Partnership projects

Amateur naturalists and voluntary recording groups have been observing and recording UK species of plants and animals for centuries. These observations can help conservationists understand and protect UK biodiversity. They can also reveal long-term changes in patterns of biodiversity, eg as a result of climate change.

The collaboration between the Museum and English Nature aims to improve communication and add value to the contributions that specialist societies, the conservation agencies and other research organisations make to the conservation of UK Biodiversity Action Plan species.

Riverfly identification and survey workshops

Since 1997, workshops have been for run fly fishermen and river keepers by amateur naturalists at the John Spedan Lewis Trust for the Advancement of Natural Sciences to increase the understanding of the identification, monitoring and surveying of riverflies. A wider collaboration, including specialists from the Natural History Museum and the National Recording Scheme, is now delivering regional workshops teaching anglers identification techniques and encouraging them to contribute data to the National Trichoptera (Caddisflies or sedges) and Ephemeroptera (Mayflies or up-winged flies) Recording Schemes.

Survey of the Bryophytes of Arable Land (SBAL)

The Natural History Museum and English Nature are working with the British Bryological Society (BBS) on a survey of mosses, liverworts and hornworts of arable land. Arable land has a distinctive bryophyte flora, which has often been neglected in the past, with the result that we now have little idea of how its bryophyte flora is changing. BBS volunteers will be involved in this national recording scheme over the next three years.

Find out more about the  Bryophytes of arable land survey

Amateurs As Experts

The Amateurs as Experts project is a collaboration between the Natural History Museum, English Nature and the Institute for Environment, Philosophy and Public Policy at Lancaster University.

The project, funded by the Economic and Social Research Council, is the first major British study by social scientists of the relationship between amateur naturalists, biodiversity scientists and policy makers.

Find out more about the  Amateurs as Experts study.

Monitoring moss

The Natural History Museum, English Nature and the British Bryological Society (BBS) are working together to try and save two of Britain's rare mosses.

The minute Tetrodontium repandum has only been found twice in Britain and has not been seen since the 1950s. Members of the BBS will use historical records from the Natural History Museum to direct targeted field recording towards relocating this rare moss.

The partnership is also currently involved in tracking the endangered thatch moss Leptodontium gemmascens in the wild.