ANNUAL REPORT

2015 - 2016 CONTENTS

BUSINESS REVIEW OF THE YEAR

Introduction 7-8

Chairman’s Report 10

Interim Chief Executive Officer’s Report 11- 12

Chief Executive Officer’s Report 13

NBN IN NUMBERS 15- 16

PUTTING PARTNERSHIP INTO PRACTICE

Working to achieve the NBN vision together 17-18

A word from our members 19- 32

Realising the NBN Strategy 2015 - 2020 together 33-34

Strategic Aim 01 35- 40

Strategic Aim 02 41- 46

Strategic Aim 03 47- 54

Strategic Aim 04 55- 58

Strategic Aim 05 59- 64

FINANCIAL REVIEW

Statement of financial activities 67-78

Administrative information 79-80 w

Photocredits:

Natural England: www.flickr.com/photos/naturalengland/ Andy Howard: www.andyhoward.co.uk; pages 8, 35, 47, 59 Allan Drewitt: Front cover image, pages 5-6, 14, 40, 53-54, 58, 62; Julian Dave Kilby: www.davekilbeyphotography.co.uk; pages 15-16, 78, Dowse: p4; Ross Bullimore: p9, 28, 70; Peter Wakely: pages 17-18; Jenny back cover Wheeldon: pg 22; Andrew Mackintosh: pg32; Bruce Cutts: pages 43-44; Chris Gomersall: pages 65-66 Matt Berry: www.butterflyconservation.org; page 41

James Shooter: www.jamesshooter.com/index; pages 33-34 John Sawyer: pg 55

3 Contents Contents 4 BUSINESS REVIEW OF THE YEAR

The NBN Strategy provides a clear mandate for sharing biodiversity information so that it can be used by all interested parties to improve the quality of decisions that affect biodiversity.

55 Business review of the year Business review of the year 66 Strategic Aim 01 Record, collect, diversify, enhance and mobilise biological data: We will grow our capacity and capability to record and collect high quality INTRODUCTION biological data.

Strategic Aim 02 The National Biodiversity Network is a membership Make biological data and organisation built on principles of collaboration and sharing. information available to everyone: Our vision is that: We will continue to collaborate to embed our collective data Biological data, collected and shared openly by the Network, and knowledge creation at the are central to the UK’s learning and understanding of its heart of biodiversity learning and biodiversity and are critical to all decision-making about nature environmental decision-making. and the environment. To achieve that vision the Network authoritative understanding of Strategic Aim 03 must deliver improvements to the our natural world and will use that Captivate and engage people recording, collection, verification, knowledge effectively to educate about wildlife: We will promote the curation, aggregation, analysis and and inform. natural world, the enjoyment and use of biological data in the UK. This review of 2015 – 2016 highlights importance of observing nature and The Network’s priority is to grow the work that has taken place over biological recording and the utility the national commitment to sharing the last year to support the new NBN and power of our shared data. biological data and information. Strategy 2015 – 2020. To that end, Through this we will provide a we have information on project work comprehensive, unparalleled and that supports the five strategic aims: Strategic Aim 04 Provide the best biological information management infrastructure: We will ensure stability, security and usability for an increasingly mature data management infrastructure.

Strategic Aim 05 Support the development of the NBN, its Board and its members: We will support and grow our Network as an indispensable partnership for nature and in the successful implementation of this Strategy.

Phrases or terms “National Biodiversity Network”, “NBN Trust” and “NBN” all refer to the people and organisations that are members of the NBN Trust or share data via the Network. The Network employs a team to facilitate and coordinate its growth and development and that is referred to as the “Secretariat”.

This Annual Report is produced by the Network’s Secretariat.

7 Business review of the year Business review of the year 8 CHAIRMAN’S REPORT

The past year has been a tumultuous The NBN Conference underwent one for the NBN, and overshadowing major changes in 2015. From the it all has been the sudden and tragic previous pattern of a one-day event death of our CEO, John Sawyer. held at the Royal Society, London, John was an inspirational leader of the venue moved to York and the Professor Michael Hassell the NBN and had been CEO only Conference was held over two since May 2014. During that short days. Also inaugurated, was the time he has had an enormous impact ceremony to present the new UK on the NBN, with his vision, his Awards for Biological Recording enthusiasm and energy as well as and Information Sharing, and we are This is the his hugely motivational leadership very grateful to Swarovski Optik UK first step in of his team at the Secretariat, for their sponsorship. 180 people the NBN Atlas and all his colleagues across the from across the Network attended Project for Network. John was making a huge the Conference and gave us very the whole UK difference in the way that the NBN positive feedback to continue with was moving forwards. In 18 months a two-day format in different UK that should he had started to revolutionise the locations around the country. transform our Network and its way of thinking and During the year the NBN Secretariat biodiversity working. He was the driving force has grown and we welcome Ella infrastructure. behind our new Strategy and he was Vogel and Purba Choudhury who enthusing our partners to be part of have joined the team. As usual, the exciting new direction in which the team has been the epitome of we were heading. Our thoughts are efficiency and cheerfulness. As often with his partner, Karlene Hill, I write this, our new CEO, Dr Jo and their newborn son, Rowan. Judge, has just started her new We have been very fortunate in role and we are looking forward having Rachel Stroud as Interim CEO to working with her as the NBN and she and the rest of the NBN continues to develop and flourish. team have done an excellent job Finally, I would like to thank the of making sure that this momentum NBN Board of Trustees for their is maintained and that our new wise guidance and support during Strategy continues to develop. It is the year. particularly exciting to see the NBN Atlas Scotland unfold; this is the first step in the NBN Atlas Project for the whole UK that should transform our biodiversity infrastructure.

9 Business review of the year Business review of the year 10 continuous ‘can-do’ attitude and overwhelmingly positive personality never INTERIM CHIEF EXECUTIVE failed to shine through, even during the toughest of times.

This annual report reflects John’s infectious positivity and can-do approach OFFICER’S REPORT that impacted not just his team at the NBN Secretariat but hundreds of people across the UK, but it is also an opportunity to look forward to the future and the start of a new, and exciting chapter for the NBN under the leadership of If I could use one word to sum up 2015 it has to be ‘collaboration’. 2015 feels Jo Judge. I would like you to join me in welcoming Jo into our family. We like the year that 15 years of hard work by our Network came together and have endless exciting opportunities ahead of us to continue to grow our really started to blossom. Network as the world class leaders in recording, managing, sharing, analysing and using biodiversity data that we are. Rachel Stroud Together we have seen the Strategy 2015-2020 published and implementation started, the development of the supporting Action Plan, the I would like to take this opportunity to thank the entire Network family creation of a new NBN Website, the NBN Atlas Scotland developed, uptake for all of your time and hard work you have put into developing the NBN of data licences on the NBN Gateway and a shift towards open data take Strategy. Now we must continue to work closely together as we move to traction across the Network. implementing the Strategy and realising our vision that: Never has The Network has started to look at how we can mobilise historic data using there been We must create a landscape we can be proud of and one crowdsourcing platforms, we had an amazing two day conference in York a more in which a new generation of biological recorders can and launched a new UK Awards Scheme, including the John Sawyer NBN pertinent Open Data Award presented to the Mammal Society who has submitted over enter, inheriting the skills and knowledge of our diverse time to work 43,000 open records to the NBN Gateway as part of their National Mammal Network and continuing to realise and harness the power together Atlas Project. We had our first two students join the NBN Secretariat and of our collective biodiversity data holdings. to show secured a PhD studentship with the Centre for Ecology & Hydrology and Together we can change the way biodiversity data are collected, managed, our future Exeter University to work with the Network to improve non-native species data flows. shared, analysed and used. We have custodians of a legacy of hundreds generations of years of recording time and expertise. Never has there been a more that we cared We saw a surge in social media traffic, our collective profile being raised in pertinent time to work together to show our future generations that we cared for this legacy. mainstream media and over 20,000 records being shared by consultants for this legacy. We must create a landscape we can be proud of and one in across the UK. Data Holding Certificates were sent to all data partners, the which a new generation of biological recorders can enter, inheriting the skills NBN Gateway reached over 125 million records and the British Trust for and knowledge of our diverse Network and continuing to realise and harness Ornithology supplied the NBN with over 140 million records to be added to the power of our collective biodiversity data holdings. I encourage you to the NBN Gateway. pick up a copy of our Network’s Action Plan 2016-2020 and identify one action which you can contribute to over the coming twelve months. Let the Alongside all of this activity, the Network entered a period of grief and Secretariat know how we can support you in achieving this and continue to readjustment following the all too untimely passing of John Sawyer. For most tell us of your successes and achievements over the coming year. of us we worked hundreds of miles away from John however, I think I speak for all when I say we couldn’t have felt closer to him. John had a special way Over the next year the Secretariat will continue to support and promote the with people which brought out the best in them whilst bringing people along work of the Network. Together we will continue to grow the strength of our with him and his vision. partnership as world leaders in what we do.

He was willing to break the mould and was a clear, visionary leader. In It has been a true honour to work with such a diverse Network of individuals the 18 short months that he led the Network, he inspired us all to seek out and organisations as Interim CEO and I would like to take this opportunity new challenges and push ourselves, a characteristic which he not only to thank you all for your ongoing support and commitment to building and nurtured in his team at the NBN Secretariat, but also in individuals across our shaping our National Biodiversity Network. I look forward to the next twelve Network. His focus was bringing about change for the better, making waves months of continuing to implement the NBN Strategy, together. and bringing people through them with him and he wasn’t afraid to push people and ask the question ‘why’, or ‘why not’. A trait which, coupled with his charisma, sent a ripple across our Network, with organisations challenging themselves in order to contribute to achieving the new NBN vision. His

11 Business review of the year Business review of the year 12 CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER’S REPORT

The coming year will be an exciting one both personally, as I settle into my role, and for the National Biodiversity Network as a whole. At the time of writing I have only been in post for two weeks, therefore, there is still a lot for me to assimilate as well as many more Network partners and members Dr Jo Judge to meet.

I will strive to continue the excellent the NBN brand, and through that progress my predecessor, John the NBN family, both within the Sawyer, and Rachel Stroud as biodiversity community and to the We need to interim CEO, made towards the wider public. The work undertaken ensure that implementation of the NBN Strategy. by the Network is of vital importance information In particular, I will maintain the to the understanding of our natural about what priority to engage with partners world and should be used to and members to build a stronger educate and inform others from all the Network Network and greater collaboration walks of life. We need to ensure that does is between those within the Network. information about what the Network reported and does is reported and celebrated. celebrated. One of the strategic aims of the Work has begun on this through the Network is to provide a stable Communications Strategy published and secure platform for the NBN in March last year, and we will infrastructure. We are well on our continue to improve the ways in way to doing so in Scotland as which we ensure that NBN members demonstrated at the milestone event and partners are well informed for the pilot NBN Atlas Scotland of what is happening within the which took place at the end of May. Network and to raise awareness for Further development of the Scottish those unfamiliar with what we do. portal and the implementation of the overarching NBN Atlas along I am thrilled to be joining the NBN with the front-end portals for Wales, Secretariat at a time when there England and Northern Ireland are are many opportunities to progress high priorities for this year. As with the Network in a variety of ways. I everything we do, the involvement am very eager to begin developing of the Network family is crucial for existing programmes of work and the success of the NBN Atlas, there introducing new ideas where is still much work to do and many appropriate. But most of all I am possibilities to explore. With your looking forward to meeting and help the finished product should be working closely with the partners a system we will all be proud to be and members who make up the involved with. Network family.

