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:
John Lindley, South Stoke Wildlife & Conservation Group - "Wildlife recording in a small Oxfordshire village"
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.
Ruth Staples-Rolfe, Mend the Gap Programme Manager - "Role of the recorder in a local community and how the benefit the wider landscape"
Mike Coker, Binfield Environment Group -"An introduction to Binfield Environment Group and engaging the community through surveying"
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.
Sophie Williams, University of Oxford. TVERC Micro-Internship Project talk -"Deadwood Invertebrate Species Distribution Analysis: Distribution Across Ancient Woodland, Priority Habitat Inventory, SCA and SPA Land Classification".
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 Recordng - Peter Philp, Chairman of the Upper Thames Branch of Butterfly Conservation.
Mammals - Bob Cowley, Track & Sign Trainer for UK Mammal Society
Speed updates:
Got something exciting happening in your local area? Share it with us in a 5-minute talk! Whether it's about specific species, sites, habitats, recording projects, or conservation campaigns, we'd love to hear from you. If you'd like to give a speed update, please contact us at tverc@oxfordshire.gov.uk.
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.