We are delighted to be hosting our first conference this December, celebrating 25 years of NEYEDC and the role of data in driving species recovery across the Yorkshire region. We’ll also be taking the opportunity to celebrate the completion of our ‘The Natural History of Yorkshire in 100 Species’ series and the valuable contributions of those who wrote articles for us. The day will consist of talks, a workshop, and the chance to peruse posters and displays over lunch including The Natural History of Yorkshire in 100 Species articles and Local Nature Recovery Strategy (LNRS) information and mapping.

The event celebrates the past, present, and future of NEYEDC and is taking place on Sunday 7th December 2025 at the York Hospitium from 09:30 - 16:00.

Programme

Morning session (10.00 - 12.40):

‘The Big Questions’ - how data supports nature recovery in Yorkshire

• ‘NEYEDC: the past, present, and future’ – keynote talk delivered by Jeff Lunn, Chair of Trustees

• ‘Using LNRS in Yorkshire to put species on the map – and support their conservation’ - John Pemberton, East Riding of Yorkshire Council

• ‘Yorkshire's biodiversity: what don't we know?’: a recorder and taxonomist’s point of view - Alastair Fitter

Coffee Break

Conference Workshop - Being led by NEYEDC, focusing on how we respond to the challenges and survey needs of the Local Nature Recovery Strategies and other nature recovery initiatives. How do we maintain local taxonomic experts? How do our current recorders feed into the demand for data? What would it take to achieve the survey measures outlined in the LNRS's?

Lunch - Includes posters and displays provided by both NEYEDC and attendees, including a celebration of ‘The Natural History of Yorkshire in 100 Species’ project, and a chance to explore interactive LNRS species mapping.

Afternoon session (13.40 - 16.00):

How has data driven the species recovery story?

• A celebration of ‘The Natural History Yorkshire in 100 Species’ project – Lucy Baldwin, NEYEDC

• ‘Stumbling on rare species: how incidental records shape population knowledge’ keynote talk, delivered by Vicky Wilkins and Claire Bending, Species Recovery Trust

• ‘The Rise and Fall of Pillwort at three Yorkshire Flagship Ponds Sites’ – Anne Carter, Freshwater Habitats Trust

Tea Break

• Duke of Burgundy habitat restoration – Robert Parks, Butterfly Conservation Yorkshire

• Site connectivity at LUCT – Simon Warwick, Lower Ure Conservation Trust