Where to find Biodiversity Information Locally

The first source for detailed local biodiversity information are the Local Environmental or Biological Records Centres (LRCs). For the South West these are: 
 
Bristol Regional Environmental Records Centre, BRERC 
Devon Biodiversity Records Centre, DBRC 
Dorset Environmental Records Centre, DERC 
Environmental Records Centre for Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly, ERCCIS 
Gloucestershire Centre for Environmental Records, GCER, contact: gcer@gloucestershirewildlifetrust.co.uk 
Wiltshire and Swindon Biological Records Centre, WSBRC 
Somerset Environmental Records Centre, SERC 
 
Records Centres are not for profit organisations that collect, store and distribute biodiversity information. 
Anyone can submit biodiversity data (most commonly in the form of records of species sightings) to the LRCs. At least half the information gathered by LRCs is by "amateur experts", either individuals or local interest groups. Most LRCs also have their own surveyors, including volunteers. 
The information is stored in the form of paper records for older observations and on computerised databases. LRCs can also use Geographical Information Systems (GIS) to map this data. 
Biodiversity data is routinely used to screen planning applications by various local authority departments and organisations such as the Environment Agency, Wildlife Trusts and Natural England. LRC data is also used for contaminated land strategies, pollution control, emergency planning, habitat and species management and reporting to government on regional and national biodiversity targets.