Step 3: Recording what you have found
Once you’ve identified your mini-beasts, it’s important to record what you have found.
For your record to be useful to others you need to include:

The date

Location (grid reference finder http://www.gridreferencefinder.com/)

Species found

Name of recorders
Create your own recording sheet or use a template:
Standard recording sheet
Mini-beasts worksheet (for children 3 - 7 years old)
Mini-beasts workbook (for children 7 - 11 years old)
Resources created by RZSS Wild about Scotland, supported by Clydesdale Bank, connecting people with Scotland’s amazing local biodiversity.
Recording sheet
Name: ___________________________________
Weather (Delete as appropriate): Warm/ Cold
Date: _______________
Dry/ Wet
Sunny/ Cloudy
Location: __________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
Species found
Number of individuals Notes (e.g. male/female if known, where species
was found, interesting behaviour)
Resources created by RZSS Wild about Scotland, supported by Clydesdale Bank, connecting people with Scotland’s amazing local biodiversity.
Step 3: Recording what you have found
Make a graph!
Use the information you have collected to practice data handling skills, such as making
tables and graphs. It will be easier to see what you have found, and it’s a great way to get
kids excited about making graphs!
Keep your own records
Each time you survey an area, whether it be in school grounds, a local park or even your
back garden, remember to keep your records.
Each survey will add more information to these records, and you will be able to see how
species vary from place to place, in different seasons or over time.
Share your findings
Don’t keep your records to yourself!
Submit your records to
your Local Environmental Records Centre http://www.alerc.org.uk/
or online via iRecord http://www.brc.ac.uk/irecord/
Your data can then be used to inform land managers and local planning process and are
passed on to the National Biodiversity Network (NBN) (https://data.nbn.org.uk) where it is
available to government agencies, researchers and members of the public.
Resources created by RZSS Wild about Scotland, supported by Clydesdale Bank, connecting people with Scotland’s amazing local biodiversity.
Step 3: Recording what you have found
As well as recording wildlife near you, it can be exciting to see how your results compare
to other parts of the country. Taking part in a national survey also helps experts to
recognise national trends, see which species are doing well and which are in decline and
to monitor the spread of invasive species.
Submit your results now and provide essential data to help to conserve native wildlife!
Open Air Laboratory (OPAL) http://www.opalexplorenature.org/surveys
Easy step-by-step instructions for a variety of nationwide surveys covering mini-beasts,
tree health, water, air and soil. Downloadable supporting resources, apps and ID guides.
Big Butterfly Count http://www.bigbutterflycount.org/
Take part in the world’s biggest survey of butterflies! Co-ordinated by Butterfly
Conservation this survey takes just 15mins of your time and runs for three weeks in the
height of summer.
Big Garden Bird Watch http://www.rspb.org.uk/discoverandenjoynature/
discoverandlearn/birdwatch/
Running since 1979, this simple survey has helped the RSPB collect vital data on birds
across the country.
Mammals on Roads
http://ptes.org/get-involved/surveys/road/
Record mammals (dead or alive) seen as you drive along single-carriageway roads. A
great activity to keep kids occupied on long drives!
Dragonfinder http://www.froglife.org/dragonfinder/dragon-finder-zone/
Use the dragonfinder app to report sightings of reptiles and amphibians. Report sightings
and collect dragonfinder badges.
Resources created by RZSS Wild about Scotland, supported by Clydesdale Bank, connecting people with Scotland’s amazing local biodiversity.
Step 3: Recording what you have found
Index of UK national surveys and databases
Amphibians and Reptiles
Alien encounters- for reporting
non-native amphibians and reptiles
http://alienencounters.narrs.org.uk/
Amphibian and Reptile Conservation (ARC) record pool
http://www.recordpool.org.uk/
Dragonfinder app (Froglife)
http://www.froglife.org/dragonfinder/dragon-finderzone/
National Amphibian and Reptile
Recording scheme (NARRS)
http://narrs.org.uk/index.php
Birds
Big Garden Birdwatch
http://www.rspb.org.uk/discoverandenjoynature/ discoverandlearn/birdwatch/
Nest box challenge
http://www.bto.org/volunteer-surveys/nbc
Swifts
http://www.rspb.org.uk/discoverandenjoynature/ dis-
Wetland birds survey
http://www.bto.org/volunteer-surveys/webs/taking-part
Invertebrates
Buglife surveys
https://www.buglife.org.uk/activities-for-you/wildlifesurveys
Big Butterfly Count
http://www.bigbutterflycount.org/
Ladybird survey
http://www.ladybird-survey.org/default.aspx
Moth Count
http://www.mothscount.org/text/70/
How_to_take_part.html
OPAL bugs count
http://www.opalexplorenature.org/surveys
Resources created by RZSS Wild about Scotland, supported by Clydesdale Bank, connecting people with Scotland’s amazing local biodiversity.
Step 3: Recording what you have found
Index of UK national surveys and databases
Mammals
Mammals on Roads
http://ptes.org/get-involved/surveys/road/
National bat monitoring programme
http://nbmp.bats.org.uk/Surveys.aspx
National Hedgehog Survey
http://ptes.org/get-involved/surveys/countryside -2/
National Mammal Atlas
http://www.mammal.org.uk/nmap
Project Splatter- report wildlife
roadkill
http://projectsplatter.co.uk/
Scottish wildcats
http://www.scottishwildcataction.org/how-you-can-help/
Squirrel sightings
http://scottishsquirrels.org.uk/squirrel-sightings/
Marine
Great Eggcase Hunt
http://www.sharktrust.org/en/GEH_the_project
Jellyfish survey
http://www.mcsuk.org/what_we_do/
Wildlife+protection/ Report+wildlife+sightings/
Seahorse survey
http://www.theseahorsetrust.org/survey-form.aspx
Turtles and Sharks
http://www.mcsuk.org/what_we_do/
Plants
Ash dieback sightings
http://www.ashtag.org/
Hedgerow survey
http://www.opalexplorenature.org/BiodiversitySurvey
National plant monitoring scheme
http://www.npms.org.uk/
Nature’s calendar- report signs of
the changing seasons
http://www.naturescalendar.org.uk/
Tree health survey
http://www.opalexplorenature.org/treesurvey
Resources created by RZSS Wild about Scotland, supported by Clydesdale Bank, connecting people with Scotland’s amazing local biodiversity.