Exploring our Wildlife Database

The Betchworth and Buckland Nature Trail wildlife database is powered by Shiny, a free and open-source tool developed by data scientists for building interactive web applications. You don't need any technical knowledge to use it — it works just like any other website, and nothing needs to be downloaded or installed.

We chose Shiny because it allows us to present complex ecological data in a way that is clean, visual and easy to explore. Whether you want to browse the full species list for a particular site, filter records by plant or animal group, or see how species numbers have changed over time, the app puts that information at your fingertips. Behind the scenes, it is the same platform used by researchers, universities and conservation organisations around the world — so while it feels simple to use, it is built on serious scientific foundations.

The database is a living record, growing as new surveys are completed across the 4Bs area. We hope it becomes a resource that local people, schools and wildlife enthusiasts return to again and again.

To access our database on Shiny App click here