Brilliant! Thank you and keep up the amazing work! Dan Colborne Ranger Crowborough Town Council
From: Adastra [mailto:adastra-boun...@lists.sxbrc.org.uk] On Behalf Of clareblenc...@sussexwt.org.uk Sent: 17 February 2016 11:38 To: adastra@lists.sxbrc.org.uk Subject: [Adastra] 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<http://www.alerc.org.uk/news/natural-england-to-end-core-support-for-lercs>.) 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 Clare Blencowe BRC Manager Sussex Biodiversity Record Centre http://sxbrc.org.uk<http://sxbrc.org.uk/> | 01273 497521 ________________________________ Sussex Wildlife Trust is a company limited by guarantee under the Companies Act. Registered in England, Company No. 698851. Registered Charity No. 207005. VAT Registration No. 191 305969. Registered Office: Woods Mill, Henfield, West Sussex BN5 9SD. Telephone 01273 492630
