The three-year scheme focused on UK habitats and species in the North Pennines that were largely unrecorded or unmonitored, and sought to bridge the knowledge gap by harnessing community participation in wildlife recording.

Getting out and about in the area and learning with and from others has been a joy and it is very satisfying to be able to contribute records that will build the database.

Mary Briggs, volunteer

Activities included the establishment of volunteer wildlife groups to stimulate long term recording and conservation activities, specialist training and support for volunteers, the creation of an easy online system to share and monitor data, and large scale public wildlife surveys for even greater community engagement.

Mary Briggs, a volunteer at the project, explained: “Many people have benefited from the training the North Pennines AONB has provided. It has enabled us to be more effective in identifying and recording what we see. Getting out and about in the area and learning with and from others has been a joy and it is very satisfying to be able to contribute records that will build the database.”