NatureSpot has over half a million records on its database, covering more than 9,000 different species/taxa that have been recorded in Leicestershire and Rutland (VC55). This ever-expanding data is providing vital insights into the status and distribution of wildlife in our area.
Data sharing
All NatureSpot data is shared to ensure it is put to best use. In particular, we regularly share our record data with the following:
Leicestershire and Rutland Environmental Records Centre (LRERC) - part of Leicestershire County Council, LRERC collates all biodiversity data for the two counties. As well as NatureSpot data, records are added from planning applications, iRecord and other sources.
Leicestershire and Rutland Nature Recovery Strategy - wildlife record data is at the heart of the strategy, helping to define actions that will boost local nature and also help to monitor progress. NatureSpot is a core partner, leading on data collection and helping with analysis.
County Recorders - the leading experts in Leicestershire and Rutland who collect and coordinate data for their specialist groups, such as moths, beetles, birds, etc.
Land owners/managers - organisations such as the Wildlife Trust, Leicester City Council and Leicestershire County Council all manage sites of importance to nature. NatureSpot data is made available to help them determine the best conservation management for these areas. Data can be provided to other land managers on request.
iRecord - the national wildlife recording scheme of which NatureSpot is a part. Our records are integrated into the national database and are then available to national bodies and individual experts.
National Biodiversity Network (NBN) - the UK's central repository for biodiversity data. The latest NatureSpot database is uploaded to the NBN every few months and is then made accessible to the public, research bodies, etc.
Species profile
The Species Profile on each species page provides a summary data analysis to help illustrate the status of each species and how this is changing. Patterns over time are clearer when there are lots of records but some species have been recorded very infrequently. In these cases, caution is needed when interpreting the charts as only a few records can't provide much of a pattern.
Species Profile
The first and last records are based on the NatureSpot database but this doesn't necessarily include all known records for each species. The most comprehensive dataset for our area is held by the Leicestershire and Rutland Environmental Records Centre. This includes NatureSpot data but also other records collected from various sources.
Total Records Per Month
This phenology chart tells us when each species is most commonly observed. However note that this includes different life stages and not just the adults. Many invertebrates overwinter in places protected from frost and predators but careful searching can also reveal their presence so they may be recorded 'out of season'.
10km Squares With Records
This chart gives us an indication of how widely distributed that species is across VC55 and how this is changing over time. If the bars are increasing in height it suggests that the species is expanding into new areas, and vice versa. Other factors can influence the coverage of records so it isn't an absolute measure, but it gives us a helpful insight.