NFBR Issue 67 - Spring 2025

NFBR

NATIONAL FORUM FOR BIOLOGICAL RECORDING

Newsletter 67: April 2025

Contents View from the Chair

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The City Nature Challenge

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Protecting Jersey from Invasive Species

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NBN Trust update for NFBR – March 2025

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A major overhaul and first peer-reviewed list of imported non-native spiders in the United Kingdom

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UK Pollinator Monitoring Scheme news

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Updates from UKCEH Biological Records Centre

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Natural History Tutors: An Under-Valued Asset in Biodiversity Training?

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From Local Discoveries to National Impact: Join Us at the Biological Recording Virtual Symposium

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Cover picture: Hornet hoverflies like a banana (Sarah Whild)

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View from the Chair It’s an interesting Spring (yet again!) and I hope you are all relishing another year’s recording. This is my last pontification as chair of NFBR as I will be passing the baton to Simon Pickles in May. We are once again asking for people to get involved with running NFBR, as potential trustees, members of the Advisory Council, or getting involved in one of the working groups.

I’d like to thank Sam Amy for her time on NFBR Executive serving as a trustee, and I’m delighted that Sam is staying on Council to share her dynamism and biological recording skills. I guess I should also thank the rest of the trustees for putting up with me as Chair for what seems like a lot longer than six years – you’re an amazing lot to work with.

So, what is happening in the world of biological recording? Well, it looks like we will have a new CEO at the National Biodiversity Network as Lisa Chilton is leaving for pastures new – Lisa, we wish you all the best for your wilding work in Scotland, and thank you for being such a great colleague to work with – you will be missed.

It will be interesting to see what direction the NBN takes as there are significant challenges in biological recording in the UK at the moment, not the least being funding – here’s hoping that Natural England are able to be more inclusive in the recording that they support. With so much biological activity in the UK, and over 300,000,000 records on the NBN Atlas perhaps it’s time to check that we are asking the right questions of our biological records.

Is the total number of records the most important factor? Should we worry more about the quality? About who uses the NBN Atlas, and whether this is the most effective way of delivering records to the public? Should record flow be a more important issue? How can sites and species be best protected? How do we encourage vice-county recorders and National Recording Schemes and Societies to work with LERCs, to ensure that LERCs have the best possible data sets in order to facilitate Local Nature Recovery Plans and conservation of ‘local wildlife for local people’? How much money is spent on biological recording and is the money going to the right places?

It seems to me that we need a new ‘State of the Biological Recording Nation’ report – an update to Burnett, Harding and Copp’s magnificent summary produced in 1997. Next year is the NFBR’s 40th anniversary and that seems like a good way to mark our evolution and achievements.

Any volunteers?

On another subject entirely, some mad woman has written a book on biological 3

recording, and apparently it is out in November this year, just after Graeme Lyons’s book on Pan-species Listing. Don’t forget to order your copies from Pelagic Publishing.

Oh – and book now for our May online conference From Local to National, hosted

by Keiron Brown’s Biological Recording Company!

That’s all – so long, and thanks for all the fish…

Sarah Whild Reluctant NFBR Chair April 2025

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The City Nature Challenge https://www.citynaturechallenge.org/ The City Nature Challenge is an international event designed to encourage people to document and discover urban biodiversity. It began in 2016 as a friendly competition between Los Angeles and San Francisco and has grown into a global event, with cities worldwide competing to make the most observations of plants and wildlife, identify the most species, and engage the most people in nature documentation. The challenge aims to raise awareness about urban biodiversity and involves a combination of citizen science and community engagement. Participants use platforms like iNaturalist to record their findings, helping scientists monitor and conserve biodiversity in urban areas.

The UK began participating in the City Nature Challenge in 2017. This year marked the first time UK cities, such as London, Bristol, and Manchester, took part in the event. Since then, participation has grown, with more cities across the UK joining the challenge each year. In 2024 the challenge produced 2,436,844 observations from over 83,000 participants and providing a gateway into biological recording for people in urban areas.

