Volunteer Ecological Surveyor Programme (VESPA)
Learning to observe, investing effort in recording, and sharing biological records helps to protect and restore nature. It is also a great way to learn about and connect with wildlife. The New Forest is an incredibly important area for nature conservation with estimates suggest more than 20,000 species can be found here. This includes at least 15,000 species of insect, and nearly 3,000 species of fungi.
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Despite the incredible biodiversity of the New Forest, and a long tradition of biological recording, there are large gaps in our understanding of the abundance, distribution, and population health of many of these species. Addressing these knowledge gaps helps to inform conservation action and provides evidence to reveal how nature is responding to change including climate, land use, land management, and pollution.
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The New Forest Biodiversity Forum has established a New Forest Volunteer Ecological Surveyor Programme (VESPA) to tackle the need for increased biological recording. The aim is to increase the quantity and quality of biological data collected from the New Forest National Park and strengthen the capacity and capability of the local community to collect these data. The main focus in the short term is on the Crown Lands managed by Forestry England. An agreement is in place for VESPA registered volunteers to survey these areas under the VESPA permit, and benefit from access to training and expertise to build experience and confidence in ecological surveying and recording.
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Why do we need a VESPA?
Although the New Forest has long been recognised as a ‘jewel in the crown’ for biodiversity, species recording is patchy both geographically and between different species groups. Even relatively well recorded species groups like birds show a strong bias towards popular sites, and outside of statutory monitoring only a handful of dedicated ornithologists are delivering more systematic multi year surveys that allow us to assess trends and have confidence in species’ status. The recording of more challenging species groups such as fungi, lichens, bats, and many invertebrates is based upon the efforts of a very small number of expert surveyors, who are not getting any younger. We need to encourage and support new generations of ecological surveyors, and make recording more accessible to anyone interested. The New Forest is facing multiple pressures, from the many effects of climate change through to acute issues such as pollution, intensification of land use, and invasive non native species. These pressures are driving rapid change in New Forest habitats and species, making access to accurate and up-to-date data vital for effective decision making by those responsible for managing and protecting this extraordinary landscape.
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What does VESPA provide?
The VESPA Programme has been set up to provide access to expertise and training and provide insurance cover and permits that facilitate members to carry out survey work on the New Forest Crown Lands, managed by Forestry England. The agreement between Forestry England and the Forum covers the next 5 years. We hope to expand the scope of VESPA in future years to cover additional sites within the National Park.
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Who is VESPA for?
VESPA is open to anyone who is interested in conducting ecological surveys in the New Forest, at any experience level from novice to expert. Registered VESPA participants are covered by all the required permits and insurance to conduct fieldwork on the Crown Lands. In return, we ask that VESPA surveyors commit to supporting one or more of our priority topics, attend the associated training (if required) and submit their records to an appropriate repository to ensure they are available for future conservation efforts. We anticipate that many VESPA participants will be local enthusiasts who are already engaged in ecological surveys and have prior experience of conducting fieldwork in the New Forest, but who seek to benefit from the insurance cover and permissions provided by VESPA registration. However, we also welcome students and novice enthusiasts wishing to gain experience and training in ecological surveys to engage in a more structured survey programme based around our priority topics.
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How do I sign up?
To sign up, download and read the VESPA volunteer information pack. Then complete the online VESPA registration form. These can both be accessed here. Once registered, you will be added to the mailing list and updated about training opportunities and events. Note that registration is currently for calendar year 2025 only. We anticipate an annual re-registration process, enabling integration of feedback and programme development.