The iRecord online recording system is the preferred route for receiving records.

The contact details of the Bedfordshire County Recorder for Ants, Wasps and Solitary Bees can be found on the Contacts page.

If possible submit records using Adnoto. Photographs to support identification can be sent by email to the recorder.
If you come across any dead specimens, please keep these and send to the recorder for identification, some photos may be of benefit.

The Bedfordshire County Bumblebee Recorder's contact details can be found on the Contacts page.

The iRecord online recording system is my preferred route for receiving records. However all of the following are acceptable:

Via iRecord

iRecord has been developed by the Biological Records Centre as a way of making records available to recording schemes and local records centres. iRecord is free to use, and you can either register with the site or enter casual records. Online training documents are available.

To add records of sawflies go to iRecord's "Record" menu, and choose the form to “Enter a casual record”. If you have kept a specimen (or checked it under the microscope) add that to the comments. If you have a photo it can be attached to the record on iRecord.

Via spreadsheets

Records on a spreadsheet (such as Microsoft Excel, or the free Open Office Calc) are fine. I prefer one sawfly record per spreadsheet row, and please include details of whether your record is of a male or a female, and whether you were able to check it under the microscope or have kept a specimen.

Via email

For one-off records or occasional sightings then just sending an email is fine (although if you do start recording on a regular basis one of the above methods is preferable). I hold a general Beds Sawflies iRecord account so please specify whether or not you are willing to let me upload the record.

On paper

Paper records are not forbidden! I have to say that they’re not my favourite thing, simply because they take more time to process, but where no other option is available paper records are of course welcome.

I check incoming records to ensure that accuracy is maintained, and I may sometimes contact you to ask for further details about a particular record. It is in everyone's interest to maintain the quality of our data, and we will try to do this politely and diplomatically! For some species photos or specimens may be requested, or confirmation from another recorder may be advisable.


Please note that records contributed to me may be shared with other recorders, with Bedfordshire and Luton Biodiversity Recording and Monitoring Centre, with the National Biodiversity Network, with researchers and potentially with other recording schemes and conservation organisations.  In return we will try to provide information and support to you, e.g. if you want to know what has already been recorded at your site or in your area contact the scheme.