Another strategic aim I see as being a high priority for the coming year is developing and promoting

13 Business review of the year Business review of the year 14 NBN IN NUMBERS

All figures relate to the end of the period 1st April 2015 - 31st March 2016 unless stated otherwise.

30,000+ Biological records made daily in the UK

142 Network members

175 Data Providers

Records shared by Network members 125.7 million on the NBN Gateway Biological records loaded onto the 15.6 million NBN Gateway

Biological records downloaded from 913 million the NBN Gateway

Records aggregated by Local Environmental c101 million Record Centres

Records on the Consultants Portal 25,876

Registered users of the Consultants Portal 301

Records on the NBN Atlas Scotland (at June 2,645,762 2016)

Staff employed in the Secretariat of the 6 FTE NBN Trust

Planning data requests to Local Environmental 21,500 Records Centres

15 NBN in numbers NBN in numbers 16 PUTTING PARTNERSHIP INTO PRACTICE WORKING TO ACHIEVE THE NBN VISION TOGETHER

Biological data, collected and shared openly by the Network, are central to the UK’s learning and understanding of its biodiversity and are critical to all decision-making about nature and the environment.

17 Putting partnership into practice Putting partnership into practice 18 A WORD FROM OUR MEMBERS people such as they. All this promotes awareness of the NBN Gateway – and I hope that many of the people will then use the NBN Gateway to look at species distributions in their own area.

As mentioned in our main introduction to this report, the But the cost of records? I always ask for travel expenses to be covered and National Biodiversity Network is a membership organisation for £100 speaker’s fee. However, I will waive this entirely provided some built on principles of collaboration and sharing. slugs are brought in by members. So far, I have never been paid the £100 fee and will be very disappointed if I am. However, this arrangement does help Our members are diverse with their own aims and objectives, but they are stress to the audience the value of species records. How many records are playing their part in the Network and are supporting the NBN Strategy and generated? Anything from a handful up to about 100. That makes the notional Vision. Here we bring you reports from a cross section of our member cost of a record well over £1. It is impossible to assess accurately the real organisations and an individual supporter member who give their thoughts, in typical cost of records but I think £1 is not unreasonable. With 30,000 records their own words. made every day by NBN partners that annual cost will be around £10 million. The value of the records, though, is far simpler to assess – invaluable.

The cost of a biological record? Written by Chris Du Feu – Supporter member Field Studies Council – Bronze member Some time ago my son announced to gather more distribution records Written by Rich Burkmar that he had read the colour ring for this much under-recorded group. The Field Studies Council (FSC) is Our provision of natural history and on a bird using his new telescope. New dots on distribution maps are proud to be an active member of biological recording education for New dots on He remarked that the cost of that always highly motivating and these the National Biodiversity Network adults is unfettered by changes biological record was therefore over workshops have only once failed distribution Our greatest Partnership. For more than 70 years to curricula, and consequently we £1,000. By the time he upgraded to provide at least one new 10km maps are contribution FSC has worked to connect people continue to offer a broad portfolio to an even more powerful model record, and never failed to bring always highly will always be with the natural world that underpins of courses. For many people the he said that the cost per sight new records at higher resolutions. motivating... our economic, mental and ecological annual arrival of our natural history record had come down to about Using an under-recorded group is in providing well-being. It started with inner-city courses brochure through their 10p. But, of course, this is a gross helpful, but also species records tools and children in war-damaged London letterbox is as eagerly anticipated oversimplification. He has used from gardens are often relatively training that and from there we have reached into as the first swallow! But maintaining his telescope for other things too, sparse compared to those from wild, help others virtually every corner of our country this provision isn’t without its bringing down the cost per record exciting habitats often frequented reach their and its communities, striving to do challenges; for example where but has also spent a great deal on by recorders. The advent of the full potential justice to our mission – bringing school groups (by far and away our transport, other equipment and time. NBN Gateway maps has massively as biological environmental understanding to all. largest customers) no longer require His records will then be processed enhanced the impact of these talks dissecting microscopes, it becomes by other people before eventually simply because of the ease of recorders Right from the get-go FSC used increasingly difficult for our centres arriving in some appropriate illustration of the local distributions within natural history as a vehicle to to maintain good stock of them for database. All that increases the cost (or, very often, the lack of local connect people and nature and FSC the NBN the less financially secure adult of a record. information). tutors today still use it to capture partnership. courses. the imagination of visiting school Over recent years I have led slug The NBN Gateway has also brought children. They work stealthily in Some of these problems are offset workshops for various conservation a development in emphasis. I now the little gaps and quiet moments by FSC’s strategy of boosting and gardeners’ organisations. am able to tell people more about to be found between the boxes natural history provision through These consist of an illustrated the nature of biological records, that must be ticked for increasingly externally funded projects like talk to describe slug ecology and their uses, their collection and prescriptive and unimaginative Invertebrate Challenge, Biodiversity identification. Following the talk, we compilation. I stress that a great education frameworks. Fellows, Tomorrow’s Biodiversity identify the specimens brought in by deal of the work is done by ordinary and Biodiversity Links, all of which members. My initial aim was simply

19 Putting partnership into practice Putting partnership into practice 20 strive to boost participation in biological recording community – biological recording and monitoring. the NBN Partnership – to increase Sue Townsend manages the FSC participation in biological recording team responsible for running these and the number of records flowing projects and leads FSC’s side of into the NBN. We are always looking the partnership with Manchester at ways to improve our participation; Metropolitan University which has, for example we are striving to for 15 years, delivered post-graduate develop a culture within our centres training in biological recording. of proper collation and submission Our Publications Unit has a long of biological records. We hope that history in, and great reputation for, very soon, all of our centres will use producing high-quality identification iRecord tools to contribute records resources, both in its own right and to the NBN Gateway so that FSC in partnership with others such as becomes a direct data provider. the Linnean Society and the Royal But our greatest contribution will Entomological Society. always be in providing tools and training that help others reach their Through our courses, publications, full potential as biological recorders partnerships and general ethos, within the NBN partnership. FSC works as part of the wider

Ministry of Justice – Silver member Written by Phil Thomas Ecology, biological diversity and the strategy and policy for the natural protection of our native habitats and environment; and how MoJ reports species is probably not everyone’s on the Government’s Biodiversity The first thought when they think of Transparency Targets and towards partnership the Ministry of Justice Shared the Biodiversity 2020 outcomes. estate (MoJ). However, as the MoJ we have with The partnership we have with the shared estate is one of the largest the NBN NBN has proved invaluable in built and non-built (rural) estates in has proved many ways and has given the MoJ Government, it’s hardly surprising invaluable in an opportunity to develop learning that the rural estate at MoJ has and skills for offenders in the many ways. such diversity when it comes to natural environment, whilst native wildlife; which includes 10 contributing to the Restorative nationally important SSSIs, including Justice Agenda and local community 3 European designated sites, as well conservation projects. as over 39 sites of rural biodiversity significance; including one of the Over 10 years ago parts of the Prison largest priority species databases Service rural estate, an Executive on the Government estate. As a Agency of the MoJ, started to get consequence, the protection of involved in the Big Garden Birdwatch these species and habitats is not (BGB), and it was realised at an only a priority for the MoJ and early stage that gathering data on their Ecology network, but it has wildlife, and in the case of BGB, become an integral part of our

21 Putting partnership into practice Putting partnership into practice 22 it was proving invaluable to help Amphibian & Reptile Conservation, Collaborative working NFBR also had the success in offenders understand that they the Woodland Trust and many more. As the NBN is a key partner in 2015 of nominating Bill Ely to can have a purpose, that they are Our BAP Coordinator Beatrice Finch national biological recording NFBR’s receive NBN’s Honorary Member not just looking at wildlife for their maintains our liaison with the NBN relationship in it is an important one. own interest, but rather providing on uploading data to the data-hub award. NFBR was invited to join NFBR is an Affiliated Member valuable data to support the NBN Gateway. the NBN and the Biological Records and can nominate a NBN Board community, the natural environment Centre in setting up new awards for The many conservation projects we Member. Paul Harding who had and a wider biodiversity network. excellence in biological recording, been our nomination for many now run, including annual species distributed at the NBN Conference years decided to resign in 2015. The MoJ Ecology network has since surveys, BioBlitzes and Biodiversity of November 2015. formed many partnerships, not just Days will contribute to the NBN We owe him our sincere thanks with the NBN, but with NGOs (some and other partner’s data-hubs; and for representing the recording NFBR Council committed time to of whom are themselves members we hope to this end, it will in some community at that high level for respond in depth to the NBN’s new of the NBN) such as Bumblebee small way, contribute to the eventual so long. NFBR’s replacement Strategy, and will support the various Conservation, People’s Trust halting of the decline of our native nomination is Alan Stewart, who runs working groups set up to deliver the for Endangered Species, RSPB, species. a National Recording Scheme, he NBN Strategy: many of them match was involved in the Co-ordinating NFBR’s own priorities. Commission for Biological Recording NFBR attends the Biodiversity Data National Forum for Biological Recording – Affiliate member (CCBR), teaches ecology at Sussex University, and is excellently Group, and during 2015 it joined the Written by Graham Walley placed to take on this important State of Nature Partnership. National Forum for Biological Recording (NFBR) aims to provide an arena for responsibility for NFBR and NBN. discussing biological recording in all its aspects. We have members who are active in many areas of the subject, as individuals, so we remain an independent voice. Natural England – Affiliate member Written by Keith Porter 2015 Conference delegates over the two days. The The last 12 months has been a well with the Biodiversity Monitoring NFBR’s annual conference brings workshops and talks covered difficult time for all publicly funded and Surveillance Strategy that we, members together to hear about and current biological recording interests bodies; budget pressures mean and our Defra group partners, are We have discuss developments in biological including the new NBN Strategy. that new solutions are needed using to shape our future priorities recording. The 2015 conference seen the across all work areas. At the for assessing and understanding same time we have seen the biodiversity trends. at Sheffield University and titled Communication development “A question of ecology - answers and adoption development and adoption of a Two newsletters were produced We support the NBN Strategy, from biological recording” was a new strategy for the NBN and a during 2015 and the new of a new especially with respect to creating great success. The conference strong push for more open data. NFBR website went live in strategy for a new ‘NBN Atlas England’. The was arranged jointly with the British Natural England recognises that December. Social media follower the NBN and England Atlas will build on the work Ecological Society, Macroecology traditional approaches have not numbers increased over the year already started by Scotland, Wales Special Interest Group which a strong push worked in biodiversity and we need and a core of members added new and Northern Ireland to replace the provided access to new projects for more fresh approaches that match the content to maintain interest and NBN Gateway with an improved and brought new people into open data. pressures and opportunities of today reach new potential members. portal based upon the Atlas of contact with NFBR. There were 100 and into the foreseeable future. Living Australia. This will provide The NBN Strategy provides a clear greater access to a wider range of mandate for sharing biodiversity biodiversity data in ways that add information so that it can be used value to basic biological recording by all interested parties to improve and will provide a central pivot for the quality of decisions that affect the whole NBN partnership. In biodiversity. This overall aim fits addition we are developing a small