The events are coordinated by various groups, for example the Greater Belfast City Nature Challenge 2025 is co-organised by BSBI, Buglife, National Museums NI, and Wild Belfast, and the Oxfordshire event is coordinated by Thames Valley Environmental Records Centre (TVERC).

In 2025 the City Nature Challenge will run from Friday 25th April- Monday 28th April 2025 with the following UK cities and regions participating include:

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Brighton & Eastern Downs

Greater Manchester

Cardiff & Newport

Herefordshire

Chester Region

High Peak

City of Nottingham

Hull

Congleton

Lancashire

Coventry, Solihull and Warwickshire

Liverpool City Region

Dundee

North East England

Glamorgan

Oxfordshire

Greater Belfast

Staffordshire & Stoke-on-Trent

Greater Edinburgh

Swansea

Greater Glasgow

West of England (Bristol and Bath)

Greater London

York

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Protecting Jersey from Invasive Species The Bailiwick of Jersey is the largest of the Channel Islands and a self-governing British Crown Dependency. The Bailiwick is made up of the main island of Jersey (120 km2) and its surrounding offshore reefs. Despite being small, the Channel Island’s geographical position and favourable climate has allowed for species usually restricted to either Britain or Europe to extend their ranges and leading to a unique natural heritage.

Unfortunately, the islands’ close location to France as well as its busy port makes the threat of invasive non-native species (INNS) an everpresent issue. To combat this, the status of INNS in Jersey was formalised in 2021 with the adoption of the Wildlife (Jersey) Law 2021 and the formation of the invasive species team within the Natural Environment Department of Government of Jersey.

The teams first order of business was to work out what INNS were already established on the island and what species may arrive in the future. Given the similarities in environment and proximity of the sister Bailiwick of Guernsey, (that also encompasses the islands of Alderney, Sark, Herm and some smaller outlying islands), it was sensible to collaborate with officers from the States of Guernsey and divide the work up.

In 2022, The States of Guernsey undertook a horizon scanning exercise to identify what INNS of concerns may arrive to the Channel Islands and the pathways by which they may arrive. By using several lists of species of concern, taken from across the UK and EU, 404 terrestrial, freshwater and marine non-native species were identified. Through a process of

Alastair Christie and Adam Dallas-Chapman from the Invasive Species team

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risk assessment, this list was narrowed down to 118 high risk species, based upon the risks they pose to the island’s ecology, economy and/or public health.

In 2023, established INNS in the two Bailiwicks were risked assessed via a threat score analysis and ranked according to their ecological risk, geographic spread and invasive potential with the help of global and local experts. This exercise revealed 186 INNS found to be present within the terrestrial environment on Jersey (20 invertebrates, 27 vertebrates & 139 plants) and 156 found to be present within the terrestrial environment of Guernsey (22 invertebrates, 18 vertebrates & 116 plants). A similar exercise was undertaken for the marine environment revealing a further 143 INNS existed in Channel Island waters!

Since the completion of these risk assessments, the next step was to determine how to manage the species currently on island and to create plans for when new invaders arrive! This is being done in three ways: yy Several species are under current management including the yellow legged hornet (Vespa velutina), Japanese knotweed (Reynoutria japonica), purple dew plant (Disphyma crassifolium) and sour fig (Carpobrotus edulis). yy Management Feasibility Studies are being drawn up for the highest risk established species found on Jersey & Guernsey. These studies are being completed in collaboration with local experts and land managers and will identify which species are the most feasible for eradication and which will require more long-term management. yy Species Contingency Plans are being formulated for the highest risk species 8

Pampas grass

identified in the Horizon Scan report. A top 10 Alert species list of new INNS for the Channel Islands has also been produced in collaboration with Guernsey to raise awareness of these species with the general public such that they can act as an early warning system if the species do arrive!

