RESIDENTS and visitors are being urged to get ‘wild about Weymouth and Portland’ this summer and beyond.

A partnership of organisations have come together to promote the area’s natural attractions ahead of the summer’s much anticipated Olympic and Paralympic Games.

The new Natural Weymouth and Portland Partnership hopes to inspire local people and visitors to make the most of the borough’s environment and wildlife above and below the sea. It aims to encourage the public to discover, enjoy and help conserve the natural environment and wildlife, and enable better access through new interactive centres, walks, talks and water-based activities such as kayaking for a post-Olympic legacy.

Brian Bleese, director of operations and development at Dorset Wildlife Trust, said: “The Olympic Games coming to Weymouth and Portland is a great opportunity to get people involved in learning about and helping to conserve the wonderful natural environment that enhances the enjoyment of all our outdoor activities.”

Natural Weymouth and Portland Partnership is made up of Dorset Coast Forum, Dorset Wildlife Trust, Environment Agency, Jurassic Coast World Heritage Site Partnership, Natural England, RSPB, Weymouth and Portland Borough Council, Wild About Weymouth and Portland and Dorset Countryside.

The partnership will have a presence at the Weymouth Bayside Festival behind the Pavilion during the Olympic Games period.

Following significant investment, Radipole Lake and Chesil Beach visitor centres will act as information points, and new visitor access will be in place through the Wild About Weymouth and Portland Legacy Trail, which runs from Lorton Valley to Portland Bill.

In support of ‘One Planet 2012’, LOCOG’s London 2012 Sustainability Plan, the partnership will also be promoting positive approaches to reducing impact on climate change, reduction of waste and looking at ways in which healthy living can be promoted through better access to wildlife. Simon Williams, head of Weymouth and Portland 2012 operations, said: “With the eyes of the world on Weymouth this summer we’re keen to make the most of what the area has to offer – including the amazing Jurassic Coast World Heritage Site and some of the best wildlife in the UK.

“We’re also investing in work that will leave a legacy long after the Games have finished.”

He added: “Weymouth and Portland sit at the centre of a uniquely rich and remarkable natural area – beautiful seas rich in marine wildlife, the stunning quarries and stone of Portland, the sweep of Chesil Beach, the wetlands of Radipole and Lodmoor, the meadows of Lorton Valley and the Jurassic Coast World Heritage Site.

“We are confident that alongside the Games, we’ll be winning gold for wildlife and our wonderful natural environment.”