Data Enquiries Service
Searches of our data holdings are undertaken by SERC for enquirers subject to certain conditions, and charges if connected to commercial activities. If you want us to carry out a data search please complete the request form and return to data.supply@somerc.com, or by post.
All users of biological data should be aware of the interpretation limitations of the data supplied. Habitat and species recording coverage is far from complete in time and space and further field survey is usually required. The available records are best viewed as a guide to direct survey work as required, giving an indication of the condition of a site or an area and the species likely to be found there.
Commercial Enquires
Our service for consultants and developers seeking data for planning applications, mitigation schemes, and environmental impact assessments etc. Please refer to the data search pages for details of search options.
The service also caters for home-owners and landowners requiring information for planning applications. Requests from landowners for information relating to agri-environment schemes are also usually treated as commercial enquiries.
Charges apply for commercial data requests - once we have received your request we will get back to you with a quote for your search. We will normally be able to supply the results within 10 working days from the date the quote is accepted. Please note our payment terms are strictly 30 days from the date of invoice.
Public Information Service
This service caters for requests from individual recorders and recording groups, nature conservation groups, students and researchers, and members of the public. The service is for individuals and organisations seeking information for activities such as:
- Wildlife recording
- Management of sites for nature conservation
- Undergraduate and post-graduate academic research
Usually such requests are exempt from charges, but may incur a fee to cover costs if very time-consuming to process. Please refer to the data search pages for details of search options.
Landowners and tenants seeking information about their land-holdings can also usually access this for free unless the request is connected to planning applications or agri-environment scheme applications, in which case charges usually apply.