The recording of wildlife is the main aim of the Club. Every observation counts, no matter how insignificant it may seem to the recorder. When all our records come together they form a strong basis for conservation measures.

First, what a record is not. It is not necessarily a remarkable sighting of something never before seen in the area. It is not the discovery of a species new to science.

A record for the Clubs purposes is a written note of anything in the natural history field that you have seen or heard - the point being that you have written it down - kept a record of your observations. Many people keep a personal notebook in which they jot down observations as they occur or as soon as possible afterwards. Members of the Club transfer these notes on to Club record sheets and send them to Helen Ikin each quarter either by post or by email to

At an AGM. Monica Gillham set up a display giving a practical idea of the process by which individual notes become part of Heritage. The sequence is - in the words used on the display:

• WHO? Anyone and everyone can keep records.
• HOW? Write it down as soon as possible in a.notebook or diary or a sheet of paper pinned to the kitchen wall.
• WHERE? Anywhere in Leicestershire but mainly in the Charnwood area.
• WHAT? It doesn’t have to be rare. We have too few records of, say, moles. Common species can suddenly become rare (or vice versa). Anything unusual.
• WHEN? Please write up your notes and send them in at the end of each quarter. The deadline dates are:

What happens to the records sent in is as follows:

1. The record sheets are sorted and sent to the Club’s recorders for the various categories - birds, mammals, plants, etc.
2. The recorders read the notes, analyse them and write reports for the quarter which they return to Peter Wilkinson who then types them out for publication in Heritage.
3. After two years the record sheets are sent to the Ecology Unit, Holly Hayes where they are photocopied. They keep the originals and we keep the copies on file.

One of our bird recorders, Bas Forgham, made a plea concerning bird records. Please write the name of the bird once only. For example, if you have had more than one sighting of a Sparrowhawk, write the birds name once then list by it the times and places where you have seen it. This makes the work of the recorders much simpler.

This applies to bird records, which are usually far more numerous than the other categories. For instance, where plants are concerned, it is sometimes interesting to list all the species found at a particular site. Also, you may discover a place rich in butterflies and a list of species found there would be valuable.

As you develop the habit of observing, you will become familiar with the species you expect to find at any given spot and any changes will become apparent. This information is important and would be welcomed.

You will realise from this that our records form part of a vast database of the natural history of Charnwood which can be tapped for information when needed. Moreover, anyone can take part - you do not need to be an expert - just keep accurate records and remember to note the time and place