Hi Steven
Please speak to Norman Carrack at the University of Sussex he works at LASI and
is keen to speak to anyone on these matters, and can also provide evidence on
NE's stance. He may already be aware of Jon Cursons, if you wish to friend
Norman Carrack on facebook I can help you there or just send him a friend
request yourself.
Candi
From: Steven Falk <[email protected]>
To: 'Adastra discussion group' <[email protected]>
Sent: Monday, March 7, 2016 11:57 AM
Subject: Re: [Adastra] Action taken regarding changes to NaturalEngland
funding for Local Environmental Record Centres
Hi Candi, Can you tell me more abiut that NE story? Also, I think Jon Cursons
ought to know as he's NE's bee person. Was this a Sussex site? Hopefullty it
was just a misundertanding, but can you Email me the details, as I may be able
to fix things or push for a better fix. You can Email me via my website if the
email address does not show up in this posting, Cheers, Steven (bee book chap,
Midlands-based Sussex-phile) Steven Falk BSc ARCS
FRESEntomologist-Artist-Photographerwww.stevenfalk.co.ukmobile: 0781 555
7263Twitter: @StevenFalk1 Help Our Bees:
http://www.stevenfalk.co.uk/help-our-bees Flickr Image library
at:http://www.flickr.com/photos/63075200@N07/collections/ LinkedIn profile:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/steven-falk-aa8ba817 2012 winner of the Royal
Entomological Society Marsh Award for Insect Conservation
From: Adastra [mailto:[email protected]] On Behalf Of Candi
Gould
Sent: 07 March 2016 10:44
To: Adastra discussion group
Subject: Re: [Adastra] Action taken regarding changes to NaturalEngland funding
for Local Environmental Record Centres
I would not get your hope up regarding Natural England. Its quite likely there
doors will remain closed.
On another matter regarding Natural England, their stance regarding bees is
rather alarming, they seem to think that they have no place in the British
Isles, and I even heard of a case where someone applied for a grant to protect
a rare bee and they offered to help get rid of them instead.
We live in interesting times.
Candi
From: "[email protected]" <[email protected]>
To: [email protected]
Sent: Monday, March 7, 2016 10:15 AM
Subject: Re: [Adastra] Action taken regarding changes to Natural England
funding for Local Environmental Record Centres
#yiv1622035005 UNKNOWN {FONT-FAMILY:Calibri;panose-1:2 15 5 2 2 2 4 3 2
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.yiv1622035005MsoChpDefault {FONT-SIZE:10pt;}#yiv1622035005 UNKNOWN
{MARGIN:1in;}#yiv1622035005 DIV.yiv1622035005WordSection1 {}There was a piece
in The Guardian online yesterday on Natural England withdrawing funding for
Local Environmental Record Centres (LERCs):
http://www.theguardian.com/environment/2016/mar/06/decision-to-end-funding-of-local-environmental-record-centres-attacked-natural-england-data-collection-contract
Regarding the impact on us here at Sussex Biodiversity Record Centre, Natural
England withdrawing funding isn’t a ‘life or death’ matter for us. We have the
support of many partners who value the high quality biodiversity information
that we provide – using records supplied and verified by the local biological
recording community. We’re confident we’ll be able to balance the books next
year. But the whole issue remains very worrying for all the reasons outlined in
the letter that was sent on 17 February to Defra and Natural England (see
below). The Association of Local Environmental Record Centres has now made its
representations to Defra and Natural England:
http://www.alerc.org.uk/news/alerc-position-statement-on-the-withdrawal-of-natural-england-moa-funding
We understand that the National Forum for Biological Recording will also be
making representations. And the Royal Society of Wildlife Trusts is talking to
Natural England about the importance of local biodiversity evidence. We haven’t
yet heard anything from Defra or Natural England. Hopefully they will listen
and reconsider their decision in the light of the concerns being raised. Best
wishes, Clare From: Blencowe, Clare
Sent: Wednesday, February 17, 2016 11:38 AM
To: '[email protected]'
Subject: Action taken regarding changes to Natural England funding for Local
Environmental Record Centres Dear Sussex Biological Recorders – Adastrans,Those
of you who were at Adastra on Saturday 6 February will be aware of the concern
that was expressed by many delegates at the recent decision by Natural England
to end funding agreements with all Local Environmental Record Centres from
April 2016. (See ALERC announcement here.)At the meeting, Tony Whitbread (Chief
Exec of Sussex Wildlife Trust) stood up and asked the attendees if they would
be happy to provide a mandate, so that representations could be made to Natural
England, on behalf of the Sussex recording community, regarding this decision.
The mood of the room seemed to be very much in favour and a number of delegates
urged that something should be done. Yesterday, the Sussex Committee for
Biological Recording sent the attached letter – on behalf of participants at
the 27th Sussex Biological Recorders’ Seminar – to Rt Hon Elizabeth Truss, MP
Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs and the Chair and
Chief Exec of Natural England. In parallel with this initiative, we at Sussex
Biodiversity Record Centre are contributing to a joint response from the
Association of Local Environmental Record Centres (ALERC). We think it will
help our cause to show unity within ALERC and we will be focussing our response
on addressing the negative and potentially damaging messages which were implied
in Natural England’s email, which we think are unjustified. The Sussex
Wildlife Trust is also working closely with the Royal Society of Wildlife
Trusts (RSWT) to highlight the importance of the biodiversity evidence base,
and the role of Local Environment Record Centres and local recording
communities in delivering this. It is very heart-warming and encouraging for
the team here to know that the Sussex biological recording community continues
to value the service that Sussex Biodiversity Record Centre provides. Many
thanks to everyone at Adastra, and those I’ve spoken to since, for your
support. With very best wishes, Clare
