NORTH Devon's Biosphere Reserve is looking for local community groups to get involved and help wildlife within the reserve during its 'Biosphere Action Week — between September 25 and October 3.

Activities carried out during the week could be planting a community orchard, putting up bird boxes or organising a series of guided walks, anything to benefit wildlife and involves local community participation.

Dr Mike Moser, chairman of the Biosphere Reserve Partnership, said: 'With 2010 being an international year to celebrate wildlife we want to encourage all communities within the reserve to get involved and help us maintain our fantastic wealth of wildlife — in gardens, on farms, in woodlands, on the coast, around work places.'

Projects planned for the week include a group from Winkleigh, who will be pond surveying to identify and improve the wildlife value of ponds in the area. The Biosphere Reserve covers the whole of the Taw and Torridge river basins, including Okehampton, where the team are particularly keen to encourage more wildlife projects.

Although individuals can apply to take part they will need to enlist the help of a local community group to meet the funding criteria, this can be any type of group from a local primary school, a scout or guides group to a village gardening club or even just a few friends wanting to do their bit for wildlife.