Save bats, bees and barn owls
Last updated 09:13, Friday, 10 October 2008
A NEW scheme has been launched to help threatened Cumbrian birds and animals.
The officer in charge is hoping community groups across the county will help to boost the population of creatures such as barn owls, bats, bees and song thrushes.
Helen Knowles is the new project officer for biodiversity at community buildings with Cumbria Waste Management Environment Trust.
And she wants to hear from people who run village halls, community centres and sports grounds who are interested in helping to protect wildlife.
Her brief involves creating new habitats for threatened species through measures such as planting new hedges and building dry stone walls.
She said: “My job is to go to community buildings and discover what is possible and then identify where funding is available to finance any work that can be done.
“The work can then be carried out by the local community group with the help of experts and other volunteers.
“In that way we can hopefully increase the numbers of birds and animals that are under threat in this part of the world because of changes in land use and management.”
Ms Knowles, who is working part-time, believes that sports grounds offer great potential in the fight to save the creatures most at risk.
She said: “The great thing is that everyone benefits - the people involved, the appearance of the community and the wildlife. It is almost like turning back the clock.
“There are some creatures like bees which are really suffering at the moment – but we also have to increase the numbers of bats and barn owls. They have been hit by the loss of barns which have been converted into homes.”
Contact Helen on 01768 869537, Mondays or Tuesday.