Since the formalisation of Invasive Non-Native Species in the Wildlife (Jersey) Law 2021, a great deal of effort has been made identify, risk assess and manage all the different species which may threaten both Jersey and Guernsey.

Continued vigilance, collaboration, and public awareness will be essential in addressing future threats and ensuring the long-term health of the islands’ ecosystems.

Invasive Disphyma crassifolium (Purple Dew Plant), native to South Africa

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NBN Trust update for NFBR – March 2025 NBN Trust CEO news The NBN Trust brings the news that its CEO, Lisa Chilton, will be leaving her role in May 2025. During her four-year tenure, among many other things, she developed and launched the NBN Trust Strategy 2022-2027, launched the Better Biodiversity Data project and ensured the root-and-branch upgrade of the NBN Atlas took place. The team will miss her enthusiasm, energy and warmth, but it wishes her all the very best as she moves on to be CEO of Scotland: The Big Picture, Scotland’s rewilding charity.

Of course, this means there is now a vacancy for a new CEO! This is an excellent opportunity for an ambitious individual with an agile, entrepreneurial mind-set, who can drive income generation and growth. The ideal candidate understands what an excellent data platform looks like and how to continually evolve this to keep up with trends and developments.

If you’d like to join a conservation charity, tech charity and people charity all rolled into one, this could be the role for you! Deadline for applications is 11 April. https://nbn.org.uk/news/nbn-trust-job-vacancy-ceo/ NBN Trust restructure The NBN Trust has been very busy behind the scenes this last couple of months and wants to share news of a few changes within its team. The Trust has grown rapidly in recent years, which has necessitated a restructure to best manage its resources and address business risks.

The main driver has been the need to increase capacity in its finance and operations functions to ensure its financial sustainability and organisational resilience. Following a period of consultation with the relevant members of the team, several new roles have been created.

Unfortunately, to fund the new roles, capacity within the Communications and Engagement team needed to be reduced. The Trust will continue to prioritise the delivery of Network News, the NBN Conference and NBN Awards, its annual Impact Report, and its Membership scheme, but it will have less capacity to engage in other Comms work. It will no longer have a dedicated iNaturalistUK Lead, but it will continue to deliver its role within the National Education Nature Park project, and will promote and support iNaturalistUK, albeit somewhat scaled back. The NBN Trust knows it can count on our patience as it settles into its new structure.

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NBN Awards for Wildlife Recording 2025 Nominations have now closed, and the NBN Award winners will be announced at the National Biodiversity Network Conference in November.

The Big Give Green Match Fund The NBN Trust is very excited to be taking part in the Big Give’s Green Match Fund for the first time in April. This means that any donations made to the NBN Trust through the week of the Big Give (22-29 April) will be doubled! Please keep an eye on the NBN Trust website and social media for more news and relevant links.

Thank you in advance for your support!

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A major overhaul and first peer-reviewed list of imported non-native spiders in the United Kingdom Jodey Peyton A landmark study by British arachnologist Danniella Sherwood has just been published in the journal Arthropoda Selecta, which contains a complete checklist of all published records of INNS spiders intercepted in the UK from 1800–2024, in addition to presenting brand new records of 35 species. Another key aspect of her paper, which took over a decade to complete, is providing genitalia photographs of the most commonly encountered species, to assist other zoologists in identifying future specimens. Danni was also able to confirm that the much maligned ‘Brazilian Wandering Spider’ Phoneutria fera has never actually been officially recorded, with all records actually corresponding to other species of the wandering spider genus Phoneutria. The paper is open access here: https://www. researchgate.net/publication/390192871_Annotated_checklist_ of_imported_non-native_ spider_Araneae_taxa_ recorded_in_the_United_ Kingdom_1800-2024. Danni is the UK’s leading expert on exotic spiders, with over 15 years’ experience as a professional arachnologist and continues to consult on identification of intercepted specimens for a variety of agencies and commercial businesses.

