 That's the call from concerned residents in Corfe Mullen, who this month launched Nature Watch Corfe Mullen, a 12-month project set up to record wild plants and animals in and around their village.
"We need to know what wildlife we have now so that we can protect it in the future", said project co-ordinator and resident Jane Adams; "we're asking everyone in the village to help with the recording. Without these records important plants and animals could disappear under proposed housing developments without us even knowing they were there".
An area of Green Belt land on the edge of the village is just one of several sites in East Dorset where the Draft Regional Spatial Strategy has proposed major development; 700 new homes are proposed in Corfe Mullen alone.
Local parish councillors and environmental groups have already shown their backing for the project. Dorset Wildlife Trust plans to arrange free nature workshops in the village over the summer to coincide with the project.
"The residents of Corfe Mullen can really make a difference by sending in their wildlife records" said Amanda Cooke of Dorset Wildlife Trust. "We know about the nature reserves, which already receive protection, but very little is known about the rest of Corfe Mullen's green space, including gardens.
We are sure that many residents have valuable information which they can now share via the Nature Watch Corfe Mullen website. We also hope this project will encourage new nature watchers of all ages to take a closer look at the free wildlife show all around them."
Anyone interested in finding out more should go to the Nature Watch website at www.naturewatched.org or pick up a leaflet and recording form at the Corfe Mullen Parish Council offices in Towers Way. The offices are open 9.30 to 12 Monday to Friday.
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Notes to Editor
For more information please telephone Jane Adams, Nature Watch Corfe Mullen on 01202 692405
or email
Website: www.naturewatched.org
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