Maps and mapping

If you are out recording wildlife then it is always a good thing to have access to a map to show the exact location of your observations. Ideally for recording schemes dates, locations and grid references are all valuable (as well as names of what you have seen!).

Currently, Bing Maps or Google Maps provide a convenient way of creating and printing large scale maps of local areas. You can take a copy out on field trips to help note location of interesting observations.  For example, an A4 sheet printed with the chosen area can be marked with points or areas of interest and notes with further information added. This offers a simple and convenient record of a day's activity which can then be used to add records to a recording system (see the page How to record wildlife).

Where's the Path is a very useful website giving an Ordnance Survey (OS) map and satellite map side by side with matching pointers so that a pointer on the OS map is matched by the pointer on the satellite map.

Grid references

Grid references allow national recording schemes to accurately plot your sightings.

Grid references start off with two letters giving the 100km square. Renfrewshire grid references all begin with NS.

NS 76 is a 10km x 10km square (hectad)

NS 76 36 is a 1km x 1km square (monad)

NS 764 361 is a 100m x 100m square

NS 7645 3617 is a 10m x 10m square

When you’re out and about, a useful app to have on your phone is GB Grid Ref Compass. This shows your current location in the form of a ten-figure OS grid reference. The numbers in bold, e.g. 76 36, represent the map square you’re in - with the subsequent numbers offering accuracy down to 1m (subject to the +/- ‘accuracy’ figure quoted).

There are other similarly useful apps, including some which show your location on the map.