New initiative to improve understanding of local natural environment receives National Lottery support

[lead]Data for Nature – a new Heritage Lottery-funded initiative run by Sheffield & Rotherham Wildlife Trust – will help to increase understanding of the wildlife and habitats in nature reserves across Sheffield and Rotherham, addressing one of the key recommendations of the Sheffield State of Nature report: to address gaps in the city’s ecological data.[/lead]

Published in April, the Sheffield State of Nature report, as well as showcasing Sheffield’s impressive array of natural habitats, highlighted just how much is not known about the city’s natural environment and the wildlife it supports. The report recommended more structured ecological surveys and citizen science projects to help collect better data on the city’s wildlife and its habitats.

Data for Nature aims to address this by improving the quality of ecological monitoring and data collection on Sheffield & Rotherham Wildlife Trust’s nature reserves over eighteen months, resulting in a more evidence-based approach to management.

Thanks to money raised by national Lottery players, a £100,000 grant from the Heritage Lottery Fund, the project will create and implement a robust monitoring framework, increasing capacity to collect data on nature reserves and engaging with local people to increase awareness and engagement in citizen science.