23 Putting partnership into practice Putting partnership into practice 24 grant scheme to support open information on species occurrence conferences respectively on their One of the core challenges for the data release by local organisations and land use and management experiences on the traineeship. project is looking at diversity within or groups, and, in conjunction that is collected by Natural England Chloe also presented her work on recruitment into the sector. With with other NBN partners, we are staff as part of our site and species the ID Trainers course at the NBN very challenging targets set by HLF contributing to the development protection work. This includes large Conference in 2015. we have been striving to improve of data verification and improving amounts of plant data that has been the visibility and attractiveness of how records are captured as part of collected as a routine part of our Jaswinder, Sophie, Krisztina, Joe & the project to the whole range of our contribution to supporting the monitoring work on SSSIs and Agri- Nicola all started with the Museum in communities within the UK. Looking NBN Strategy. In our own right we environment schemes. We believe March and, having completed their at data from the Chartered Institute have been very active in mobilising that mobilising data in this way will introductory Phase 1 (which included of Ecology and Environmental over 2,000 datasets under Open be of considerable benefit to a wide the first phase of the NBN workshop Management and the British Government licence in response to audience, especially when species in biodiversity data and data Ecological Society, and the Museum the challenge set by the Secretary data is linked to habitat and other handling with Rachel Stroud), are itself, there are clearly certain key of State for the Environment on environmental datasets through the now dividing their time between their diversity challenges for the sector improving access to publicly funded new portals. species identification workshops and we have been actively working data. These datasets include and helping us with various projects with a wide range of partners to in the AMC. So far they have see how we can challenge this completed a curation project on the within this project. Table 1 below AMC’s synoptic collection of birds’ highlights the achievements so Natural History Museum – Affiliate member eggs, designed & managed stands far beyond the sector averages, Written by Chris Raper & Steph West at the Brompton Cemetery BioBlitz however we recognise that there The Natural History Museum, through the Angela Marmont Centre (AMC) for and Gilbert White’s Museum Nature is always more that we can do UK Biodiversity, continues to play a very active role in the NBN by providing a Day, assisted with the development here to encourage participation London base for meetings and workshops, and partnering with other network of the Earthworm Watch project and and engagement in taxonomy One of members in several major projects, including the Identification Trainers for the assisted with the day-to-day running and recording, whether through the core Future and the UK Species Inventory. of the Identification and Advisory amateur recording or professional challenges Service. Now that they have returned entry into the biodiversity sector. from their placements at various We will be continuing to work on for the project HLF Identification Trainers FSC centres they will be tackling the this in advance of the next round is looking for the Future remaining species workshops over of recruitment for cohort 3 in at diversity The HLF funded Identification now Conservation Ecologist for the the next 3 months before heading September 2016. within Trainers for the Future project London Wildlife Trust, Chloe Rose is to their placements in NHM curation recruitment is now in its second year. This working for Middlemarch Ecology in departments in September. Sussex, Katy has started a position into the project is run as a partnership between the Museum, NBN Trust with Operation Wallacea to set up sector. Comparison of gender & ethnicity statistics within the UK, and Field Studies Council and and run an entomology training Table 1 - biodiversity sector and recruitment for the Identification Trainers for supports 5 trainees a year through & recording scheme, Anthony is the Future project. a 12-month long programme of working for Earthwatch and Sally has species identification workshops, recently moved to Sheffield and has NHM IDTfF IDTfF training in scientific communication started volunteering for the Sheffield NHM1 BES3 UK4 Science2 Year 1 Year 2 and education and placement Wildlife Trust while she searches for experience. work in the local area. In addition, Female 54% 54% 40% 51% 57% 56% Katy is co-organiser for the Biological Our first cohort of trainees Male 46% 46% 60% 49% 43% 44% Record Centre’s Cerambycidae successfully completed their White 84% 93% 91% 86% 86% 84% Recording Scheme while Anthony programme at the end of February Other Ethnic 12% 7% 9% 11% 12% 16% & Chloe recently presented at 2016 and are now actively working Group the Natural Sciences Collections and volunteering within the Association conference and National 1NHM “Current ethnicity, gender, age dated 29/11/13” (unpublished) biodiversity sector. Mike Waller is 2NHM “Current ethnicity, gender, age dated 03/11/15 (unpublished) Forum for Biological Recording 3British Ecological Society “Making Ecology for All” December 2013 4Office for National Statistics, 2011 census Data NB - data from the BES is supported by currently unpublished survey data from CIEEM (not shown here)

25 Putting partnership into practice Putting partnership into practice 26 the well-being goals. The Environment Act focuses on UK Species Inventory building resilience into our ecosystems and recognising The NHM continues its commitment purposes. These included the GB the benefits that they provide if we manage them in a to maintaining and developing the Non-Native Species Information smarter way. UK Species Inventory, the database Portal checklist of non-native species which, for the first time, allows of names and taxonomic concepts NRW’s data on the NBN Gateway that underpins most major UK anyone to extract lists of records of We are currently building our new biological records biological recording systems and non-natives in their area and gives database which will be the repository for all NRW the NBN Gateway. Chris Raper, them the ability to predict potential biological data in the future. Currently we have just under who manages the Inventory, spread and plan responses. In the a million records on the NBN Gateway, mainly from the also continues to build links with future we plan to add an index legacy CCW, although once the new database is finished new contributors and partner of invasiveness which will give and populated we will be exporting any records from organisations, focusing on building a additional levels of detail to any the legacy Environment Agency Wales and Forestry database that serves the biological reporting. Another has been the Commission Wales which are not already recording community and prioritises Defra Crop Wild Relatives checklist on the Gateway. updates that enable data to flow into which allows them to report on the the system. distribution of native plants that Supporting the Local Environmental are close relatives of crop plants Highlights this year included the Records Centres in Wales and filter by their relatedness to latest checklist of British Lepidoptera the crop plants. On a similar theme Wales is very fortunate in that we have a complete from the Royal Entomological we continue to provide access geographic coverage of Local Environmental Records Society’s book by Agassiz, Beavan to the Joint Nature Conservation Centres (LERCs). The four LERCs in Wales were all set & Heckford - adding many new Committee’s checklist of statutory up with the same business model and work closely with species and correcting the taxonomy designations, allowing users to each other and with NRW. NRW supports the LERCs significantly. Also, we have focused report on species rarity. to engage with recorders and citizen scientists to on importing a few checklists that encourage, enthuse, train, support and provide tools. In are of particular use to statutory Chris is also involved in the this way we support the collection and mobilisation of bodies, local authorities and local establishment of a Working Group biological data and information. This year we achieved a environmental records centres for the UK Species Inventory, more big milestone in that all the data held by the Welsh LERCs because they allow them to extract detail on which can be found on (that they have appropriate permissions for) are now NBN Gateway data for reporting page 56. available on the NBN Gateway at coarse resolution. This has added nearly 2.5 million records to Wales’ coverage. The LERCs also manage some of NRW’s data on the Natural Resources Wales – Affiliate member NBN Gateway on our behalf. In addition they have made Written by Barnaby Letheren well over 35 thousand Invasive and Non-Native Species (INNS) records available at full capture resolution. Natural Resources Wales (NRW) is the largest Welsh Government Sponsored Body. We were formed in April 2013, largely taking over the functions of the Progress on the NBN Atlas Wales Countryside Council for Wales (CCW), Forestry Commission Wales and the This year we Environment Agency in Wales, as well as certain Welsh Government functions. At the end of the last financial year NRW and Welsh achieved a big Government identified some funds which we were able to make available to support the development of milestone... Our mission and purpose a Welsh implementation of the Atlas of Living Australia. all the data The Environment (Wales) Act and the Well-being of Future Generations The first stakeholder meeting has been held and project held ...are (Wales) Act together create modern legislation for managing Wales’ natural governance is being put into place to steer the ongoing now available resources and improving the social, economic, environmental and cultural development and implementation of an Atlas of Living on the NBN well-being of Wales. The Environment Act gives Natural Resources Wales a Wales. This is to ensure that, in the spirit of the NBN, this Gateway new purpose - to pursue sustainable management of natural resources. We is done as a collaborative project which will deliver a at coarse will apply a specific set of principles while maximising our contribution to system which has been designed by, and works for, all the Network members in Wales. resolution.

