WORCESTERSHIRE residents are being encouraged to adopt a species to help maintain and provide habitats for some of the county’s most vulnerable wildlife.

Worcestershire Wildlife Trust is offering an adoption scheme for eco-conscious shoppers to give to friends and family this Christmas.

For between £10 and £20 people can adopt a dormouse, barn owl, stag beetle, otter, water vole or hare. Recipients receive a gift pack that includes an adoption certificate, photograph, fact sheet, cut-out model and colouring sheets.

Becky Bradshaw-King, co-ordinator of the scheme, said: “So many of us receive unwanted presents at Christmas. Our adopt-a-species scheme is a really great way to give a gift that doesn’t gather dust on a mantelpiece and helps raise money for wildlife at the same time.”

Mark Hancox’s photograph shows a barn owl and the engaging picture of a dormouse is courtesy of Worcestershire Wildlife Trust.

Visit worcswildlifetrust. co.uk or call 01905 754919 for information.