Thousands of British bird watchers are to be recruited to launch a six year investigation into the nation’s biodiversity to help Government scientists track any changes in the natural environment.

Biodiversity is a relatively new measure to be used as a yardstick to show if natural habitats are getting healthier or are in decline so the Nature Conservancy is asking thousands of British Trust for Ornithology (BTO) volunteers to record the results of their bird-watching expeditions.

It is estimated that the cost of such a research programme, if carried out by paid consultants, would be some 49 million pounds.

Welcoming the programme, Huw Irranca-Davies, the wildlife minister commented: “The value of the information collected by the partnership’s volunteers can’t be underestimated.

“Without this army of well-trained and highly motivated citizen scientists, out in our towns and countryside, this enormous logistical challenge would be impossible. The information collected from this study will be vital in helping to inform our future direction.”