27 Putting partnership into practice Putting partnership into practice 28 Norfolk Biodiversity Information Service – • NBIS Recording Fund, where marine feel, including seaweed Supporter member each year money received from pressings ID book and a marine Written by Sam Neal commercial enquiries is made sponge workshop. In addition, available to support projects which pond research, by University Norfolk Biodiversity Information Service (NBIS) has worked hard to raise the result in more records for the NBIS College London on invertebrates profile of recording in Norfolk, delivering outreach in addition to an effective database. 2015-16 had a distinctly has been funded. data service for the county. We play an active role in the National Biodiversity Network, by contributing data to the NBN Gateway and in many other ways: In August 2015, NBIS was awarded accredited status by the Association of Local Environmental Records Centres (ALERC). This means that we • We have an excellent relationship recording workshops on: demonstrated that we were meeting or exceeding a set of criteria drawn with our county recorders, with an dragonflies; birds; bees; lichens; up by ALERC to ensure LERC’s are providing a good service to their users annual evening meeting held bug sorting; lunar yellow and providers. every year in Norwich. This underwing caterpillars; grasses year’s meeting in March focused and sedges. As well as learning on ‘borderlands’ and included new taxonomic ID skills, the Northamptonshire Biodiversity Records short talks and posters on topics volunteers were contributing to Centre – Supporter member ranging from Norfolk cetaceans to research into the effect of different Written by Steve Whitbread lichens and volunteer recorders. management types on Reflecting their individual origins and with and filling the gaps in existing, invertebrate assemblages in the circumstances, Local Environmental excellent initiatives. Now in its pilot • Through the ‘Wildlife Recorders Brecks. Once sorted, the samples Records Centres (LERCs) are a phase, we hope that our HLF- of Tomorrow’ project, part of the were sent off to local experts to be There is varied bunch, adding considerable supported WILDside project will let Heritage Lottery Fund supported identified to species level. ‘Breaking New Ground’ project, considerable diversity to the Network. We are able us take several steps forward in this NBIS has created many • Creating a series of ‘Wildwalks’ for scope to to focus on meeting local needs, direction. opportunities for getting involved recording wildlife along the way. contribute to although our priorities, differences As a partner in NBN’s successful with recording in the Brecks – a and resource constraints can get in • Earth Observation Data Integration and to gain Data Capture Initiative (DCI - funded wildlife hotspot with unique the way of united action. There is a Pilot. Led by the British Trust from the by the Cabinet Office), we anticipate habitats spanning across Norfolk definite need for LERCs to evolve for Ornithology under contract contributing to the NBN working and Suffolk. This new monitoring NBN Strategy to be better able to help in meeting to Joint Nature Conservation group on Mobilising Historic will play a key part in developing and Action future challenges and opportunities. Committee (JNCC), to appraise Data, and being able to digitise strategies to ensure the long-term Plan, and In part this will be through greater the potential for volunteers and many more local wildlife moments survival of all components of this many LERCs collaboration with each other, communities to become habitat from the Second Millennium. We unique ecosystem. sharing the best practice already are playing are also looking forward to seeing validators and to look at the open adopted by some, developing new their part. what picture is painted of changes in • The Brandon Country Park BioBlitz, source technologies to support tools and approaches and working the county by our DCI-digitised bird where county recorders helped this. This project neatly followed with other partners, locally and records. out to record species and give on from Making Earth Observation nationally. There is considerable talks and lead walks. Over 250 Work 2 - an initiative to develop scope to contribute to and to gain Alongside, the expectation of species were recorded during “Living Maps” (habitat maps); the from the NBN Strategy and Action passing the one million records the course of the event which first was developed for Norfolk. Plan, and many LERCs are playing mark for the county this year, we’re engaged with over 100 visitors. NBIS was chosen by JNCC as their part. The Northamptonshire also working towards becoming an the preferred sub-contractor on Biodiversity Records Centre is one ‘accredited centre’ (in accordance • Training events for helping the this project and undertook such LERC. with the requirements of the national public to develop expertise intensive stakeholder interviews Association of Local Environmental and confidence to become wildlife and acted in an advisory role on Celebrating its tenth anniversary this Records Centres). We’ll also be recorders in the Brecks, including the steering group. year, it still has a long way to travel. encouraging wider sharing of more One clear priority is to encourage data via the NBN Gateway (including and offer more support to recording back to the Centre) and iRecord. activities in the county, integrating

29 Putting partnership into practice Putting partnership into practice 30 The NBN as a whole is stronger if records centres are ‘Twenty-five Year Plan for the Environment’ and the better supported and better able to offer support in necessary adoption of a natural capital approach offer a turn. There are issues over the funding mechanism real opportunity to tackle these issues in support of that urgently need to be resolved – not only for LERCs. the NBN Strategy. The year ahead will certainly be an Planning for and implementation of the Government’s interesting one, for NBRC, for LERCs and for the Network.

Royal Horticultural Society – Silver member Written by Andrew Salisbury

The Royal Horticultural Society (RHS), to 1889 (preceding the donation of Wisley to the RHS the UK’s leading gardening charity in 1904). The records of wildflowers have enabled a dedicated to advancing horticulture comparison of the flora at Wisley over 100 years and the The RHS and promoting good gardening, book, the Wild Flowers of Wisley: A Centenary views the actively supports the NBN and Flora by Barry Phillips and James Armitage was NBN as a sharing of biological data. Sharing published in 2010. vital outlet information is key to the RHS and its The RHS gathers information via RHS (members) science strategy. The RHS collates when sharing Gardening Advice service on non-native garden insects, biological record data from two biological for example, detailed information on the establishment, sources, a record of the wildlife that rate of spread and host range of lily beetle (Lilioceris lilii) information RHS gardens support and reports and rosemary beetle (Chrysolina americana). A more and is from the gardening public. pleased that proactive approach for four insects was developed using Most gardens are valuable habitats web surveys that enable gardeners to submit records the facilities for a wide range of animals and for lily beetle, rosemary beetle, berberis sawfly(Arge on the NBN plants in addition to (and because berberidis) and hemerocallis gall midge (Contarinia Gateway of) the ornamental and edible plant quinquenotata). Since the launch in 2008 over 28,000 enable collections, the four RHS gardens records have been received. Information submitted is tracking of are no exception. At approximately analysed and maps, web pages and advice updated on data use. 50,000 records, the data on native an annual basis. A vital part of this process is sharing the and naturalised fauna and flora information via the NBN Gateway. In addition, records of from the four RHS gardens (Wisley Southern green shield bug (Nezara viridula), Pittosporum in Surrey, Hyde Hall in Essex, sucker (Trioza vitreoradiata), fuchsia gall mite (Aculops Rosemore in Devon and Harlow Carr fuchsiae) and wisteria scale (Eulecanium excrescens) in Yorkshire) comprise the largest are shared. dataset the RHS shares via the NBN The RHS views the NBN as a vital outlet when sharing Gateway, namely “RHS monitoring biological information and is pleased that the facilities of native and naturalised plants on the NBN Gateway enable tracking of data use; there and animals at its gardens and were more than 2000 downloads of RHS data between surrounding areas”. A wide range May 2015 and 2016. of plants and animals are covered by the records and they date back

31 Putting partnership into practice Putting partnership into practice 32 PUTTING PARTNERSHIP INTO PRACTICE REALISING THE NBN STRATEGY 2015 - 2020 TOGETHER

2015 - 2016 saw the release and publication of the new NBN Strategy 2015 - 2020. It also saw the development and publication of the NBN Action Plan 2016 - 2020, which sets out the commitment NBN members and data partners are making to deliver the Strategy. The information in this section of the Annual Report shows what progress has been made over the course of the year and what activities are underway by each Strategic Aim.

33 Putting partnership into practice Putting partnership into practice 34 QUALITY CONTROL AND VERIFICATION AND BIOLOGICAL RECORDING ONLINE WORKING GROUP

A Working Group for “Quality Control and Verification” and “Biological Recording Online” held an initial meeting on 12th February 2016. The membership of this group was informed by the Action Plan consultation. STRATEGIC AIM Invitations were circulated to ensure the group’s membership accurately represented the diversity of our Network.

Quality Control and Verification The NBN partnership collates It was identified at the first meeting biological records from many of the working group that there different sources, using many is a need for a standard set of different techniques. Inevitably verification terms to be used across the quality of this data can vary. all systems. With help from the 01 Some data are contributed by working group, Association of Local novices just starting out with an Environmental Records Centres RECORD, COLLECT, DIVERSIFY, interest in watching wildlife, some (ALERC), Biological Records Centre is contributed by internationally and NBN will review the existing ENHANCE AND MOBILISE recognised experts. verification terms with a view to these being adopted by NBN, and BIOLOGICAL DATA. Biological records are used in many assess how these can be mapped ways, which can lead to significant onto sets of terms in use across outcomes, for example in research, other systems, and how they can conservation, policy work and be brought into use within the development control. “NBN Atlas” environment. Further In order to ensure that data are consultation will then be needed to used appropriately we need to explore how the use of a standard know about the quality of the data: set of terms can be more widely has it been checked, and if so encouraged, and how to deal how and by whom? Currently a with verification taking place at variety of approaches are taken to multiple points within the recording checking biological records, using a community, so that options can be mix of human review and machine circulated for agreement among the analysis, and carried out by a mix of group. This should allow us to take volunteers and professionals. a significant step towards our aim of having an agreed and transparent protocol for verification that can be used across the Network.

35 Putting partnership into practice Putting partnership into practice 36 Biological Recording Online IMPROVING ACCESS TO DATA The immediate priority for this theme within the Working group is to focus on issues pertaining to systems explicitly capturing biological records. In this As a first step in implementing the NBN Strategy 2015-2020 the NBN way, the working definition of online recording, which will be finalised by the Secretariat sought views in 2015 from all NBN Data Partners about a range Working Group, is: of issues.

Online recording is the process of entering a species These issues included: record into an online system that has been specifically • Data sharing globally via Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF) set up to enable users to contribute data to a survey or ongoing effort to gather species records. • Non-native and invasive species • Pollinators • Data shared via an atlas platform The overall objective of the Working Group is to ensure good quality data are available for sharing regionally and nationally via the NBN data infrastructure • Data licensing as quickly, and as accurately, as possible. The group will focus largely on • Data flow (especially via iRecord) setting standards for online recording and will not be prescriptive about which system Network partners should be using, the multiplicity of platforms A total of 98 responses were received and in general Data Partners are breeds creativity. The group will address the needs of the various users. keen to make changes with regards to opening up data on non-natives (94% Those that record and collect, quality assure, curate, aggregate, analyse or Yes or Maybe), pollinators (86% Yes or Maybe), historic data (86% Yes or use data captured via online recording systems. In this way, the group will Maybe). In general, Data Partners are keen to increase data flow between facilitate the NBN Data Flow Pathway and thereby contribute to delivering the NBN members (93% Yes or Maybe) and are keen to share data via an Atlas overall NBN Strategy 2015-20. (97% Yes or Maybe) and with GBIF (92% Yes or Maybe).

This questionnaire has provided us with the foundation to implement the CONSULTANTS PORTAL NBN Strategy, and the NBN Secretariat will be working with the Network to resolve some of the main questions and issues raised as a response to this The Consultants Portal has been An increased effort towards the questionnaire. These were: developed as a platform whereby continued development and environmental consultants and promotion of the Consultants Portal • What are the definitions of ‘non- • If we are to improve the systems ecologists can upload, share and began in June 2015. The main native’ and ‘pollinator’ and what for directly sharing data between manage their survey records online. development phase continued would be the desired resolution NBN Data Partners, could The purpose of this platform was until September 2015 when the for sharing these data? consultants be a Data Partner and to provide a professional interface focus changed towards promoting therefore have open access to providing the ability to easily and the Consultants Portal and training • How will increasing the openness data holdings? quickly upload large numbers of Consultants in its use. and resolution of data affect records, to allow collaborative the business models of NBN Data • What resolution would data be At the time of writing (July 2016), working between colleagues, to Partners and how can we monitor required to be held on the NBN the Consultants Portal holds 26,886 be able to structure records under commercial use? Atlas platforms and on GBIF records, and has 321 registered a Consultancy>Project>Record and what are the implications members. 10 training sessions have hierarchy, and to give access to of applying data licences to these been run, providing training to over summary reporting and mapping data holdings? 110 consultants. tools, downloadable for reports.

