Moth records collected by the National Moth Recording Scheme will be put to many uses to promote understanding, recording and conservation of moths and their habitats.

Butterfly Conservation and the other partner organisations aim to maximise the use of the data, but also have responsibilities to protect sensitive species and sites, as well as to respect the privacy of recorders. National Moth Recording Scheme data will be made available in a controlled and managed way to fulfil this aim, as detailed in the Data Policy.

Access to National Moth Recording Scheme is as follows:

• Public access to records down to 2km x 2km grid square resolution will be provided for free via online distribution maps and through the National Biodiversity Network Gateway to provide feedback and information to moth recorders and to support not-for-profit decision-making, education, research and other public-benefit purposes. As stated in the Data Policy, records of a small number of threatened species (currently nine of the c.900 covered by the scheme) will not be publicly accessible at this resolution.
• Access to detailed records (i.e. records at full spatial resolution) for specific sites will be controlled by the relevant County Moth Recorder or local environmental records centre. A reasonable charge for the administration of such requests may be made. Moth recorders interested in local data and commercial requests (e.g. for EIA assessments, FEPs etc.) should use this route to seek access.
• Access to detailed records for academic (non-commercial) research purposes will be determined by Butterfly Conservation upon application using the form below. A reasonable charge for the administration of such requests may be made. Universities and research institutes should use this route to seek access.

Data Request form