Sustainable Development Fund 961.44 Kb - the Dorset AONB

Special landscapes…for wildlife
Wildlife windows
The idea for the ‘Wildlife Windows’
initiative came from the Chalk and Hawks
Project in 2005. It set up a scheme to
connect people with wildlife, using
cameras to capture hidden wildlife
behaviour without disturbing the animals.
Chalk & Hawks have designed and
developed new ideas including cameras
that attach to bird feeders to give
‘nose-to-beak’ views. An automatic CCTV
system for collecting video footage of
otters has also proved popular.
Sixteen cameras were installed, mostly at
visitor centres and bed and breakfast
establishments, where
promoting wildlife has become part of
a green tourism package. The equipment
gives people a unique view of wild
animals in their natural habitat, reinforcing
the importance of the AONB for wildlife.
St James Churchyard
St James Wildlife Group in Milton Abbas
set out to enhance the management of
their churchyard and cemetery,
making it a better place for wildlife
and improving access for local people.
This formed part of a wider project to
restore the historic landscapes around
the village and create a Heritage Hike.
The work has brought the local
community together with the local Art
Group producing watercolours of wildlife
that can be seen, and a healthy walking
initiative being run through the
doctor’s surgery.
Our Butterflies and Moths
The Dorset branch of Butterfly Conservation celebrated
the County’s butterflies and moths, to encourage greater
public support and involvement in their monitoring and
conservation. A promotional leaflet and series of village
events proved very successful as was a ‘butterfly festival’
to celebrate Dorset’s wildlife heritage.