Conservation in Europe 2006

by Nigel Spring

Working with BC Europe, the Dorset Branch has set up two conservation visits, to France and Hungary, for March and April 2006. It is hoped these will be a trial run for a network of conservation exchanges which will include further activities in autumn and winter 2006/7 and return visits to work on our wildlife sites by groups from other countries of the EU. We are looking for volunteers to join us and are seeking funding to help unwaged people or volunteers who could not normally take time off work. The volunteers will need to be fairly fit and adventurous, but most important are enthusiasm and a desire to do something worthwhile and make a contribution to wildlife conservation - and at the same time see new parts of Europe and have some fun!

These ideas fit in very neatly with the aspirations of the recently formed Butterfly Conservation Europe and coincide with several other initiatives in the UK. For example, the West Midlands Branch has established links with two national parks in Hungary, and in July/August 2006 will be visiting that country to help with the monitoring programme there.