The new platform will provide:

+ A smoother support experience
+ Faster and more effective responses to queries
+ Improved tracking of support requests
+ Easier access to help documentation and video resources
+ Simpler navigation and search functionality

Our aim is to launch the new helpdesk platform in September 2026, and we will share further details with the Network as soon as the transition is complete.

Although Freshdesk is not intended to replace the Forum as a space for community discussion, we believe it will help address some of the support needs currently served by the Forum and provide a more modern, user-friendly experience for obtaining help and information.

We look forward to sharing more details soon.

To summarise - despite its long and successful 20 years' service, the Forum can no longer continue in its current form. The software platform on which it operates (PunBB) is no longer supported by its developers and although the Forum is running the latest available version, that is now more than five years old. Continuing to operate unsupported software presents increasing cyber security risks and, as a result, the difficult decision has been made to retire the Forum. It will therefore be taken offline by the end of September 2026.

We recognise that it continues to provide a valuable place for discussion as well as being an archive of historical Q&A and we are looking at options for how to preserve this. We are confident that we will not lose any of this information.

From feedback already received, the main concerns relate to losing a place for Recorder 6 discussion, advice and Q&A. We are working with ALERC, Mike Weideli, Sally Rankin and John van Breda to find a solution for this and we will give further updates when we are able.

If you have any additional feedback to give, please complete our feedback form - https://nbn.org.uk/nbn-forum-feedback/ , so we can collate all the information received and respond / take action accordingly.

Thanks very much for your support.
Mandy

1.    Choose an open licence for your records in iNaturalist: CC0 or CC BY will enable your records to be used as widely as possible and are the preferred choice; CC BY-NC (non-commercial) can prevent records being used by some schemes and records centres. Other licence choices (such as SA and ND) are difficult to interpret for individual records, and cannot be used in iRecord or the NBN Atlas (nor on GBIF).

2.    If adding records to the iNaturalistUK website, ensure that you zoom in to the map when setting the location, so that the records have an accuracy measure of 100 metres or less. This will ensure that a reasonably accurate grid reference can be assigned to them on import to iRecord.

3.    Avoid obscuring locations unless absolutely necessary, as this can prevent them being linked to grid references of suitable precision for recording scheme use

4.    Provide your real name if possible; this can be added as the “Display name” in your iNaturalist profile, and will then be used as the recorder name on iRecord.

5.    Now that the record import is in place in iRecord to allow iNaturalist data to be imported, it is helpful if you can avoid adding the same record to both iNaturalistUK and iRecord, to avoid duplication of both records and of verifiers’ time.

Many thanks.
Steve J. McWilliam

This survey will involve answering questions about yourself, your thoughts on your personal well-being and feelings towards nature, and your usage of the iNaturalist platform.

It should take approximately 15-20 minutes of your time to complete, and you can also choose to enter a prize draw for a £100 gift voucher or donate to a wildlife charity of your choice.

Read more on the NBN Trust website.

Through these Awards, the National Biodiversity Network Trust recognises significant achievements and celebrates successes in wildlife recording in the UK.

This year there are seven categories of awards, including two new ones:

* NBN Lifetime Achievement Award 2024 (new Award category)
* NBN Verifier’s Award 2024 (new Award category)
* NBN Award for Terrestrial Wildlife Recording 2024
* NBN Award for Marine Wildlife Recording 2024
* NBN Group Award 2024
* NBN Newcomer Award 2024
* NBN Young Person’s Award 2024 (open to individuals aged 11-20)

Nominating someone for an NBN Award couldn’t be simpler – just answer three or four simple questions online or on our MS Word nomination forms.

Individuals and groups can also nominate themselves!

Nominations close on Wednesday 3 April 2024, and the NBN Award winners will be announced at the NBN Conference in November.

More information and the nomination forms can be found on the NBN Trust website

We look forward to receiving your nominations!

