Shared Earth is a new series from the BBC Natural History Unit which celebrates the natural world and explores what we can all do to help conserve wildlife and habitats and reduce our footprint on the planet
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We're keen to hear your suggestions for future programmes via our Contact Us page or write to Shared Earth, BBC NHU Radio, Bristol BS8 2LR
Great Spotted Woodpeckers are an increasing visitor to gardens and are learning to make good use of the food that people put out. They're big bright birds which are instantly recognisable. The end of June is the time that newly fledged young will be in attendance at bird feeders and as both sexes and juveniles are easily distinguishable, it's a good time of year for this survey - though it runs all the way through until September. The British Trust for Ornithology have set up a page on their website which gives lots of useful information about great spotted woodpeckers and how to identify them and the differences between the appearance of the male and female and the young birds. You can input your sightings onto a special online form here - or if you don't have access to the internet yourself, you can send your sightings details to the BTO at the following address. Please include this specific information:
The number of males or female woodpeckers, or juveniles visiting the garden or if you can't identify them, just the number.
The foods that the Great Spotted Woodpeckers are feeding on.
The date.
Whether the garden is rural, suburban or urban.
How far is the garden from the nearest patch of trees.
Also your name, address and post code.
The BTO's address is: British Trust for Ornithology The Nunnery Thetford Norfolk IP24 2PU
National Mammal Week
National Mammal Week runs from the 1st to the 9th of July 2006 and more details of events taking place around the country can be found on the Mammal society website
Further details of what the Snowdonia Mammal Group are doing can be found here:
Microgeneration View a PDF file of the Climate Change and Sustainable Energy bill on the UK Parliament website
