based around understudied invertebrate groups within the area.
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West Midlands Butterfly Conservation
The West Midlands Branch covers Birmingham, the Black Country and the counties of Herefordshire, Shropshire, Staffordshire and Worcestershire. If you live in the region and are a member of Butterfly Conservation you automatically become a member of the West Midlands branch.
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West Midlands Bird Club
West Midlaids Bird Club is a regional organisation that is dedicated to the study and conservation of wild birds in Staffordshire - Warwickshire - Worcestershire and the West Midlands.
They have bird reserves at Belvide and Blithfield reservoirs in Staffordshire, Harborne near the city of Birmingham in the West Midlands and Ladywalk in Warwickshire. They also have access agreement to birdwatch at Gailey Reservoirs in Staffordshire (with kind permission of the Canal & Rivers Trust) and at the Moors Pool at the Upton Warren reserve in Worcestershire (with kind permission of the Worcestershire Wildlife Trust).
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West Midlands Fungus Group