Animal lovers across Dorset are being asked to help create a map of the county's urban wildlife.

The People’s Trust for Endangered Species (PTES) is urging members of the public to take part in its annual Living with Mammals survey and review a garden or green space once a week for two months.

Anyone who takes part is asked to record what wild mammals they see each week between Monday, March 26 and Sunday, June 24.

Volunteers can choose any green space to survey, such as a rural or urban garden, an allotment, park, or a green space near to work, as long as the site is within 200m of a building.

Once a suitable space has been found PTES asks volunteers to visit the site for a short amount of time each week, which could be as little as 10 minutes each day, and record any sightings of mammals, or the signs they leave behind, such as droppings or footprints.

David Wembridge, surveys officer at PTES, said: "Understanding how wildlife in our towns and cities is changing is essential in supporting our wild neighbours such as foxes, rabbits and hedgehogs.

"We’ve always shared our green spaces with wildlife, so by counting the number of mammals each spring, we can tell where conservation efforts are needed most. By identifying population trends, finding pockets where certain species are thriving or under pressure, we can ultimately encourage biodiversity around us."

PTES says many of Britain’s mammals, including hedgehogs, foxes, grey squirrels and bats, are typically found in household gardens, recreational areas, cemeteries and brownfield sites, but other green spaces close to buildings may also provide a home to them. However, there are some mammals that only live in certain parts of the country such as hazel dormice, which are rare but occasional visitors to gardens in southern England and in Wales.

To take part in PTES’ 2018 Living with Mammals survey, register online at www.ptes.org/lwm. The survey can also be completed via a printed pack which can be posted. Contact LwM@ptes.org to find out more.