DORSET Wildlife Trust (DWT) has been awarded a £562,400 grant by The National Lottery Heritage Fund towards the Wild Brownsea project.

Wild Brownsea has also attracted funding from many other sources and the total project value is over £1million.

The project is to create new access, wildlife observation and learning facilities, together with a three-year programme of activities to enable people of all backgrounds and abilities to play an active role in managing the natural heritage of the island.

DWT director of development, Brian Bleese, said: "This is wonderful news. The funding will help us build a sustainable future for the wildlife of Brownsea Island and to enable people to benefit from regular contact with nature.

"Contact with nature has enormous health and wellbeing benefits and Wild Brownsea will realise the potential of Brownsea Island to engage and inspire people, especially those from disadvantaged backgrounds, to make the natural heritage part of their lives.”

Meanwhile, National Trust general manager for Brownsea Island, Angela Cott, said: "We're delighted to hear that The National Lottery Heritage Fund is investing in Brownsea Island.

"We've been working together on plans to improve the way visitors experience the island, making navigation easier and sharing stories of the rich wildlife habitats and diverse history here.

"We are pleased to be working alongside our island partners, DWT, to do this and we look forward to seeing work begin over the winter."

Brownsea Island is the largest of the islands in Poole Harbour and is home to an array of wildlife.

For its size Brownsea Island is one of the most biodiverse sites in England.

There are 334 plant species, 238 bird species, almost 1,000 beetle species and 900 moth species present on the island.

It is also one of the last strongholds in southern England for the iconic red squirrel.

Brownsea Lagoon's shallow waters host important breeding colonies of sandwich and common terns and attract thousands of over-wintering wading birds, including flocks of avocets reaching more than 1,300 birds – almost half of the UK’s overwintering population.

National Lottery Heritage Fund London and south area director, Stuart Hobley, said: “The National Lottery is turning 25 this year.

"Since 1994 National Lottery players have raised an incredible £1.6billion for landscapes and nature. Nature is our oldest form of heritage and access to it can have huge benefits, it is also our responsibility to care for its future, which is why we have made funding for landscapes and nature a key priority for National Lottery funding.

“So we’re delighted to support this project which will transform access to Brownsea Island and put people at the heart of securing a bright future for the island for generations to come.”

Visit www.dorsetwildlifetrust.org.uk/volunteering to find out more about the Wild Brownsea Project.