Cumbria's habitats and species at risk have a new helping hand.

The Cumbria Biodiversity Partnership has appointed Graham Jackson-Pitt as the new local biodiversity manager. He has already taken over the reins from Neil Harnott, who is now Senior Conservation Officer at Cumbria Wildlife Trust.

Graham is now co-ordinating the Cumbria Biodiversity Action Plan (BAP) to safeguard Cumbria's biodiversity of wildlife and the county's awareness of it.

Graham will be liaising with the partnership to ensure the survival of many of our favourite animals, like bats and barn owls, and habitats, such as ancient and species-rich hedgerows. He will continue some well-established projects whilst also injecting his own ideas to help Cumbria's wildlife.

Graham said: 'The main role of my job is to share ideas with the partnership and to develop the projects that are already in existence, like the Cumbria Hedgerow Survey that began in 2003, or implement ideas that are currently still sketches on paper. I'm looking forward to building on the great work already achieved, and working with volunteers, landowners and farmers to increase people's awareness and understanding of the county's biodiversity and their wider participation in its conservation.'

One of the major BAP projects is the Cumbrian Hedgerows Survey, which has looked for hedgerows at 500 sites around the county. The surveyors keep their eyes peeled for ancient oak and primroses and see how many species exist in the habitat. They know when they've hit the jackpot if they find a song thrush, a rapidly declining species that is on the BAP species list.

One of Graham's first tasks is to work with volunteers and partners to collate the results of the hedgerows surveys and publish them later this year. The results will help find out why they are there and the condition they are in. This will then lead to the hedgerows' restoration and expansion.