THE second phase of a plan to protect the region's wildlife will be launched in Sunderland today.

The next stage of the Durham Biodiversity Action Plan will look at 51 proposals to protect a whole range of species' from birds such as the bullfinch, golden plover and merlin, to butterflies like the dark green fritallary.

Plans include raising awareness at a local level on how people and organisations can help.

Keith Bowey, of the Durham Diversity Action Plan, said: "Small changes can have a big impact. For example, if we change the way we use slug pellets, swapping them for the wildlife ones available, it can make a difference to the local song thrush population, which feeds on slugs and snails."

The action plan has seen 18km of hedgerow planted, 40 nest boxes for barn owls and 18 hectares of new lowland heathland created across the region.

Chris Mullin, Sunderland MP and under secretary of state of international development, will launch the second phase at the city's civic centre this morning.

The launch conference will be co-chaired by Emma Sale, of English Nature, and Godfrey Williams, of the Environment Agency.