main content Enjoying a 'taste of the wild'

The Bromley Biodiversity Partnership is challenging residents to get more involved in helping local wildlifeby joining in with a ‘Taste of the Wild’ action weekend!

A programme of brief ‘taster’ sessions gives the public a chance to sample survey work and practical management work that goes on in the Borough on a regular basis. The hope is that it leaves participants craving to do more! The activities all aim to help local habitats and species that have been identified as important under the Bromley Biodiversity Action Plan or BBAP.

There is a choice of 24 activities, with some activities being run more than once. The sessions last from between 30 minutes to 2 hours. Surveying for birds, making bee boxes, managing woodland and chalk downland are just some of the activities. A full listing can be found at www.bromley.gov.uk/conservation. Leaflets are also available at local libraries, information outlets, bookstores and supermarkets. Participants are also being asked to ‘vote’ for one BBAP species and one BBAP habitat they think should appear on a new logo. The logo will help to promote future action for Bromley’s biodiversity.

Ewa Prokop, Countryside Projects Officer said “This event is more than just about raising awareness of Bromley’s amazing biodiversity. It is about getting people to think about what they can actively do to help biodiversity, and then actually doing something about it! Various local environmental organisations are contributing to the weekend to get this very message across. The programme makes it easy for people new to nature conservation work to have a go, with no strings attached! “

Anyone unable to join in with the weekend can still be involved. The Partnership is asking for people to ‘pledge’ to do something for wildlife before Christmas. Planting a ‘wildlife-friendly’ flower in their garden, joining a local conservation group or finding out more about a particular wildlife species, are some examples. Anyone will be able to make a pledge or log their vote on new BBAP webpage's to be published on 26 September 2005. Here up-to-date ideas on how to help wildlife will be posted.

For further information, please ring Guy Harewood, SUN Project Officer, on 020 8313 4665.

ENDS

Notes to Editors:

• The ‘Taste of the Wild’ Action Weekend has been coordinated on behalf of the Bromley Biodiversity Partnership by the London Borough of Bromley, through the SUN Project.
• Involvement of various stakeholders in understanding, enjoying and helping biodiversity, is one of the targets of the SUN Project. The London Borough of Bromley is one of seven partners involved with ‘Sustainable Urban Planning Networks for Green Spaces’. This three-year project, ending in August 2006, is supported by the European Union LIFE Environment Programme.
• The Bromley Biodiversity Action Plan (BBAP) ‘The Future of Darwin’s Wildlife in Bromley’ is a plan of action for Bromley’s wildlife. The Bromley Biodiversity Partnership progresses the actions highlighted in the plan. The Partnership includes the Steering Group as well as anyone able to make a contribution to the targets under the BBAP. The Steering Group includes individuals particularly keen to promote biodiversity conservation and representatives of various local environmental groups and organisations and is chaired by Bromley Council.
• The Action Weekend coincides with the launch of the 3rd Edition Bromley Biodiversity Action Plan consultation.

For media enquiries, please contact Andrew Rogers, Communications Advisor, on 020-8461-7670 or Alister Hayes, Countryside Management Officer on 020-8461-7808 or email andrew.rogers@bromley.gov.uk.

Further information is available at www.bromley.gov.uk/conservation.