We thank everyone who took time to complete this questionnaire and we look forward to working with you all to find solutions to the issues raised.

37 Putting partnership into practice Putting partnership into practice 38 DATA CAPTURE SUMMIT DATABASE OF RECORDING SCHEMES

On the 25th September 2015, mobilising data. The focus of the During 2015, our summer placement, For each recording scheme, the 58 members of the NBN met NBN Crowdsourcing Data Capture Lizzy Arnold, embarked on a huge database includes information about to kick-start a strategy for using Summit was to raise awareness of task to create a database of all what species, group of species or crowdsourcing to mobilise our the wide spectrum of approaches recording schemes and surveys. habitat is the focus of the survey, extensive historic collections. to data mobilisation and use this The database started out as a what geographical area it covers, Held at Manchester Museum this information to build a strategy for the simple list on the NBN website with what time of year volunteers can event had representatives from NBN to start mobilising its historic links to the schemes’ own website participate and how to get involved. Local Environmental Records data holdings. or survey. With the creation of the The database already lists 197 Centres, NGOs, Government new NBN website, we were able to Some people may question why different schemes or surveys and we Agencies, libraries, herbaria and create a fully searchable database, historic data are important and expect this to continue to grow as museums, Wildlife Trusts, National which allows users to browse all the why we are looking at this as part scheme organisers can have their Schemes and Societies, academia, surveys or search for species of the NBN Strategy 2015-2020. survey added to the database. The crowdsourcing platforms and or survey names, depending on The presentations during the day database is already one of the most international representatives from their interest. reaffirmed the need to collaborate GBIF (based in Denmark) and the viewed pages on the NBN website. to protect these data. Not only Naturalis Biodiversity Center (in the The database includes all surveys because museums and other data Netherlands). This is one programme that take place in the UK and are centres are changing rapidly and of work that the NBN Secretariat open for participation by anyone. there is an ever increasing lack of is coordinating in conjunction with awareness of the collections held Network members to implement the within, but also the increasing need new NBN Strategy 2015-2020. to use these data in describing our NBN members are world experts in changing environment. We know collecting biological records, with a lot about biological change over more than 30,000 records collected the last 3-4 decades, however each day. However, despite this, most transformation of the British large quantities of undigitised landscape happened before WWII. historical data collections are As Nick Isaac (Centre for Ecology threatened with loss or destruction & Hydrology) said during his and are inaccessible for onward presentation, crowdsourcing the reuse. Throughout 2015 the NBN extraction of data from notebooks Secretariat has collated metadata for and diaries is an opportunity to re- over 21.8 million biological records shift the baseline of our knowledge held in 21 different ‘undigitised’ of biodiversity in the UK. The NBN formats by Network members across must also engage more effectively the UK. This is likely to be just the with UK museums to help merge tip of the iceberg in terms of historic data collections with the undigitised data. data collected daily by NBN Data Partners. There was also discussion Some of these datasets will require about if we cannot justify efforts to professional data handling to preserve data collected years ago, mobilise, however for many datasets why should anyone support future we can turn to ‘Crowdsourcing’ data collection. We undermine our - the empowering of citizens to entire industry by not caring for help with a task - in this case, historic data.

39 Putting partnership into practice Putting partnership into practice 40 WORKING GROUPS FOR INCREASING USE OF OUR DATA AND IMPROVING BIOLOGICAL DATA FLOW

The efficient flow of data from a recorder to a data user is of paramount importance to members of the NBN and its data partners.

STRATEGIC AIM Both recorder and user may be of biological data. To do this, it is the same person or organisation, essential to understand user needs but often they are not and are so that user-friendly data access separated by a complex data systems and processes can be flow involving verifiers, curators developed. When looking at data and aggregators. Investment in use, data users at all stages of biological recording over a long the NBN Data Pathway must be period of time, largely by volunteers considered, including recorders, and citizen scientists, has not been many of whom put more into the accompanied by a corresponding NBN than they get out, through the investment in data use. contribution of records, however 02 they may not use the NBN Gateway MAKE BIOLOGICAL DATA In response to the need to improve or other products. Improving user data flow, and increase the use of interfaces on NBN products is key to AND INFORMATION AVAILABLE data, the Network has developed this, and recorders’ needs must not and published a Data Flow Pathway be overlooked as a result of a focus TO EVERYONE (see pages 45-46). This pathway on the needs of ‘environmental has six stages and can be applied decision-makers/researchers/ to any data flow for any organisation government’ on one hand and ‘the or biological recording scheme or public’ on the other initiative. Not all stages are always critical to data flow. For example, Two working groups have been data does not always have to be planned to examine how to analysed before it can be used. increase the flow of data throughout Similarly, data can be analysed and the Network (the working group used without being aggregated. also includes Quality Control & However the six steps provide a Verification and Biological useful structure for understanding Recording Online) and in turn biological data flow in the UK. increase use of biological data, with an additional emphasis on Alongside improving the flow of ensuring the infrastructure is fit for data throughout the Network, efficient data use. the NBN seeks to maximise use

41 Putting partnership into practice Putting partnership into practice 42 GLOBAL BIODIVERSITY INFORMATION FACILITY NEW LICENCE OPTIONS ADDED TO NBN GATEWAY (GBIF) STRATEGY In 2014 -15 the NBN Secretariat undertook a review of data licensing on the Through GBIF, billions of records GBIF at a NBN Gateway Terms and NBN Gateway in order to improve options for data sharing and facilitate are accessed annually, through Conditions workshop in November increased data use. One of the main requests from NBN Data Partners was downloads - around 234 billion in 2014. The Network was supportive for the ability to assign a data licence to their own datasets. In response to 2014, and over 174 billion in 2015. of assigning data licences to this the NBN Gateway technical team developed the capacity for the NBN As of October 2015, the UK made NBN Gateway datasets and this Gateway to hold data licences. about 50 million records available functionality was developed within Dataset administrators were asked to assign one of four licences to through GBIF, with roughly 35 million the NBN Gateway. Throughout 2015, their datasets. records published via the NBN NBN data partners were consulted Gateway (about 16% of the total about allowing data sharing under GBIF holdings). The NBN Strategic licence to GBIF, with the majority The available licence options are: By April 2016, data licences had Action Plan Objective ‘2E: Share being supportive, as long as been assigned to 238 datasets. • CC0: Creative commons no all biological data internationally they have permission from their The CC-BY licence was the most rights reserved and collaborate with partners in recorders and other third parties popular (88), followed by CC-BY-NC • CC-BY: Creative commons, Europe and GIBF’ sets out the NBN’s involved. To this end, a strategy was (79) and OGL (69). Only 2 datasets with attribution commitment to sharing data with developed to resume sharing data were assigned the most open, CC0, GBIF. This includes working with GBIF, in conjunction with Joint • CC-BY-NC: Creative commons, licence. with NBN members to maximise Nature Conservation Committee. with attribution, non-commercial Assigned licences enable datasets visibility of UK biological data on Subsequently, permission has been • OGL: Open government licence to be shared via GBIF and other international platforms. granted for 205 datasets from 31 platforms such as the NBN Atlas Data Partners to be transferred There has been a very positive Scotland (with express permission of Work began to align the NBN data to GBIF. Data will be transferred response to the assignment of the dataset administrator). sharing principles more readily with throughout 2016. data licences, which provide clear information about the approved use and any restrictions for that dataset.

43 Putting partnership into practice Putting partnership into practice 44 NBN DATA FLOW PATHWAY

Record & Quality Curate Aggregate Analyse Use Collect Assure

Capture Check Describe NBN Gateway Model State of Environment Enter Verify Standards Collate Smooth Monitoring Digitise Validate Metadata Web services Integrate Policy and planning Transcribe Clean Archive Online maps Overlay Research Translate LERC data centres Atlas maps Natural Capital Offsetting

NATIONAL NATIONAL NATIONAL GLOBAL GLOBAL GLOBAL Diverse suite of tools and systems Quality control through use of a Data curated by national Data uploaded to GBIF for global Research analysis is undertaken at Global datasets are used for a for data capture (online or other): For maintained set of NBN Record schemes and societies, NGO analysis and use. a global level through GBIF using wide range of purposes including example, iRecord, iSpot, BirdTrack, Cleaner rules, iRecord, bespoke and government databases, BRC data aggregated from providers developing watch lists for invasive Mammal Tracker, national schemes, national schemes, Recorder 6 and Community warehouse. around the world. This includes species, analysing habitat availability Indicia platform, Consultants Portal, expert county recorders and verifiers NATIONAL rapid geospatial analysis for Red List for amphibians, investigating species Rodis, Living Record and systems for throughout the UK. All UK data shared nationally via assessment, visual analysis of data diversity and studies of climate personal recorders. the NBN Gateway and using web and a Biodiversity Data Assessment impacts on species amongst services operated by the NBN and Tool amongst others. many others. its members to an agreed level of REGIONAL REGIONAL REGIONAL service reliability. County recorders, local natural County recorders, local natural Local natural history societies, NATIONAL NATIONAL history societies, bird clubs, regional history societies, bird clubs, Local regional and geographic schemes Data analysed using a range of tools Combined data holdings of NBN and geographic schemes and Environmental Record Centre and societies, Local Environmental REGIONAL including rNBN. Data analyses run used by tools such as Nature societies, Local Environmental systems and regional schemes Record Centres. Regional data shared via Local by NBN members such as national Near Me and the NBN Gateway Record Centre data capture systems. and societies. Environmental Record Centres as scheme atlases and wildlife NGOs. interactive mapping tool. Data is regional nodes of the NBN. Research by British Ecological used in National atlases, State Society Macroecology special of Nature reporting, government interest group, CEH, universities and biodiversity activities, biodiversity other research institutions. planning processes and tools (e.g. Environment Agency).

REGIONAL REGIONAL Local natural history societies, Local Environmental Record Centres and Local Environmental Record regional schemes and societies Centre biodiversity data services undertaking a range of analyses and Territorial Local Authority including modelling and mapping. biodiversity planning processes. Use by local recorders and local natural history societies.

45 Putting partnership into practice Putting partnership into practice 46 INCREASING COMMUNICATION RESOURCES

Over the last few years, the We were therefore delighted when importance of communications Purba Choudhury joined the team for the NBN, has been increasing in September 2015, especially as apace. That’s not to say that it she brought with her a wealth of STRATEGIC AIM was ever a low priority, far from it, experience, having previously held but with a new Communications senior communications and PR Strategy and the NBN Strategy and roles in organisations as varied as Action Plan in place it was clear that symphony orchestras, a university, in order to succeed, even better the Arts Council of England and a communications would be essential. local authority.

