Although it was possible to carry out some surveys during last summer, with the current covid situation and restrictions on movement, no BOC surveys are planned for this winter. We sincerely hope that the present measures will control the coronavirus epidemic sufficiently to allow freer and safer movement in the countryside in the Spring. The current BTO advice is quoted below:
“In England, BTO surveys are technically permitted to continue through the exemption provided by the ‘voluntary or charitable activities’ clause which became applicable in November following guidance from Defra. However, the situation throughout the UK is currently extremely serious and we would very strongly advise all volunteers to err on the side of caution and adhere to the restrictions imposed on the general public. In England, this entails limiting your survey activities to within the boundary of the property in which you reside.”