A SHOPPING centre is asking families to spend 15 minutes checking on the health of moths and butterflies living nearby.
Dalton Park outlet, near Murton is taking part in the Big Butterfly Count from Saturday, July 19 to Sunday, August 10.
Visitors are asked to pick up a survey form from the centre’s management offices, then spend quarter of an hour in the surrounding parkland recording how many butterflies they see.
Groups from local schools are particularly welcome and there are three walking trails through the parkland and wetlands to try.
The results will then be fed into a national survey checking on the health of different butterfly and moth species.
Jerry Hatch, general manager for the shopping centre operators, said: “The parkland has become a natural habitat for all forms of wildlife and we want to encourage as many people as possible to enjoy, appreciate and help improve their local environment."
The centre’s management offices are open from 8.30am to 5.30pm Monday to Saturday.
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