The Field Studies Council (FSC) is a charity that provides opportunities for people to explore and understand the natural environment. The project grew from an identified shortage of specialised knowledge and accurate data within the sector.

This funding has enabled 50 people to study invertebrate groups over the last four years and has transformed our knowledge.

Pete Boardman, Project Officer, Invertebrate Challenge

Using a combination of National Lottery funding, support from local charitable trusts and its own resources, the FSC developed the skills of a range of volunteers to find and catalogue these important species. Trainees used professional equipment, mentoring advice and new technology to create thorough biological records.

Pete Boardman, Project Officer, Invertebrate Challenge, said: "This funding has enabled 50 people to study invertebrate groups over the last four years and has transformed our knowledge. These volunteers have made in excess of 35,000 biological records and discovered a significant range of new and uncommon species in our region."

The benefits of the collected data stretch beyond the FSC. Organisations such as the Shropshire Ecological Data Network (SEDN) are using the information to continue building Shropshire's virtual local record centre.

By collecting the data and up-skilling volunteers, the FSC has created good practice for the sector. The project also raised the profile of invertebrates as indicators of healthy bio-diverse habitats into the future.