The NBN Trust is currently advertising for a new role, Biodiversity Data Officer for the NBN Atlas. All of the information is available on the NBN Trust website

Please would you help us to spread the word about this exciting and important new role by advertising through your own networks.

The closing date for applications is 9:00am on 9 November.

Thank you.
Mandy

deSara

Your responses are anonymous - unless you choose to leave your email address at the end of the survey, for us to contact you for further online discussions about the NBN Awards.

Thank you in advance for taking part, your input is very much appreciated.

We are really excited to be part of New to Nature's second cohort of job vacancies. New to Nature aims to provide life-changing experiences for young people who might not normally have access to a career in the environmental sector. Those who are from an ethnic minority, or are disabled, or are from low-income homes are being encouraged to apply.
We'd really appreciate your help in promoting this role within your own networks or groups to help encourage young and diverse talent into the Natural Environment sector. Please use the text below, wherever possible.
Thank you,
Mandy

Biodiversity Data Portal Support Officer Job Vacancy

We’re delighted to announce that we have a vacancy for a Biodiversity Data Portal Support Officer, which is made possible through "New to Nature", an exciting UK programme which aims to encourage young and diverse talent into the Natural Environment sector.

If you want to help nature thrive, come and work with the National Biodiversity Network (NBN) Trust! We’ll help you to become an expert in using our data portal, the NBN Atlas, and you’ll develop excellent communications and customer service skills (and many others) as you help our users. Working at the NBN Trust will give you an introduction to many of the organisations working in the environmental sector in the UK, setting you on your career path in nature conservation.

We’re particularly interested in receiving applications from young people (aged 18-25) who are from ethnically diverse backgrounds, or who are living with a disability, or are from low-income households.

This is a 12 month post which will be paid at the Real Living Wage. 

Visit our Job vacancies page for more details and how to apply

Applications close at 12 midday on Friday 17 February 2023.  We will conduct interviews by telephone or video call the week beginning 27 February.

If you have any questions about the vacancy or interview process, please contact us at: support@nbn.org.uk and we’ll be delighted to tell you more about this new and exciting role.

New to Nature is funded by National Lottery Heritage Fund as part of the celebrations to mark the Queen’s platinum jubilee and delivered through a partnership of Groundwork, The Prince’s Trust, Disability Rights UK, Mission Diverse and the Youth Environmental Service.

We’re looking for candidates with project management and stakeholder engagement skills, a good understanding of Scotland’s biodiversity data community, and a passion for biodiversity.

The two vacancies are:

Scotland Programme Manager - closing date 10.00am on 10 January - https://nbn.org.uk/news/vacancy-scotlan … sity-data/
Partnership Officer- closing date 10.00am on 17 January - https://nbn.org.uk/news/vacancy-partner … sity-data/

As with last year, there are five categories of Awards:

NBN Award for Wildlife Recording – Terrestrial (open to individuals 21 years +)
NBN Award for Wildlife Recording – Marine (open to individuals 21 years +)
NBN Group Award (no age restrictions)
NBN Young Person’s Award (open to individuals aged 11-20)
NBN Newcomer Award (open to individuals 21 years +)

Nominations close on 17 July. Who will you nominate?
https://nbn.org.uk/news-events-publicat … recording/

We are still looking for 1 or 2 more participants for the DToL discussion group.

More information is here: https://nbn.org.uk/news/darwin-tree-of- … rticipate/

Please let me know by Monday 16th May if you are interested in joining the session,

Many thanks,

Best wishes, Sophie

The project coordinator is looking for opportunities for their Members who are unable to take part in active conservation work, from September onwards, where they can do some data entry at home and help do their bit. There are Members in different areas across England. 

Please let me know if you are interested in more information and I will put you in contact with the coordinator,

Best wishes, Sophie

The project coordinator is looking for opportunities for their Members who are unable to take part in active conservation work, from September onwards, where they can do some data entry at home and help do their bit. There are Members in different areas across England. 

Please let me know if you are interested in more information and I will put you in contact with the coordinator,

Best wishes, Sophie