Museum launches £11m project to map wildlife of Britain

An £11million project to create the most accurate map of Britain's wildlife was launched today at the Natural History Museum.

The scheme, run by Imperial College, aims to persuade people to track their local wildlife.

Five national surveys investigating soil, air, biodiversity, water and climate are scheduled to take place between now and 2012.

The public is being urged to take part by tracking animals and plants they see and logging them online.

"This will encourage more people to spend time outside exploring and enjoying their local environments," said Dr Linda Davies of Imperial College, who is leading the OPAL (Open Air Laboratories) scheme.

BBC wildlife presenter Steve Leonard said: "OPAL is a great way for people to find out more about the wildlife that exists right on their doorstep. By getting involved, people can help uncover new insights into the environment where they live."

Margaret Cooney, of sponsor the Big Lottery Fund, said: "The Big Lottery Fund is pleased to fund this programme which encourages experts and communities to work alongside each other to help address the environmental challenges we face."