Lercing in the Undergrowth

I know that the decision is Natural England's (and we are often told that folk based elsewhere shouldn't comment on English matters) but the decision to axe the funding of some 40 Local Environmental Record Centres (Lercs) seems a bit perverse (www.theguardian.com/environment/2016/mar/06/decision-to-end-funding-of-local-environmental-record-centres-attacked-natural-england-data-collection-contract). Although many of the contributors were enthusiastic amateurs, there is a lot of expertise out there and the modest funding also encouraged people to take an active interest in the natural history of their localities. At a time of major environmental upheavals, you got a very big bang for a modest buck!