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UK Pollinator Monitoring Scheme news

By the time you read this Newsletter a new season will have started for the UK Pollinator Monitoring Scheme (PoMS). The scheme runs two surveys across the UK, aimed at gathering data on the abundance of flower-visiting insects.

The Flower-Insect Timed Counts (FIT Counts) can be done at any location that has flowers, on any date between 1 April and 30 September (as long as the weather is good). See the summary ‘ten steps’ graphic for more information, or go straight to the FIT Count page on the PoMS website [ https://ukpoms.org.uk/ fit-counts ]. You can also see a webinar “Ten minutes to count the insects!” on how to carry out FIT Counts, with tips on identifying the insect groups that you might see, is available on YouTube [ https://ukpoms.org.uk/node/75 ] (this took place as part of the Citizen Science Showcase in February 2025).

The 1 km square survey is a more systematic survey that uses pan traps to catch insects, positioned within a set of 95 1 km squares across the UK. For most of the squares we have a wonderful team of volunteers in place who carry out the vital work of setting out and collecting in the pan traps on four days across the summer. The insect specimens are sent back to PoMS for identification and analysis. There are still some squares available to be ‘adopted’, often in beautiful landscapes, albeit sometimes rather remote! The available squares can be see on the PoMS 1 km square survey page [ https://ukpoms.org.uk/onekm-square-survey ] – if you are interested in taking part in this survey please contact PoMS for further details (poms@ceh.ac.uk).

Thanks to all who have taken part in PoMS surveys in previous 14

years. The most recent annual report covers the year 2023 and is available on the website, with the report for 2024 due to be published soon.

The UK Pollinator Monitoring Scheme (UK PoMS) is a partnership funded jointly by the UK Centre for Ecology & Hydrology (UKCEH) and Joint Nature Conservation Committee (JNCC) (through funding from the Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs, Scottish Government, Welsh Government and Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs for Northern Ireland).

UK PoMS is co-ordinated by UKCEH, with delivery partners the Bumblebee Conservation Trust, Butterfly Conservation, British Trust for Ornithology, Buglife, DAERA and Hymettus, and academic partners the Natural History Museum, the University of Reading and University of Leeds.

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Updates from UKCEH Biological Records Centre BRC National Recording Schemes meeting 2025 This meeting brings together organisers of the national recording schemes, representatives of the country conservation agencies, and researchers. It was held in York on 15 March, with a wide range of topics covered, including: Data use for delivering England’s biodiversity targets; Invasive non-native species and the role of recording schemes; Water beetle recording in Yorkshire; Uncovering historical recording: species, places and practices; and more. In addition two discussion panels focused on Encouraging new recorders in taxonomically difficult groups, and on Consistency and change - how best can BRC and the recording schemes work together.

The presentations can be downloaded from the news page on the BRC website [ https://www.brc.ac.uk/article/brc-national-recording-schemes-meeting-2025 ]. Thanks to all speakers and participants.

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Record Cleaner software As reported in the previous NFBR Newsletter we have been working on a web service version of the Record Cleaner software, and this is now available for use. You can access it from the “Resources” menu on the BRC website, or go direct to https://www.brc.ac.uk/record_cleaner There are some known issues that we are working to fix at the moment (see the foot of the above page for the latest updates), and if you encounter any other problems please report them to brc@ceh.ac.uk. iRecord app update The latest update to the iRecord app is expected to be available in April or May (subject to final testing). This will take the app to version 6.2.0, which will include: yy Add the ability to view all uploaded records, including those from other devices. yy Improved image recognition suggestions. yy Updated species dictionary to maintain alignment with the UK Species Inventory. yy Added queried record notifications. yy Added an option to join and leave activities from within the app. yy Improved user interface, including clearer routes in to the different recording options within the app. yy Additional bug fixes.

National recording scheme news Welcome to James McCulloch, who has taken on a role as scheme organiser for the Springtail Recording Scheme, following the sad death of Peter Shaw last year. Peter had been running the scheme for many years and we are pleased that 17

his legacy of data and information will continue to be available via the scheme into the future.

