St Mary’s Field, behind St Mary’s Church off South Street, is currently being considered as the site for a community orchard, while the southern part of the New Zealand fields, next to the South Street car park and leading down to the River Asker, is the planned location for a pilot wildlife audit which could be extended to other green spaces in Bridport.

The event is being organised by the Dorset Wildlife Trust with the Bridport Environment Group and Bridport Library, and will take place on Tuesday 7 August, starting at 10.30 am (with the permission of the landowner, West Dorset District Council).  The morning session will focus on the New Zealand fields, the afternoon on St Mary’s Church Field, and members of the community of all ages will be invited to contribute their ideas for improving both areas for the benefit of people and wildlife.

The Mayor of Bridport and town councillors exploring the New Zealand site

The Bridport Environment Group and Bridport Town Council would like to encourage local people to get involved in the wildlife audit and in developing the orchard project, and there will be a questionnaire to seek people’s views and register their interest.  “We hope people will come along and get involved in planning the future of these important but neglected green spaces,” said Susan Anders, Chair of the Bridport Environment Group.

The morning (NZ field) session will start at the Library at 10.30 and finish at 12.30.  The afternoon (St Mary’s Field) session will start at the Library at 2 pm and finish at 4 pm.

Information about the Big Wild Read can be found on its website, at www.bigwildread.org.uk, or at www.dorsetforyou.com/libraries.  On the Breathing Places initiative, go to www.bbc.co.uk/breathingplaces.  For further information about the Bridport event contact Joy Wallis at Dorset Wildlife Trust on 01305-264620, or Charles Wild, Secretary of the Environment Group, on 01308-420808.