Recording
Recording wildlife sightings is vital because it turns thousands of everyday observations into powerful ecological evidence that helps protect species and habitats. When members of the public submit records, they create a far more detailed and up‑to‑date picture of how wildlife is distributed, how populations are changing, and where pressures or declines may be emerging. Platforms like iRecord verify these sightings through expert review and feed the validated data into national biodiversity databases, ensuring the information is reliable and scientifically useful.
Locally, the Hampshire Biodiversity Information Centre (HBIC) uses these records to inform planning decisions, guide habitat management, support conservation projects, and identify priority areas for action across the county. Every sighting of wildlife you have, whether it is a slow worm in your garden or a peregrine while you are out walking, helps to build the evidence base that feeds into parish, county and national conservation and policy decisions.
Every record counts!
Adding records is really easy... although there is a very big BUT!!!
Verifiers will check your sightings and will be looking for important information that your sighting needs to make it suitable as a record. I have listed some key tips below on how to charm the verifiers into accepting your sighting:
- Include a photo with your record! Verifiers will often correct records if a photo is able to help with identifying the species.
- When adding the location, please pay attention to accuracy and use the highest scale possible on the map.
- Zoom in to click on the map where you saw the animal/plant. Grid references should be 6, 8 or 10 digits.
- Ask for help with identifications. Reach out to us via our Facebook page with details or email us at wilder.hook.hart@gmail.com
Visit https://www.irecord.org.uk/ to set up an account and start adding your records now.