BRC has been working with the Spider Recording Scheme to transfer their main species dataset into Indicia, to enable it to be shared more widely via the scheme’s own website and to NBN Atlas. At the time of writing we are in the process of transferring the more than 1 million records that are held by the scheme. A number of other schemes are also in the process of mobilising their data via this route, as time allows.

Click-beetles of Great Britain and Ireland – an atlas and natural history The latest in the series of BRC atlases was published last autumn. The author is Howard Mendel, who has been running the recording scheme for these beetles since 1983. The new atlas is a substantial work, with detailed species accounts covering the taxonomy, natural history and field craft associated with 84 species in the three families included in the scheme (Eucnemidae, Throscidae and Elateridae).

This Atlas represents the accumulated effort of hundreds of coleopterists and recorders over more than two centuries. Although not an identification guide, advice on how to distinguish similar species is provided and there are photographs of most of the species and many habitat photographs, providing valuable insight into where the species live and what their requirements are.

The atlas is available from the Field Studies Council. [ https://www.field-studies-council.org/shop/ publications/click-beetles-atlas/ ]

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Natural History Tutors: An Under-Valued Asset in Biodiversity Training?

Keiron Derek Brown, Biological Recording Company A recent survey conducted by the Biological Recording Company has shed new light on the economic realities faced by natural history tutors across the UK. With responses from 54 tutors, the data offers a rare quantitative snapshot of the sector — one that underscores a critical imbalance between the value of ecological training and the remuneration provided for delivering it.

Key Findings yy Day Rate Statistics: The mean minimum day rate reported for delivering training was £185, with a median of £175. However, the range was wide, with some respondents citing rates as low as £75 per day, while others reported receiving over £400. yy Perceived Fair Pay: Respondents were also asked what they considered to be a fair standard day rate. The mean response was £308, suggesting a significant gap between current pay and perceived fair compensation.

yy Unpaid Work: Over 60% of respondents reported that they regularly deliver 19

training for free. This includes contributions to volunteer organisations, community groups, and recording initiatives where funding is often limited or non-existent.

yy Preparation Time: Many tutors highlighted the time-intensive nature of training delivery. On average, for every day of training delivered, respondents estimated between 0.5 to 2 days of additional unpaid time spent preparing materials, planning sessions, and conducting post-course follow-up.

Implications for the Sector These findings reveal more than just inconsistencies in pay. They point to a deeper systemic issue: the under-recognition of specialist ecological knowledge and training expertise within the conservation and biodiversity sector. Natural history tutors play a central role in skills development, species identification training, and data quality improvement — all of which underpin the UK’s biological recording infrastructure.

Yet, as the survey shows, many of these professionals are operating under financial constraints that threaten the sustainability of their work. When training becomes reliant on underpaid or voluntary labour, it risks reducing both the diversity and availability of high-quality opportunities for learners.

What This Means for the Future 20

As organisations increasingly prioritise evidence-based conservation and biodiversity monitoring, investment in skills infrastructure must be part of the equation. Tutors are critical enablers of national data collection efforts — from citizen science to structured surveys — and their support, training, and mentorship create a multiplier effect across the sector.

The survey presents an opportunity to: yy Develop benchmark pay rates for natural history training aligned with experience, preparation time, and regional cost of living. yy Encourage funders and employers to build training costs into project budgets, recognising the full value of tutor time. yy Highlight the need for greater transparency in pay structures within both the NGO and public sectors.

A Call for Collective Action At the Biological Recording Company, we see this report as a critical step in recognising the foundational role that tutors play in our shared mission. Their expertise drives the accuracy, consistency, and growth of biological records across the UK. As a business operating within this sector, we must advocate for equitable pay structures that reflect the scientific, educational, and societal value of their contributions.

You can access the full article and explore the survey findings at https:// biologicalrecording.co.uk/2025/04/13/what-are-our-natural-history-tutors-worth/.

