A great opportunity for our biological recording community to come together and share updates and information on what we've all been doing in Berkshire and Oxfordshire. Join us at Cholsey Great Hall, for our Spring Recorders' Conference 2026, Nature & Data: Connecting People, Places and Records!
We'll hear from a range of interesting speakers - hope to see you there! Anyone who is interested in wildlife recording and conservation is welcome to attend. Plus, lunch and refreshments are included!
Programme and booking details
We are currently working on the programme, so the following may be subject to change. Please keep an eye on this page for updates.
Tickets
This includes lunch and refreshments. Booking is required, and the final date for bookings is Monday 16th March.
Talks:
"Wildlife recording in a small Oxfordshire village"
John Lindley, South Stoke Wildlife & Conservation Group
In 2020 a group of villagers got together to form South Stoke Wildlife and Conservation Group (SSWCG), with the aims of learning more about our local wildlife, recording its diversity, and improving habitats to encourage improved biodiversity. Since then we've recorded over 1,750 species in our local Parish. The presentation will focus on how the group find and record wildlife, including lots of practical information on surveying methods, identification tips, and community involvement. John will cover what they've learned so far, and what they want to do in the future. John Lindley is a keen amateur Entomologist and wildlife photographer, specialising in Lepidoptera, but now also focusing on other invertebrates. He is a founder member of SSWCG, where he regularly organises and leads group sessions to record and photograph Moths, Dragonflies and other insects.
"Role of the recorder in a local community and how the benefit the wider landscape"
Ruth Staples-Rolfe, Mend the Gap Programme Manager
"An introduction to Binfield Environment Group and engaging the community through surveying"
Mike Coker, Binfield Environment Group
Mike Coker from Binfield Environment Group will talk about the biodiversity surveying that members of the group have been doing and how this has evolved over the last six years. Mike will explain how BEG have engaged the local community through surveying and the importance of purposeful surveying. During the talk, Mike will share some of the key things that BEG's surveyors have discovered and will touch on the role of recording apps.
"Deadwood Invertebrate Species Distribution Analysis: Distribution Across Ancient Woodland, Priority Habitat Inventory, SCA and SPA Land Classification"
Sophie Williams, University of Oxford TVERC Micro-Internship
Sophie is a current geography student at the University of Oxford and has completed a week-long internship with TVERC looking at the distribution of deadwood invertebrate indicator species as they compare to Ancient Woodland Distribution, Priority Habitat Inventory, Species Areas of Conservation and Special Protection Areas to better understand the functioning of these key conservation areas.
Workshops:
"Butterfly Recording" - Peter Philp, Chairman of the Upper Thames Branch of Butterfly Conservation.
"Mammals" - Bob Cowley, Track & Sign Trainer for UK Mammal Society
"Planting for pollinators in your nature area, garden or allotment" - Judy Webb, Local Ecologist.
Insects are in national decline, the charity Buglife quote the shocking statistic that the number of flying insects has halved in the last 5 years. Without insects all ecosystems will collapse, and pollination is just one of the important jobs flying insects do.
We can all help insect populations by ensuring we have the right plants (especially flowers for nectar and pollen, but also food plants) in the right place (right soil, right aspect or degree of shade) in any area we control. From a window box, garden, allotment or even a nature reserve you manage; there is always more to learn about the best plants and best management to help insects.
Judy Webb is a local ecologist who advises on management of several nature reserves. She is also an expert in pollen identification and regularly identifies pollen loads from rare wild bees to help understand which flowers they particularly depend on to help with conservation actions to prevent their decline. From this workshop you should be able to leave with a list of the most helpful insect -friendly plants for your site before you head to the garden centre.
Speed updates:
“Not Bourne Yesterday Project Update”
Martha Glennon, Engagement Coordinator for Not Bourne Yesterday, hosted by the Chilterns National Landscape
“Recording in the Cookhams”
Brian Clews, Wild Cookham
“Chalk Stream Citizen Science”
Iona McMillan, Citizen Science Coordinator, Chilterns Chalk Streams Project hosted by the Chilterns National Landscape
“Birds in Greenspaces and other BTO projects”
John Melling, Regional Representative, British Trust for Ornithology
East Vale and Abingdon Wilts & Berks Canal Trust
Valerie Scatchard
“Community Ecology Team update from Wild Oxfordshire”
Imogen Parker, Wild Oxfordshire
Displays:
There will be a range of display stands from different recording and conservation groups which you can visit during refreshment and lunch breaks. If you'd like to bring a display, please contact us at tverc@oxfordshire.gov.uk.
Many thanks to the WISH Partnership for supporting this event.