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Monday 9am - 5pm Tuesday 9am - 5pm Wednesday 9am - 5pm Thursday 9am - 5pm Friday 9am - 5pm

Centre for Environmental Data and Recording - CEDaR

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Centre for Environmental Data and Recording - CEDaR

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Northern Ireland’s Environmental Record Centre:
In partnership with NIEA, National Museums NI & the recording community.

CEDaR, Centre for Environmental Data and Recording, is the Local Records Centre for Northern Ireland, and facilitates the collection, collation, management and dissemination of biodiversity and geodiversity information for Northern Ireland and its coastal waters. CEDaR is a partnership between Northern Ireland Environment Agency, National Museums Northern Ireland and the recording community of Northern Ireland. Many individuals and groups within the recording community are members of the Environmental Recorder’s Group (ERG). Those individuals and organisations who directly supply CEDaR with their records to store on its databases are known as satellite sites – there are more than twenty such sites. CEDaR uses Recorder 6 to hold all terrestrial and freshwater records.
- See more at: https://www.nationalmuseumsni.org/
CEDaR retains the right to remove unsolicited advertisements from third party organisations posted on our page; as well as the right to remove comments which are deemed inappropriate, offensive or abusive.

29/10/2026

Fairy clubs are a type of grassland fungi, named for their small stature and club-like shape.

These colourful fungi look like tools from the fairy realm and are indicators of healthy grassland habitat!

The group includes coral fungi, which look like they'd be more at home under the sea!

28/10/2026

Our spooky season species of the month is here!

Harlequin Ladybirds are one of the most invasive insect species in the world, likely imported accidentally via plants grown in Asia.

It is a voracious predator that out-competes native
species and eats their eggs and larvae. The first recorded sighting in Northern Ireland was in 2007.

Harlequin ladybirds are highly variable & come in a number of colours with varying numbers of spots. It is larger than most native species which might help with identification. Look for the black "M" or "W" on the head!

This time of year, you might even spot a ladybird or two on your windowsills or skirting boards, looking for a warm, dry location to hibernate over the cold winter months.

Head to Invasive Species Northern Ireland to find out more & don't forget to record sightings with us on iRecord or CEDaR Online Recording so we can learn more about how this species is spreading.

26/10/2026

This past weekend saw not one but two storms, Storms Austen and Boelo, pass over Northern Ireland, increasing the chances of seeing some marine species you may not otherwise get the chance to see. 🪸

If you find a large brown seaweed after the storms, you may have found some kelp. Each local species has some key distinguishing features. Forest Kelp (Laminaria hyperborea), Oarweed (Laminaria digitata), Sugar Kelp (Saccharina latissima) and Furbellows (Sacchorhiza polyschides) are all native, but are usually subtidal. 🌊

Keep an eye out for false friends, though - for example, Wakame (Undaria pinnatifida). This invasive species is native to the North Pacific, but is now found all around NI, particularly in marinas and harbours. ⚓

During storms like these the kelp that grew bigger throughout the summer months may be shaken loose from their anchor spot, and washed up on shores.🌪

23/10/2026

Having a cosy Friday night in?

Catch Chloe & Amy on UTV Northern Ireland's ‘On the Ground’ at 7.30pm, on the lookout for bats at the Ulster Folk Museum, Cultra!

22/10/2026

Storm Austen & Storm Boelo have been named, with both coming this weekend.

When conditions calm & weather warnings clear you may see species washed to shore that are normally found deep below the waves! 🌊 🦀🐚

Submit your coastal records on our StormWatch page, or the iRecord app (link in bio)!

⚠️Heavy rain is expected from tonight into Friday.

⚠️50-60mph winds are expected from Saturday, stronger on the coast.

⚠️The Met Office have issued a yellow weather warning for wind NI wide from Saturday evening into Sunday.

⚠️Storms are dangerous & can pose a serious risk. Do not go to the coast or travel whilst weather warnings are in place!

⚠️Hazardous conditions can persist after a storm event, if you participate in recording efforts you are doing so at your own risk. Continue to check weather warnings, & please stay safe.

21/10/2026

It's World Earthworm Day!

Did you know that earthworms are under-recorded in Northern Ireland?

It might have something to do with there being over 20 species, often identified by counting their segments!

Most are also found underground.

You might also be familiar with the New Zealand Flatworm - let us know if you see one on CEDaR Online Recording or the iRecord app!

19/10/2026

The Dive NI species spotlight this spooky season is an invasive species that is established in Northern Ireland, the Japanese Skeleton Shrimp. 💀

Colonies of these skeleton shrimp are frequently found on submerged artificial structures such as pontoons, as they are "synanthropic", meaning that they coexist well with, and are more frequently found around humans and human activity. 🙋

It is thought that this species were introduced via ships visiting from across the globe. 🛳
They succeed in colonising areas they are not native to as they are highly adaptable and very opportunistic in terms of diet - they are detritivores in their native range, but can change their feeding strategy to grazing, scavenging and filter feeding, even occasionally acting as predators!

16/10/2026

It's fungi season at CEDaR & we're asking the big questions - why are Entolomas called pink gills?

These grassland fungi are pretty tricky to spot & trickier still to identify but they do make for a pretty cool spore print!

15/10/2026

Get involved with Museums for Nature!

We're holding an information session on how you can volunteer to restore a beautiful pond & have your say in our Reawakening Project at the Ulster Folk Museum, Cultra

Volunteers will receive practical training, enabling them to map the site, build habitat features & make decisions about the restoration work that should be done.

If you are interested in playing a part in this important project, in partnership with the National History Museum, over the next 2 years, come along to the launch event to hear more! Spaces are limited, so you must attend the launch in order to register interest.

For more info, see the link in bio!

This workshop is part of Museums for Nature, made possible with the National Heritage Lottery Fund.

15/10/2026

🍂Autumn is in the air here at the Folk Museum!

As the seasons change. new signs of local wildlife pop up all around us. Discover the flora, fungi and fauna found at this time of year on an Autumn Wildlife Walk with Centre for Environmental Data and Recording - CEDaR.

📅 Tuesday 27th October
🕑 2pm to 3pm

🎟️Book tickets here → https://www.ulsterfolkmuseum.org/whats-on/wildlife-walk-autumn

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Address

Cultra
BT180EU

Opening Hours

Monday	9am - 5pm
Tuesday	9am - 5pm
Wednesday	9am - 5pm
Thursday	9am - 5pm
Friday	9am - 5pm

Telephone

+442890428428

Website

https://linktr.ee/cedarrecordsni, https://www2.habitas.org.uk/records/, https://www.nationalmuseumsni.org/cedar, http://

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