International Year of Biodiversity
International Year of Biodiversity
Find out all about Biodiversity, what is means to you and how important it is for human well-being and how it can act as a marker for the health of the planet.
Biodiversity gives us many of the essentials for life - oxygen, water, food, clothing, health and relaxation. It is the rich variety of genes, species, populations and ecosystems of the natural world. It doesn`t just mean rare animals like Giant Pandas or Rainforests but also the Song Thrush in our gardens and parks.
However the world is losing its biodiversity at an ever increasing rate and we all can all work together to take action to halt this loss.
Experience the special wildlife found locally in Wyre as well as throughout the world.
Look out for the logo to find activities in the Active Wyre diary that will help you to experience wildlife such as Brown Hares, Strandline sea life , Bluebells , Wading birds and Bats. Explore landscapes and habitats such as Ancient Woodlands, Un-grazed salt-marshes Forest of Bowland moorland and Wyre Waterfront sand dunes and shingle. See the at a glance list below for the full years Wyre Wildife activities.
For information on the national programme of activities and resources please go to www.iyb-uk.net.
How can you get involved?
Why not volunteer? There are number of projects in the Fylde Coast that you could become involved with :
Wyre Countryside Service
Join the Wyre Countryside Services to take part in habitat management, footpath care, wildlife surveys, visitor management . Please ring 01253 887220, email countryside@wyrebc.gov.uk or check the Wyre's Countryside Volunteers for further information.
Wetland Bird Survey - Webs
Join Fylde Bird Club on their monthly bird survey where volunteers count the waders visiting our shores as a part of the British Trust for Ornithology ( BTO) national survey on the following Sunday dates
- 10 January
- 14 February
- 14 March
- 18 April
- 16 May
- 13 June
- 11 July
- 15 August
- 12 September
- 10 October
- 7 November
- 5 December
(The information provided on wild bird populations is used as an indicator of the health of the environment)
For more details contact the secretary on 01253 891281 or www.fyldebirdclub.freeuk.com
RSPB Ribble Estuary
This year, the RSPB have joined up with Wyre Countryside Service to give you a chance to see some of the Ribble's most threatened farmland and estuary birds. While walking across farmland we can expect to hear the jangling notes of bird such as corn bunting or the liquid warbling of skylark. We will watch the birds flying over the farm defending their territories, and may even spot a tree sparrow or two.
Brown hare will run across the fields and along the tracks as we head toward the river where birds such as wheatear are often to be seen perched on pieces of driftwood at the rivers edge.
Here as the tide comes in, we hope to find wading birds such as black-tailed godwit, lapwing, redshank and oystercatcher mingling with shelduck and mute swan, and may even get lucky and find a rarity amongst the flocks of birds.
We will discover just how important farming and muddy estuaries are to our bird populations
While in the area why not visit the RSPB at Newton Marsh where staff and volunteers are on hand throughout the spring to explain how important the area is for birds and to show you the county's rarest nesting bird the black-tailed godwit you may even get a glimpse of a chick.
Other projects for you to get involved with include:
- Brown Hare Survey,
- Lancashire Wildlife Trust - Make Wildlife Count ,
- Fylde Coast Marine Life Project, Fylde Coast Dunes Project
For more details of these projects please see the useful contacts or contact us on 01253 887220.