With that in mind, in order to Purba has already made her mark, supplement the work of Mandy as shown in the success we have Henshall, we recruited for another been achieving through the media Communications Officer to join the and social media. 03 team and support Mandy, who would become the Senior CAPTIVATE AND ENGAGE Communications Officer. PEOPLE ABOUT WILDLIFE ALL NEW NBN WEBSITE

The NBN website is one of our main The website has a much simplified communication tools and as the navigation and contains links to the current site had been in place since main tools and resources, available December 2011 we carried out a through the Network, for recording, review to assess whether it was still sharing and using data. It is our suiting our needs, in late 2014. This main repository for news items and, review led to a proposal for a new as it is a site for our Network, it also website in 2015 and our new site gives prominence to our members. launched in March 2016.

New pages and functions that have been added to the website are:

• Members’ Pages • Related articles link to news stories • Discussion facility at the end of • Quick links to key sections from news articles or pages the home page • A database of wildlife surveys and recording schemes – “Find a survey or scheme”

47 Putting partnership into practice Putting partnership into practice 48 Comparing the statistics from the old to the new sites for the period 1st March profile page, at around 1000 visits Impressions) has increased by 185% – 19th June 2015 and 2016 (to cover only the period March to April 2016, per month, the number of NBN’s from 13.6K to 38.7K. would give too narrow a set of statistics) the main points of note are Tweets being seen by others (Tweet as follows:

OLD SITE NEW SITE UK AWARDS FOR BIOLOGICAL Page Views 48, 030 52,652 RECORDING AND INFORMATION SHARING (Total number of page views)

Unique Page Views 39, 356 41,621 The late John Sawyer was There were four categories: (Page is viewed at least once) instrumental in these publicly- • David Robertson adult award nominated awards coming into being Average Time on Page 00:01:26 00:01:36 for recording marine and as he was very keen to celebrate coastal wildlife. the tremendous contribution that Most Visited Page News News volunteer biological recorders make • David Robertson youth award It’s never too late to give your feedback, so do feel free to tell us what you in observing and documenting our for recording marine and think about the site and if you think anything can be better, we’ll do our best natural world and for recognition to coastal wildlife. to make some changes. come via the NBN. • Gilbert White adult award for 2015 was the inaugural year of these recording terrestrial and awards which were developed in freshwater wildlife MEDIA AND SOCIAL MEDIA partnership with the National Forum for Biological Recording and the • Gilbert White youth award for Media and social media clearly play journalists, so that promoting NBN’s Biological Records Centre, and were recording terrestrial and a key role in implementing NBN’s other activities, such as the NBN generously sponsored by Swarovski freshwater wildlife aim to captivate and engage people Atlas platforms or the NBN annual Optik UK. about wildlife. conference should be easier in the future. The increase in staffing on the Nominations Communications team has allowed NBN’s social media following has We were delighted to receive 53 nominations from members and others – us to give real focus to all media increased substantially. Between nine for the David Robertson adult award, four for the David Robertson youth channels and has resulted in 1 April 2015 and 31 March 2016 the award, 23 for the Gilbert White adult award and 17 for the Gilbert White increased coverage of NBN activities number of NBN Facebook ‘likes’ youth award. and more engagement with NBN’s increased by 50% from 493 to 739 Facebook and Twitter accounts. and the reach of a typical Facebook The 2015 winners were: post has increased by 228% from David Fenwick – winner of the David Robertson adult award For example, we achieved media an average of 65 people in April coverage of the winners of the 2015 to an average of 213 people in Callum Ullman-Smith – winner of the David Robertson youth award inaugural UK Awards for Biological March 2016. Ian Evans and the late Pat Evans – winners of the Gilbert White adult award Recording and Information Sharing James McCulloch – winner of the Gilbert White youth award in publications including BBC NBN’s Twitter followers have Wildlife magazine, BSBI news and increased by 29% from 2703 at the In addition, the late Nigel Jee was awarded a one-off National Biodiversity Porcupine Marine Natural History beginning of April 2015 to 3493 at Network Special Award. Society Bulletin, and on the website the end of March 2016. While the of organisations such as iSpot, Joint number of other people’s Tweets As well as being the first year of the UK Awards for Biological Recording Nature Conservation Committee and mentioning the NBN has remained and Information Sharing, 2015 was also the first year of the NBN Open Data the Highland Council. fairly constant around 80+ mentions award – renamed the John Sawyer NBN Open Data Award, in John’s memory per month, as have the number of – to recognise those who are dedicated to sharing biological data openly to Also, good contacts have been Twitter followers visiting the NBN’s educate and inform, as per NBN’s vision. made with various BBC science The 2015 John Sawyer NBN Open Data Award was presented to The Mammal Society to celebrate their commitment to open data.

49 Putting partnership into practice Putting partnership into practice 50 UNDERSTANDING RECORDER MOTIVATION WORKING GROUP FOR CAPTIVATING AND ENGAGING PEOPLE As part of a three-month internship, NBN commissioned University of Nottingham PhD student, Ben Brown, to survey biological recorders about why they record wildlife. The NBN and its members promote the natural world as well as the enjoyment and importance of biological recording. We want to celebrate the Ben received around 200 responses and clocked up 20 hours-worth of interview material with biological recorders. work of all those involved in recording and sharing data, because this is vital The headline findings from this research are as follows: for protecting our environment. In addition, the UK has an historic fascination with wildlife and still today people, young and old, are interested in nature. • Survey respondents came from over 70 vice-counties, such as automated pre-screening or tagging/filtering This offers enormous potential for the NBN in terms of engaging a new and recorded in over 130 vice-counties across the of records by confidence – assuming the systems generation of biological recorders. British Isles. responsible were reliable and effective. Many people and organisations have been dedicated to recording for many • They ranged from 18 to nearly 80 years old, having • Respondents saw the NBN as needing to play a key years, but there remain significant issues that make increased effort across started recording anywhere from 0 to 70 years ago, role in unifying the fragmented nature of biological the Network vitally important, such as: and recorded 83 different species groups (grouped as recording (both in terms of coordination and per iRecord). technology), and resolve difficulties around data • Limited numbers of recorders in as promoting biological recording ownership and data sharing, so that recorders some parts of the country, for and the benefits of sharing data. It • The range of backgrounds across the surveys and don’t have to be distracted from their recording some taxonomic groups and for will also focus on attracting new interviews was broad. Several held senior positions in by these issues. habitat and ecosystem data generations of biological recorders wildlife organisations or schemes but others were and motivating them to increase recent starters. • Respondents’ entry into recording was not typically • Lack of a clear learning pathway recording and sharing data. Finally, influenced by friends and family, and opinion was to enable people to grow their there will be a focus on increasing • The majority of respondents were also members divided as to whether organisations should set up knowledge and expertise. feedback to recorders. or employees of non-recording focused more opportunities to interact socially. conservation organisations • Limited appreciation of the value The NBN Secretariat has already • Respondents welcomed getting together with other of biodiversity, and the value of • Recorders are committed - respondents rated begun delivering this aim through recorders for a purpose (not just socialising), to data collected about its changing biological recording as one of the most important activities such as: improve their own knowledge and identification skills, status and condition. things they did in their free time. as most respondents wanted more training than they 1. The UK awards for biological • Lack of awareness of the health • Respondents regarded conservation of biodiversity were receiving. recording and information sharing benefits of an active biological as a personal and collective duty, felt fairly able and • The social aspect of biological recording was reported recorder lifestyle and of contact empowered to help, and undertook a range of activities 2. Redesign of the NBN website to be an important factor contributing to people’s time with nature. in pursuit of this. enjoyment of the activity - most had made new friends 3. Research project on recorder • Respondents cared deeply about how the data via recording. motivation and demographics. This working group will coordinate they collected were used, i.e. it is as open and • Of the respondents who felt they did not have a delivery of Strategic Aim 3 and will The group will consist of up to available for use as possible for scientific or decision- communication route to other organisations or focus on increasing engagement 12 members, representing the making purposes. recorders, their highest preference was for with biological recording, through range of organisations in the • While some were uncomfortable with datasets that communication via social media and face-to-face, for developing and supporting learning NBN that expressed an interest in hadn’t been checked and accepted on a per-record example, during meetings. programmes and systems for participating in the actions covered basis, others saw promise in technical developments biodiversity identification including by this Working Group during the promoting, developing and providing consultation on the NBN Action Plan. resources for recorders, as well We thank Ben for all of his hard work, and for these fascinating findings. We are also indebted to all of the interview and survey respondents who contributed to Ben’s research.

51 Putting partnership into practice Putting partnership into practice 52 53 Putting partnership into practice Putting partnership into practice 54 NBN ATLAS SCOTLAND

In response to the NBN Gateway continue as data partner agreements technical user review published in continue to be returned. 2015, the NBN Atlas Scotland has been developed as a pilot for the Spatial data layers are being STRATEGIC AIM UK-wide implementation of the Atlas uploaded to the NBN Atlas Scotland of Living Australia’s open source to help increase the power of the biodiversity data infrastructure. analysis tools available. There are This infrastructure is intended a variety of habitat, landscape, to eventually replace the NBN protected area and soil data layers Gateway, as it is more suited to the currently available and more are in growing needs of our network, and the process of being secured and helps to realise our ambition of open uploaded. The data in these layers data. can be mapped against species occurrence data to allow focused All data held on the NBN Atlas and detailed analysis. Scotland will be assigned a data 04 The governance group for the NBN licence, in order to ensure clarity for PROVIDE THE BEST its onward use. Atlas Scotland has included Scottish Environment Protection Agency, BIOLOGICAL INFORMATION The NBN Atlas Scotland was Scottish Natural Heritage, Royal launched as a beta site in Society for the Protection of Birds, MANAGEMENT INFRASTRUCTURE September 2015 and the NBN Scottish Biodiversity Information Secretariat has been collecting Forum, Natural England, Natural ongoing feedback from users. This Resources Wales, Northern Ireland feedback has helped to grow and Environment Agency and the NBN shape the NBN Atlas Scotland ahead Trust. There have been regular core of its stakeholder launch (May 2016). business group meetings, as well as meetings with the NBN Atlas Over 2.5 million Scottish records of Scotland steering group, to ensure over 25,000 species, from 17 data that the Atlas is performing to the partners are held on the Atlas (as at needs of all of its stakeholders. June 2016). These figures are set to

NBN ATLASES FOR OTHER COUNTRIES

Following the successful opportunities to implement this development of the NBN Atlas infrastructure in Wales, Northern Scotland, work was undertaken Ireland and England. throughout 2015 to explore

55 Putting partnership into practice Putting partnership into practice 56 This project is part of a work Ireland, Wales and England to programme to build NBN Atlas discuss the development of country infrastructure for England, Wales, Atlases. Funding was secured for an Scotland and Northern Ireland. Each NBN Atlas Wales at the end of 2015 of these atlases would have the and this platform will be developed same functionality and same basic throughout 2016 with engagement design and be supported by a single and steer from all stakeholders database but offer users a more involved. Business cases have been focused, local view of the national prepared for NBN Atlases in England data holdings. and Northern Ireland, with ongoing discussions surrounding funding. Through 2015 the NBN Secretariat met with funding bodies in Northern

UK SPECIES INVENTORY WORKING GROUP

As mentioned in the member Chris is currently working with the sections of this Report, the Natural NBN Secretariat to define terms History Museum (NHM) continues for a new Working Group that will its commitment to maintaining explore user requirements for the UK and developing the UK Species Species Inventory and plan future Inventory, the database of names technical developments. The initial and taxonomic concepts that plan is to provide a more scalable underpins most major UK biological and accessible database & network recording systems and the NBN structure that reacts more quickly Gateway. Chris Raper, who manages to changes in taxonomy and allows the Inventory, also continues to both contributors and partners to build links with new contributors and view the live data in real time and partner organisations, focusing on suggest amendments which are building a database that serves the then checked and approved by biological recording community and NHM staff. prioritises updates that enable data to flow into the system.

