It's been another busy year for NatureSpot and not without challenges, but we're still here. More...
Every year we say "It's been another busy year for NatureSpot", and every year it's true. The NatureSpot website is used by increasing numbers of people from all over the world - which amuses us, we're a local website. We have had some technical issues this year which took us offline for an unacceptably long time, but this has prompted a lot of work behind the scenes to avoid future problems and we believe we are stronger and more resilient now than before and better able to face the future.
That's the good news. The bad news is that funding continues to be difficult and more and more we are relying on our generous donors to keep us afloat. This is especially true of a small number of regular donors who give a small donation every month. Could you help by becoming one of these important people? https://www.peoplesfundraising.com/donation/naturespot
In addition to our donors, at the risk of this belong an Oscar speech, I'd also like to thank two more groups of people. The first are the hardworking team that keep NatureSpot running. Few people realize how much time and effort this takes. If it all seems smooth on the surface then we're doing our job. As I step down (but not out) from my time as Chair of the NatureSpot Trustees, I am very grateful to Helen for taking over the Chair as I know this means the site is in safe hands for the foreseeable future.
The last, and most important, group I'd like to thank are our verifiers and recorders, especially regular recorders. We know we can't always verify the records you submit as fast as you would sometimes like and I know from my own experience how frustrating this can sometimes be. Our record verifiers, all experts in their fields, do a thankless job which is sometimes overwhelming but they keep plugging away hour after hour, month after month. We could not run without them. But without the records you submit NatureSpot would not exist, so I'd like to thank you most of all for all your observations. Please don't stop, the environment needs you more than ever at this time.
Here's to 2025!
Alan Cann
Leicester.