Call for people to record 'key' Surrey wildlife

The swift is one of species the trust wants Surrey residents to monitor

Surrey Wildlife Trust (SWT) has urged people to record five key species in the county.

The organisation wants residents to look out for a mammal, bird, reptile, plant and insect that it said typify Surrey's wildlife.

SWT said its Five2Find app could be used to log "once common" species, including swifts, slowworms, peacock butterflies, bats and the oxeye daisy.

"Unless more people learn to see, appreciate and protect the riches on their doorstep, we risk losing our natural heritage without even noticing," said SWT's community programme manager Claire Harris.

"The long-term consequences of nature's decline could be catastrophic for all of us," she continued.

One third of wildlife in Surrey is at risk or already lost, said the trust

Ms Harris said SWT hoped the project will "open doors of discovery" for Surrey residents of all ages and backgrounds.

"It could also help us build a more complete picture of where wildlife lives, how abundant it currently is and what we can all do to give it a helping hand," she added.

One third of Surrey's species are currently at risk or already lost, according to the trust.