Let’s work together to ensure our tutors receive the recognition — and the rates — they truly deserve.

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From Local Discoveries to National Impact: Join Us at the Biological Recording Virtual Symposium The NFBR is delighted to partner with the Biological Recording Company to bring you the Biological Recording Virtual Symposium 2025: Local to National— a dynamic and insightful half-day online event taking place on Friday, 16 May 2025, from 10:00 to 13:00 BST. Whether you’re a seasoned biodiversity professional, an experienced biological recorder, or just beginning your journey in wildlife monitoring, this symposium offers a unique opportunity to explore the extraordinary role biological records play in shaping our understanding of biodiversity — from back gardens to government policy.

Why Biological Recording Matters At NFBR, we champion the power of biological recording as the foundation for evidencebased decision-making. Whether it’s guiding conservation strategies, influencing planning decisions, or contributing to long-term ecological monitoring, the data collected by recorders like you is vital. And this event is all about showcasing how those records ripple outwards — informing action and policy at every level.

What to Expect Hosted by our very own Dr Sarah Whild, this symposium brings together a fantastic speaker line-up, each offering a fresh perspective on recording at different geographic scales. You’ll hear first-hand from leading figures in the field and get the chance to engage with them in dedicated Q&A sessions.

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Here’s a sneak peek at what’s in store: Charismatic Clearwings in Mid Wales Dr Norman Lowe, Brecknock Moth Group Discover how a passion for elusive, day-flying moths turned into a three-year communitydriven project that generated over 200 records across Mid Wales — and what this tells us about species distribution and recorder engagement.

Tracking the Impact: Landscape Scale Monitoring Across the Chilterns Nick Marriner, Chilterns National Landscape Dive into landscape-scale biodiversity monitoring with insights from the Chalk, Cherries and Chairs project, exploring how collaborative data collection is influencing land management and farming practices across the Chilterns.

30 Years of Garden BirdWatch Susan Jones, British Trust for Ornithology Celebrating three decades of citizen science, this session highlights the Garden BirdWatch scheme’s vast data legacy and its value for both scientific discovery and community wellbeing.

Getting To Scale: Biodiversity Monitoring for Local Change Detection Caroline Coogan, Joint Nature Conservation Committee Uncover how structured, long-term surveillance data is being used to detect local ecological change while contributing to national and international reporting through the JNCC’s essential work.

A Flexible, Inclusive Event We know that the strength of biological recording lies in its diversity — not just of species and habitats, but of the people involved.

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That’s why this event is accessible to all, with a flexible pricing structure designed to accommodate everyone: yy Professional Ticket – £30: For attendees joining as part of their work or professional development. yy Non-Professional Ticket – Pay What You Can (minimum £1.20): Ideal for volunteer recorders, enthusiasts, and citizen scientists.

All attendees will receive access to recorded presentations, Q&A transcripts, and useful resources via a password-protected page after the event.

Let’s Celebrate What We Can Achieve Together This symposium is more than a collection of talks — it’s a celebration of community-powered science. It’s about recognising the incredible work happening on the ground and showing how those efforts scale up to national importance.

More information and tickets can be found on the event page: https://www. eventbrite.co.uk/e/biological-recording-local-to-national-virtual-symposiumtickets-1002992566767

Recording Pollinators (c) Keiron Derek Brown

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The National Forum for Biological Recording is the premier UK organisation for practitioners engaged with biological recording across the UK. Membership includes individual naturalists, national organisations and recording societies, local records centres and their staff. This gives it a unique perspective and an important role.

Whether you are an experienced naturalist or taking your first steps in biological recording, we want to hear from you.

To offer an article for a newsletter, please contact our Newsletter Editor: Sam Amy on editor@nfbr.org.uk To join the NFBR, please contact our Membership Officer and Treasurer: Clare Langrick on membership@nfbr.org.uk For all other enquiries about NFBR please contact our Chair: on chairman@nfbr.org.uk Join the discussion on Facebook and Blue sky.

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