57 Putting partnership into practice Putting partnership into practice 58 NBN CONFERENCE

The NBN Conference has long been the biggest networking event in the NBN calendar. In 2015 it was in its 15th year and for the first time in its history, the Conference ran over two days and moved away from London, which had been its home for all previous NBN Conferences, to York.

STRATEGIC AIM So, on 19th and 20th November, 180 delegates from biodiversity organisations, local environmental records centres, recording schemes, government bodies, students and individuals all concerned with biodiversity data and biological recording came together at the Lakeside Conference Centre in York, to discuss“From global to local: building the NBN Partnership”.

The extended duration allowed us • The importance of open data to reassess the programme and • Collaboration being critical format of the Conference resulting to achieving our individual and in four keynote addresses, the collective goals 05 annual Sir John Burnett Memorial • Everyone’s contribution being vital lecture, delivered by David Stroud, SUPPORT THE DEVELOPMENT to the recording effort, at whatever as well as the main presentations level that may be. OF THE NBN, ITS BOARD and an increased number of speed talks, which had proved so popular The overall comments in relation to AND ITS MEMBERS in 2014. Across the two days, 35 the Conference were very positive. speakers covered a broad range of The two day format was well liked subjects within the global to local as was the change in location. theme. We were also pleased to From our survey, to which 41% of include a symposia to discuss public delegates responded, 51.4% rated engagement in wildlife recording, their satisfaction with the 2 day a session which was developed conference as excellent and 44.6% and coordinated by Bristol Natural as very good. A similar number History Consortium, who are rated the format of the Conference responsible for the National BioBlitz in the same way. Charities were the programme. best represented sector, followed by LERCs, then Government. 78.3% The main topics that came up for preferred a two day format meaning discussion over the two days were: that the 2016 Conference will once again be held over two days.

59 Putting partnership into practice Putting partnership into practice 60 Honorary Membership As has become the norm at our Conference, we took the opportunity to present the annual Honorary Membership award, which is given to someone who has shown their commitment to the NBN vision. In 2015, we were delighted to present the award to William (Bill) Ely in recognition of his commitment and contribution to biological recording and the mentoring of others.

PERFORMANCE MANAGEMENT SYSTEM

The NBN Trust was established challenging yet realistic goals for to facilitate and grow the National a given period. It also provides a Biodiversity Network to achieve process by which staff can receive its mission of recording and caring feedback, praise, recognition for the UK’s wildlife data, making and coaching on a regular basis it universally accessible to the and encourages trust amongst public, educators, researchers, colleagues. conservationists and environmental The Performance Management decision-makers. process provides sound Work was started in 2015 to develop performance information, which may a Performance Management process be used for a number of purposes, for the NBN Secretariat providing such as development, recognition, a systematic way of ensuring that remuneration, promotion, talent everyone within the Secretariat management and career planning. works together to contribute to the The Performance Management achievement of the NBN’s Strategy. Process applies to all employed at It will be a powerful tool that helps the Secretariat and where staff are us achieve our vision, values and on short term contracts (for longer strategic aims and objectives. than four months) they will also be It focuses us on what the Secretariat involved in the process so that they staff need to do individually and can see how they contribute to the within the teams to contribute NBN Secretariat’s overall goals. to the NBN’s success, providing

MEMBERSHIP SCHEME REVIEW

As a network partnership, the NBN NBN Strategy, the NBN Action Plan has only been able to achieve as and the NBN Atlas projects. much as it has done due to the The Board of Trustees has agreed support and participation of its that the time is right to review the members. The current members membership scheme, as despite have assisted in many projects, most previous reviews of the available recently the development of the

61 Putting partnership into practice Putting partnership into practice 62 The three recommendations were: options, the current scheme does growth of the Network. A standalone not allow enough flexibility to Working Group chaired by Andrew • That SBIF and the NBN unite so 1. Driving a review and grow the membership as the NBN Wood, Treasurer, was set up in early that there is a single body redesign of the Biodiversity partnership continues to develop. 2016 to complete the review and governing the biodiversity data Infrastructure in Scotland with a is assisted by the NBN Secretariat. infrastructure and the Data view to re-aligning it, The evolution of the NBN During 2016 we will be working Flow Pathway. To honour the membership scheme over the last with current members and potential original Public Petition which and... sixteen years has created confusion members for their feedback on what brought SBIF into existence, the 2. Facilitating the Data Flow with organisations not knowing if the membership scheme should look SBIF Steering Group continues Pathway in Scotland so that they are a member or not. In addition like, its benefits and what we can do as the SBIF Advisory Group to the envisaged biodiversity it can be difficult for potential new together to increase membership of the NBN in Scotland to support infrastructure is highly effective. members to know why they should the NBN. and facilitate the NBN and the join and how they can contribute. Data Flow Pathway. To that end, and from the 1st April It is also recognised that the NBN It is important to the Board of 2016, Christine Johnston, formerly needs to increase the promotion of Trustees that the scheme should • That the SBIF Coordinator role the SBIF Co-ordinator, transferred the benefits to the wider Network. be accepted by its membership transfers to be managed and to the NBN to become Scottish and its success will be measured hosted directly by the NBN to Liaison Officer. She is now the The Trustees believe that the by the growth of the membership act as its Scottish Liaison Officer principal contact between the NBN Network would benefit from a as more organisations join us to be thereby maximising the capacity of Secretariat and Network members, simpler membership scheme that part of the UK’s largest partnership the NBN in Scotland. data partners and data users in clearly shows the many advantages for nature. of being a member and aids the • That, following implementation of Scotland, and continues to work on the above recommendations, the behalf of all of SBIF’s supporters. SBIF Advisory Group should focus COLLABORATIVE WORKING IN SCOTLAND on two matters:

Between November 2015 and March 2016, the Scottish Biodiversity Information Forum (SBIF) Executive and Steering Groups undertook some work to improve the alignment between SBIF, Biological Recording in Scotland (BRISC) and the NBN. This work resulted in some changes being made to establish an effective biodiversity data infrastructure in Scotland.

Navigating the different the NBN Trust sought to improve organisations with a biodiversity their alignment, and to this end, in remit has become more difficult November 2015, a range of options while the need for an effective were developed. biodiversity data infrastructure has Following further discussion, grown. The funding and sustainability the SBIF Executive Group made of such an infrastructure is also an three recommendations that were increasing challenge in this time welcomed and endorsed by the SBIF of decreasing public spending. Steering Group, the NBN’s Board of With this in mind, SBIF, BRISC and Trustees and the BRISC Committee.

63 Putting partnership into practice Putting partnership into practice 64 FINANCIAL REVIEW

Statement of Financial Activities (incorporating the income and expenditure account) for the year to 31 March 2016.

65 Financial Review Financial Review 66 FINANCIAL REPORT

The Trustees are pleased to present Recommended Practice (SORP2015) * To note: During the year there was an overspend on the restricted Living their annual directors’ report applicable to charities preparing Atlas of Scotland fund. This has been covered by the unrestricted fund and together with the consolidated their accounts in accordance with therefore there has been a transfer between funds. financial statements of the charity the Financial Reporting Standard for for the year ending 31 March 2016 Smaller Entities. NET Income/ (Expenditure) which are also prepared to meet the (22, 456) 50, 000 27, 544 (5, 054) there has been a change for the year requirements for a directors’ report To note: in the format of the accounts and Total funds and accounts for Companies House. 152, 027 0 152, 027 157, 081 how these are presented due to a brought forward The financial statements comply change in accounting standards from Total funds carried forward 129, 571 50, 000 179, 571 152, 027 with the Charities Act 2011, SORP 2005 to SORP FRSSE the Companies Act 2006, the The full copy of the audit report Memorandum and Articles of and accounts can be found on the Association, and Accounting and BALANCE SHEET Reporting by Charities: Statement of NBN website.

Total Funds Total Funds Notes 2016 (£) 2015 (£) Total Total Unrestricted Redtricted Notes Funds Funds Funds (£) Funds (£) 2016 (£) 2015 (£) FIXED ASSETS Tangible Assets (7) 1, 470 2, 438 INCOME AND ENDOWMENTS

Donations (1) 217, 325 110, 000 327, 325 460, 605 & Legacies CURRENT ASSETS Investment (2) 150 0 150 324 Debtors and prepayments (8) 43, 813 174, 799 Income Cash at bank and in hand 173, 516 178, 333 Other Income (3) 421, 133 0 421, 133 491, 396 Total 217, 329 353, 132

Total Income 638, 608 110, 000 748, 608 942, 325 CREDITORS

Amounts falling due (9) 39, 227 203, 543 EXPENDITURE within one year Costs of raising Net Current Assets 178, 102 149, 589 3, 762 0 3, 762 0 donations & legacies Total Assets less 179, 572 152, 027 Expenditure on current liabilities (4) 653, 114 64, 188 717, 302 947, 379 charitable activities Net Assets 179, 572 152, 027 Total Expenditure 656, 876 64, 188 721, 064 947. 379

FUNDS

NET Income/ Expenditure Restricted income funds 50, 000 0 (18, 268) 45, 812 27, 544 (5, 054) before transfer funds Unrestricted income funds 129, 572 152, 027 Transfer between funds * (4, 188) 4, 188 0 0 Total funds 179, 572 152, 027

67 Financial Review Financial Review 68 01 DONATIONS AND LEGACIES

Total Total Unrestricted Restricted Funds Funds Funds (£) Funds (£) 2016 (£) 2015 (£) Cabinet Office 0 0 0 248, 624 Other 308 0 308 0 Grants Receivable NBN Atlas 0 60, 000 60, 000 0 Scotland NBN Atlas Wales 0 50, 000 50, 000 0 Subscriptions 217, 017 0 217, 017 201, 981 Totals 217, 325 110, 000 327, 325 450, 605

