This year’s NFBR conference is organised in partnership with the Field Studies Council and Manchester Metropolitan University on the very timely and topical theme of “Developing Skills for Biological Recording”. The conference takes place on Thursday 10 and Friday 11 May at The Gateway in Shrewsbury, with accommodation available at nearby Preston Montford Field Centre. There is an optional field trip on 12th.
Through a mixture of talks, displays, breakout groups and plenary discussion, the conference aims to:
- Consider the range of skills that recorders need
- Review results of several skills gap analyses and plans to address issues
- Generate ideas to help new recorders develop their skills
- Share best practice in transferring skills
- Discuss how NFBR can better support skill development
Talks and Programme
Keynote talks by Steph West and John Tweddle from the Natural History Museum and Paul Ashton from Edge Hill University will set the scene and provide context for discussions. There is a fantastic line-up of speakers covering many aspects of skill development from a range of perspectives, including local environmental records centres, museums, national recording schemes, statutory nature conservation bodies, ecological consultants, training providers and of course, naturalists themselves. The conference programme can be downloaded from the NFBR website.
There will be a conference dinner on the Thursday evening and the option of a field trip on Saturday to Brown Moss in the North Shropshire Meres and Mosses, one of Shropshire’s most interesting sites for botanical diversity. The mixture of marshes, ponds, heathland and woodland at Brown Moss support a great variety of wildlife and it is designated as a Local Nature Reserve, Site of Special Scientific Interest, Special Area of Conservation and RAMSAR site
Costs and Booking
Conference tickets start at £45 for a single day or £70 for both days. For further information and to book your place, please visit the FSC website.
NFBR conferences are always interesting, enjoyable and useful events with excellent networking opportunities – we hope you can join us in Shropshire!