Wildlife recording is based on areas set up in the 19th Century. But things change. More...

Over time, political boundaries get changed. For example Rutland was previously in Leicestershire but now it's not. This is a problem for analysing wildlife records when the goalposts get moved. To tackle this fixed boundaries have been agreed – called "vice-counties". These don’t change whatever way the political winds blow. Leicestershire and Rutland are in a single vice-county called VC55. The downside is that certain areas in Leicestershire fall outside VC55 which is confusing and frustrating for wildlife recorders in those areas. 
 
To tackle this issue, NatureSpot has adopted a hybrid boundary, one that incorporates all the political County of Leicestershire and Rutland as well as all of VC55, so records from within both boundaries can be submitted to NatureSpot. We are able to tag the VC55 records so that the analysis work can still make the distinction. This change brings NatureSpot into line with current practice at LRERC. One of the beneficiaries of this change is Market Harborough. Previously the VC55 boundary cut through the middle of the town. All of this is now included within the hybrid boundary so we look forward to lots more recording from this area - over to you!