On Saturday 10 October, we welcomed recorders, conservationists, researchers and community groups to Upper Basildon Village Hall for our 2026 Autumn Recorders’ Conference.
It was a packed day of talks, workshops and plenty of conversation about wildlife, biodiversity data and nature recovery across Oxfordshire and Berkshire. The programme showed just how varied biological recording can be, from traditional species surveys and community projects to new technology and emerging approaches to nature recovery.
From black poplars to Biodiversity Net Gain
Our talks explored how wildlife records are being used to inform practical action for nature.
Alex Porter-Smith from Bracknell Forest Council talked about the council’s approach to Biodiversity Net Gain and green infrastructure, including how monitoring by its rangers helps build understanding of habitats and wildlife. The data collected is also shared with TVERC, adding to the wider evidence base for the area.
Martyn Lane from Oxfordshire County Council introduced work to understand and conserve native black poplars through the wider Swindon to Oxford programme. With only around 50 black poplar records currently held for Oxfordshire, there could be more of these special trees waiting to be discovered. The project is mapping potential native trees and identifying candidates for DNA testing to help build a clearer picture of their distribution.
TVERC’s own team also shared highlights from our 2026 Local Wildlife Sites survey season in Berkshire. We surveyed 51 sites, including two proposed Local Wildlife Sites and 11 proposed extensions, gathering evidence about important habitats ranging from ancient woodland to Thames-side wetland.
Workshops
The afternoon workshops gave delegates the chance to explore some of these ideas in more depth.
Angus McDonald introduced the possibilities of 3D scanning for ecology, research and conservation, demonstrating how digital models can offer new ways of recording and exploring the natural world.
Lu Barton and Laura Payne from the Owl Conservation Project brought British owl ecology and conservation vividly to life, with some very special guests: Suggs the Tawny Owl, Ziggy the Barn Owl, Hendrix the Long-eared Owl and Dylan the Little Owl.
TVERC’s Gordon Barker explored how biodiversity records can help identify priorities and gaps in our knowledge. More than one million records have been supplied through TVERC data searches, with individual records potentially supporting many different projects and decisions over time.
Marcus from CAG Oxfordshire also led an interactive Our Past and Future Landscape workshop, exploring how geology, land use and the perspectives of different species can help communities understand their landscape and think about what its future could look like.
Five minutes, plenty to share
Our popular five-minute speed updates returned, providing a whistle-stop tour of recording, research and community action across the two counties.
Professor Debbie Bartlett shared news from volunteer toad patrols and glow-worm surveys near Letcombe Regis, while Neil Bucknell introduced plans for the third Berkshire Bird Atlas, which will run from 2027 to 2032.
We also heard from Trust for Oxfordshire’s Environment about funding opportunities; Joe Boyle from the University of Oxford about the Reversing the Gaze on Nature Recovery project; Marcus from CAG Oxfordshire and Julian Parfitt from Wild Wantage about community-led nature recovery; Ivan Wright about habitat restoration at Shotover; and Brian Clews about WildCookham’s growing programme of wildlife recording and community action.
It was a brilliant snapshot of just how much is happening locally and how important volunteers, recorders and community groups are to understanding and supporting our wildlife
Thank you to everyone who joined us
Perhaps the most important part of the conference was the chance to bring people together. The questions, discussions and conversations throughout the day showed just how much knowledge, enthusiasm and experience exists within our recording community.
A huge thank you to all our speakers and workshop leaders, and to everyone who attended, asked questions and shared their knowledge.
Every wildlife record helps us build a better picture of our local environment, and the conference was a great reminder of what can happen when those individual observations are brought together and put to use.
Save the date: our Spring Recorders’ Conference will take place on Saturday 20 March at Thomas Hughes Memorial Hall, White Horse, Uffington, Faringdon, Oxfordshire, SN7 7SE. We hope to see you there!