Who is SERC?
Founded in 1986, the Somerset Environmental Records Centre (SERC) is a non-profit organization hosted by the Somerset Wildlife Trust. We serve as the county’s central hub for data regarding wildlife sightings, habitats, and geology.
To maintain high standards, we hold membership in the Association of Local Environmental Records Centres (ALERC). In addition, we maintain close links with Specialist Groups across Somerset. Through these partnerships, we share vital knowledge, and provide a robust network of expert support.
Regarding governance, an Executive Group of partner organizations and stakeholders steers our strategic direction. Our governing document, the Prospectus, details our operations; you can access it here.
What We Do
Our work focuses on three core areas:
- Data Services: We provide environmental Data as a Service (DaaS) and Service Level Agreements (SLAs) to public bodies, utility companies, and ecological consultants.
- Survey Programme: We manage survey programs for over 2,000 Local Wildlife and Geological Sites—the third-highest number of any county in the UK.
- Regional Strategy: We collaborate on nature recovery, biodiversity planning, and official conservation records, such as the Somerset Notables List.
How We Are Funded
- Non-Profit Status: As a non-profit, our fees are based on the staff time required to process and manage requests, rather than the data itself.
- Core Funding: Service Level Agreements with organizations such as Somerset Council, Exmoor National Park, and the Environment Agency—alongside fees from commercial data searches—fund our daily operations.
- Community Access: At the same time, we support the local conservation community by providing data at a reduced cost or free of charge for non-commercial users, including students, local volunteers, and individual wildlife recorders.
Our Boundaries & Coverage
SERC covers the administrative county of Somerset. If you right-click the image above and open it in a new tab, you can zoom and pan the county to get a better idea of our specific coverage area.
Please Note:
Our remit does not include North Somerset or Bath and North East Somerset (B&NES). Therefore, for data regarding those specific areas, please contact BRERC (Bristol Regional Environmental Records Centre).
Somerset Environmental Records Centre (SERC) is hosted by Somerset Wildlife Trust.
A company limited by guarantee and registered in England No 818162.
Registered charity No. 238372 | VAT Reg. No. GB 691 6995 71