DORSET’S equivalent of the rainforests are under threat, wildlife lovers have warned.

Experts at the Dorset Wild-life Trust fear the county’s wet woodland habitats are fast disappearing because of tree felling and drainage.

Now it has launched a Wet Woodlink Project to investigate the wildlife of some of Dorset’s best known examples.

Emma Brawn, who is conservation officer at Dorset Wildlife Trust, said: “You could say that this is the British version of the rainforest because it is so rich in wildlife of all kinds.

“Some of it is very visible such as fungi and trees, but it also includes many rare insects and amazing mosses. “The Wet Woodlink Project will help to uncover the mysteries of this little-known landscape so that we can protect the wildlife that depends on it.”

Wildlife experts say little is known about the habitat despite the range of wildlife that relies on it. Some of the best examples in Dorset are along the Rivers Hooke, Piddle and Frome.

The project will focus on identifying and mapping wet woodlands this autumn and winter, with wildlife surveys following in spring 2011.

The wildlife to be surveyed will include bechstein’s bat, fungi, mosses, plants and rare invertebrates, some of which rely entirely on this habitat. Dorset Wildlife Trust can also offer help and advice to landowners who own wet woodlands. The Wet Woodlink Project is supported by the Dorset Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB) Partnership Sustain-able Development Fund. Emma added: “We can only help to save this habitat if we know more about it. “We want to find out where the wet woods are so we’d love to hear from anybody who can help with this. ”

Contact the Wet Woodlink Project at the website www. dorsetwildlifetrust. org.uk/wetwoods or ring Emma on 01305 264620.