AN outlet shopping centre is inviting twitchers to its surrounding park land for this year’s annual bird ‘census’.

Dalton Park, at Murton, County Durham, has 55-acres of green space round its borders which are home to many varieties of wildlife.

As part of this year’s RSPB Big Garden Birdwatch, the centre is inviting the public to enjoy some of the 55-acres of landscaped park land which provide a habitat to various species of birds, animals and insects.

Visitors can step out on parkland trails along sign-posted walks, specially created to encourage an appreciation of wildlife and the local environment.

But they are also considered a good location for spotters to help with the tenth RSPB Big Garden Birdwatch, taking place over the weekend of January 29/30.

It is said to be the world’s biggest such monitoring event to give a snapshot of the predominant species of birds in the UK.

Participants will be asked to spend an hour bird-watching before recording their findings on a survey form.

The survey can be completed by people of all ages and levels of bird-watching expertise.

Centre manager Jerry Hatch said: "The parkland has become a natural habitat for all forms of wildlife and we want to encourage as many people as possible to enjoy and appreciate their local environment."

Survey forms are available to download from the Dalton Park website, www.dalton-park.co.uk, or can be picked up from the At Your Service desk, in the centre’s management office.

Dalton Park is also open for special RSPB Birdwatch school visits, during which young participants can spend an hour monitoring the bird life, for a fortnight, from Monday through to Friday February 4.

Interested schools should contact Louise Thompson, at the centre, on 0191-526 6500.