The Sussex Biodiversity Record Centre runs a data request service which is available to whoever needs the information. Data comes in to us from a variety of sources, including local recorders, members of the public and ecological consultants.
RESPONSE TIMES: Charged and partner requests will take ten working days to complete, while free of charge requests will take up to 15 working days to complete.
All queries regarding data requests should be sent to SxBRCDataRequests@sussexwt.org.uk
Or call: 01273 497562
Before submitting a data request, it is important that you read and understand the following guidance notes:
Please use one of the following links to make an online data request:
Email SxBRCDataRequests@sussexwt.org.uk and we'd be happy to help.
A data request can be based on any of the following:
Please ensure an accurate Ordnance Survey grid reference is provided for the centre of the site (at least six-figure e.g. TQ314248). It also helps if a map is uploaded with the form which clearly shows the boundary of the site. Reports will be produced based on the information provided on the form. If this turns out to be incorrect, we may charge an admin fee to reproduce the report.
Our main product is an ecological data search report, provided in both PDF and Excel formats. This gives a complete overview of a site and includes protected/designated species data and maps of local and national designated sites and Priority Habitats.
The PDF report contains the maps and summary species data, while the accompanying Excel spreadsheet provides detailed species records.
Species data is split into the following tables:
*The term designated refers to conservation designations such as notably rare/scarce, IUCN Red List etc., Sussex Rare Species Inventory etc.
Four maps are included, showing the following:
To view an example of a full report, please click the link below:
You can choose to restrict a data search to just one species e.g. bat records at a 2km radius
An administrative fee is charged for producing a data search report.
The administrative fee is waived if the data request is made for the following reasons:
Requests made for the reasons above may not be used as supporting evidence for a planning application.
Parish-wide data search reports for Neighbourhood Plans will be charged at a flat-rate fee of £125 + VAT.
| Radius size | |||||
| 1km | 2km | 3km | 4km | 5km | |
| Maps | £90 | £115 | £150 | £190 | £255 |
| Species data | £150 | £200 | £265 | £355 | £475 |
| FULL REPORT | £215 | £285 | £375 | £490 | £655 |
| For bats and/or birds at different search sizes - add the following | - | £30 | £40 | £55 | £75 |
| Full species list (Excel)* | £50 | £60 | £75 | £100 | £140 |
| * This is a summary list of all species for which we hold records. It includes the earliest and latest date recorded, together with the total number of observations. | |||||
| The above charges are for radius searches only. Buffers from site boundaries or site-only searches will likely cover a larger area and the charge will be calculated upon receipt of the form. A quote will be emailed before the data search is undertaken. | |||||
*Limited to three. If more species/taxonomic groups needed a full data search report should be requested
| Radius size | |||||
| No. of species or taxonomic groups | 1km | 2km | 3km | 4km | 5km |
| 1 | £50 | £60 | £75 | £100 | £140 |
| 2 | £80 | £95 | £115 | £145 | £190 |
| 3 | £110 | £130 | £160 | £205 | £270 |
| e.g. reptiles and amphibians at a 2km radius would be £95. | |||||
SxBRC’s charges are administrative charges, reflecting the amount of staff time that we spend on managing species, habitat and sites data, and the costs of necessary ongoing investment in data management infrastructure, so that we can make these data available for use. SxBRC operates on a non-profit basis and all income gets invested in maintaining and improving SxBRC’s data and information services.
We have a number of funding partners who are entitled to data requests as part of their service level agreement. View a list of our funding partners here.
Consultants working on behalf of a funding partner will not be charged.
Sussex Biodiversity Record Centre is managed as a partnership project hosted by Sussex Wildlife Trust, a registered charity. We are entirely non-profit-making and our charges are set on a cost-recovery basis. All income from SxBRC's data request service is ploughed back into capturing, managing and sharing high quality environmental information; and supporting the local biological recording community, who share their data with us, so that we can share it with you.
SxBRC exists to make biodiversity information accessible, so that it can be used to inform planning and decision-making, target conservation action and help to further our collective knowledge of biodiversity.
SxBRC aims to keep restrictions on sharing data to a minimum. However, there are a few circumstances in which access to information is restricted.
Badgers
Local badger groups have requested that badger records remain confidential. If you need further information about badgers in your enquiry area please visit the Badger Trust website: www.badgertrust.org.uk/you. Please be aware that there are several local groups covering different geographic areas within Sussex.
Otters
Otter records are treated as confidential. Otters became extinct in Sussex and many other parts of the UK in the late 1960s. Recent improvements to watercourses and a reduction in persecution have led to the slow return of the otter to the South East. There are no recent breeding otter records and very few resident otters in Sussex. Over the last 20 years however, signs of otter activity have been found in most of the Sussex river catchments.
If there is a river or tributary within 1km of your search area please be aware of the potential for otters in the vicinity, especially if you are undertaking operations that may impact potential otter habitat, or if your work includes Highways operations.
Confidential bird records
Sussex Ornithological Society classes some bird records as 'confidential'. This is usually at the request of the recorder supplying the data. Confidential bird records can relate to a range of different species.
SxBRC reports include information on the number of records of birds classed as confidential within the search area. For further information on confidential bird records, SOS should be contacted directly. Email: conservation@sos.org.uk
Wood White and Duke of Burgundy
These two rare butterfly species have a very restricted range in Sussex and so records are reported at a 1km resolution on advice from Butterfly Conservation Sussex Branch.
The list of notable birds in Sussex consists of those species which are particularly vulnerable to development/disturbance. These records are therefore only available to restricted users (e.g. those directly involved in a proposed planning application). These restrictions have been requested by Sussex Ornithological Society (SOS) who worked closely with SxBRC to produce the notable bird list.
Charged reports and reports for partner organisations include detailed information on notable bird records. All other reports include summary information only.
We aim to complete charged and partner data requests within ten working days. This is from the date a quote is agreed to (or from the date a form is submitted if no quote is needed).
If results are needed more urgently then we offer a two working day turn-around time for a surcharge of 50% of the original fee. This service is available most of the time but will be removed as an option from the data request form during particularly busy times.
We aim to complete non-charged data requests within 15 working days. Please bear this in mind when organising work to meet deadlines.
All recipients of data provided by the Sussex Biodiversity Record Centre should be aware of, and agree to, the following:
Example acknowledgement: This data is provided with permission of Sussex Biodiversity Record Centre acting on behalf of the contributing biological recorders. Copyright © 2024 Sussex Biodiversity Record Centre, all rights reserved.