02 INVESTMENT INCOME

Unrestricted Total Funds Total Funds Funds (£) 2016 (£) 2015 (£)

Bank interest 151 151 324 receivable

03 OTHER INCOMING RESOURCES

Unrestricted Total Funds Total Funds Funds (£) 2016 (£) 2015 (£)

Miscellaneous income 14, 567 14, 567 6, 017 Donated services 406, 566 406, 566 485, 379 and facilities Total 421, 133 421, 133 491, 396

69 Financial Review Financial Review 70 British Trust for Ornithology 9, 838 7, 413 04 Natural History Museum 46, 726 44, 226 COST OF CHARITABLE ACTIVITIES BY FUND TYPE Centre for Ecology and 153, 468 209, 920 Hydrology Donated NBN Atlas Website Total Total Natural England 27, 475 36, 000 Project staff Support servies & Scotland dev’mt & funds funds costs (£) costs (£) Natural Resources Wales 24, 500 26, 500 facilities (£) (£) promotion (£) 2016 (£) 2015 (£) British Ecological Society 2, 400 1, 500 Cost of activities in furtherance of 406, 566 79, 781 64, 188 148, 332 18, 435 653, 114 947, 379 Environment Agency 6, 496 6, 278 charities objectives National Federation for 6, 120 0 Biological Recorders Totals 406, 566 485, 379

05 ANALYSIS OF SUPPORT COSTS 06 STAFF COSTS & EMOLUMENTS Support Governance costs Total costs 2016 Total costs 2015 (£) (£) (£) (£) Total funds 2016 Total funds 2015 Staff Costs 82, 393 82, 393 73, 893 (£) (£) Premises 9, 637 9, 637 9, 279 Total wages & salaries 131, 338 104, 694 Communications & IT 7, 303 7, 303 9, 221 Social security costs 9, 621 7, 267 Legal and professional 1, 553 1, 553 1, 641 Other pension costs 6, 428 3, 288 Finance costs 590 590 611 Total 147, 387 115, 249 Depreciation 3, 908 3, 908 2, 436 Insurance 1, 236 1, 236 728 The company pays pension contributions on behalf of its employees and Printing, postage & stationary 6, 016 6, 016 7, 115 seconded staff. These contributions are included within staff costs. Meeting & conference expenses 18, 978 18, 978 19, 900 Travelling expenses 9, 618 9, 618 14, 592 Bad debts 0 0 1, 157 PARTICULARS OF EMPLOYEES: Accountancy 2, 039 2, 039 1, 890 The average number of employees during the year, calculated on the basis of Auditors remuneration 2, 700 2, 700 0 full-time equivalents were as follows: Trustees expenses 2, 157 2, 157 2, 528 Board meeting expenses 204 204 827 2016 2015 Total 141, 232 7, 100 148, 332 145, 818

Number of research staff 1 1 employed DONATED SERVICES AND FACILITIES Number of administration staff 4 2 Number of management staff- The Trust received donated services and facilities, mainly in the form of staff, contributing to Trust objectives. The 1 1 seconded/ employed member organisations provided services costed by themselves, using criteria provided by Trustees as follows;

No employee received remuneration of more than £60,000 during the Total funds 2016 (£) Total funds 2015 (£) year (2015-2016).

Scottish Natural Heritage 38, 500 47, 500 Joint Nature Conservation Committee 91, 042 106, 042

71 Financial Review Financial Review 72 07 09 TANGIBLE FIXED ASSETS CREDITORS Amounts falling due within one year.

Equipment (£) 2016 2015 (£) (£) COST Trade creditors 2, 430 1, 762 Brought forward 1. 4. 15 8, 044 PAYE 3, 019 0 Additions 2, 940 Other creditors 33, 778 201, 781 Total at 31. 3. 16 10, 984 Total 39, 227 203, 543

DEPRECIATION

Brought forward 1. 4. 15 5, 606 Charge in the year 3, 908 Total at 31. 3. 16 9, 514 10 RELATED PARTIES TRANSACTIONS The Trust has been billed by some of its members for various services NET BOOK VALUE supplied as follows: At 31 March 2016 1, 470 At 31 March 2015 2, 438 2016 2015 (£) (£)

Scottish Natural Heritage 0 4, 243 08 Marine Biological Association 0 22, 974 DEBTORS

The accounts have been prepared under the historical cost convention and 2016 2015 in accordance with applicable United Kingdom accounting standards and the (£) (£) requirements of the Statement of Recommended Practice ‘Accounting and Trade debtors 40, 230 159, 218 Reporting by Charities’ (SORP2015) Other debtors 0 9, 489 Each year, for the purposes of the accounts, every support organisation Prepayments 3, 583 6, 092 produces a schedule of costs incurred in carrying out these services. These Total 43, 813 174, 799 services are costed by the support organisation on the basis of an equitable sharing of its costs, or, where such figures are not readily available, at standard charge-out rates. These figures are shown as intangible income under “Donated services and facilities” (see note 5). We received intangible income, mainly in the form of staff resources and associated costs expended on NBN projects.

73 Financial Review Financial Review 74 RESERVES POLICY BALANCE SHEET

The Board of Trustees, through its Finance and Management Committee (FMC), has established a policy whereby a ‘free reserve’ of £100,000 is Total Funds 2016 Total Funds 2015 maintained. At this level, the FMC of the National Biodiversity Network Trust (£) (£) considers that it would be able to continue the current activities of the charity should there be a significant drop in funding or loss of in kind contributions as FIXED ASSETS identified by the risk register. Tangible Assets 0 118

CURRENT ASSETS

RISK REGISTER Stocks 0 3, 000 Debtors and prepayments 17 8, 792 The FMC has reviewed the major risks to the charity, and has systems designed to manage them. The main internal financial risks are minimised Cash at bank and in hand 14, 448 16, 493 through procedures for delegation and appropriate authorisation of all Total 14, 465 28, 285 transactions and projects and by ensuring consistent quality for all the

charity’s operations. The FMC reviews the risks at every meeting. CREDITORS Risks related to external funding agreements have their own risk Amounts falling due within one management policy. 548 10, 022 year Net current assets 13, 917 18, 263 Total assets less current liabilities 13, 917 18, 381 BIOD SERVICES LTD Net assets 13, 917 18, 381

BioD Services Ltd was set up to help the Trust develop the Network through contractual work and was incorporated as a company limited by shares on 13 March, 2001.

The Articles of Association allow the company to transfer profits or income to the NBN Trust as gift aid. For 2015-2016 there were no profits from BioD Services to be donated over to the NBN Trust as gift aid.

The fees billed are mainly attributed to the one principal activity of the company and consist of invoiced sales of services to Defra.

To note: The company no longer sells the Ordnance Survey map tiles and these have been written off from the accounts.

The financial information below shows the total income against expenditure.

More detailed financial statements are available for either the NBN Trust accounts or BioD Services Ltd. Please contact the NBN Trust’s Finance and Business Officer on 0115 924 7132 for your copy.

75 Financial Review Financial Review 76 DETAILED TRADING & PROFIT AND LOSS ACCOUNT FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2016

2016 2015 Details (£) (£)

Sale of Map Tile CD’S 0 31

2016 2015 (£) (£)

OPENING & CLOSING STOCK

Opening stock 3 ,000 3, 010 Closing stock 0 3, 000

2016 2015 (£) (£)

LESS PROJECT COSTS

DEFRA project costs 0 10, 078 Total 0 10, 078

OTHER INCOME

Bank interest 6 7

LESS OVERHEADS

Website costs 0 19 (Defra requirements) Postage, Stationery and Printing 643 1, 024 Travel and subsistence 0 288 Accountancy 500 500 Legal and professional 26 60 Bank charges 183 250 Sundry 0 39 Depreciation 118 207 Total 1, 470 2, 387 Deficit for the year 4, 464 12, 437

77 Financial Review Financial Review 78 ADMINISTRATIVE INFORMATION OTHER INFORMATION

The National Biodiversity Network Under those articles, one third of the Chairman Prof Michael Hassell CBE FRS Trust is a charitable company limited members of the Board of Trustees Ceased by guarantee, incorporated on 3rd must retire at the AGM and may be Chief Executive Mr J Sawyer 07/11/15 April 2000 and registered as a re-appointed. The Board of Trustees Appointed charity on 25th August 2000. is made up of fifteen people Interim Chief Executive Miss R Stroud nominated from each member 16/11/15 The company was set up under a organisation. They meet three times Ceased Secretary Mr J Sawyer Memorandum of Association, which a year and their AGM is in July. No 07/11/15 established the objectives and Trustee may serve more than ten Appointed powers of the charitable company Interim Secretary Miss R Stroud years in office in total without the 16/11/15 and is governed under its Articles of approval of the members given by Association. ordinary resolution. REGISTERED OFFICE AUDITORS Brooks Mayfield Audit Limited DIRECTORS/ TRUSTEES NBN Trust Broadway Business Centre 12 Bridgford Road 32a Stoney Street West Bridgford For the year ended 31st March 2016 Lace Market Nottingham Nottingham NG2 6AB NG1 1LL Professor Michael Hassell CBE FRS Chairman Mr Mark Diamond Mr Andrew Wood Treasurer SOLICITORS Mr Paul Harding MBE Resigned 01/07/15 DLA Piper Freeth Mr Hugh Lucas Resigned 01/07/15 1 St Pauls Place Cumberland Court Mr Paul Rose Sheffield 80 Mount Street Mr Ian Owens S1 2JX Nottingham Dr Andrew Clements NG1 6HH Mr Richard Pywell Ms Teresa Frost Resigned 03/11/15 Mr Roddy Fairley ACKNOWLEDGMENTS Mr T Webb The NBN Secretariat would like to thank the following people for their contribution to this Annual Report: Mr J D Bowker Ms H Wilkinson Rich Burkmar Chris Raper Ms J Ashworth Chris Du Feu Andrew Salisbury Mr Alan Stewart Appointed 01/07/16 Tom Hunt Phil Thomas Mr Tim Hill Appointed 01/07/16 Barnaby Letheren Graham Walley Sam Neal Steph West Keith Porter Steve WhitbreadSteve Whitbread

79 Financial Review Financial Review 80 IN MEMORY OF JOHN SAWYER 1968 - 2015

John was an inspirational leader... he has had an enormous impact on the NBN, with his vision, his enthusiasm and energy as well as his hugely motivational leadership of his team at the Secretariat, and all his colleagues across the Network.

John had a special way with people which brought out the best in them whilst bringing people along with him and his vision.

81 82 We will continue to collaborate to embed our collective data and knowledge creation at the heart of biodiversity learning and environmental decision-making.