The United Nations has declared 2010 International Year of Biodiversity which will celebrate the diversity of life on Earth.

IYB UK has over 200 partners ranging from universities, media organisations and museums to theatre companies and artists and includes our very own Biodiversity Partnership here on the Isle of Wight. The official launch of the UK partnership was held at the Natural History Museum on 25th November at which our IW partnership was represented.

Find out more at the official UK IYB website.

The UK partners have come together to promote the understanding of biodiversity during the International Year of Biodiversity and this coming year is your chance to learn more about the rich tapestry of life around you, discover why it’s important for a healthy environment and get involved in monitoring and conserving your local wildlife.

Look out for details of special events on the Island here on the WOW website and in the Wight Walks booklet early next year.

Saturday 21st November saw the awards ceremony for the Isle of Wight Photographer of the Year 2009 with 120 guests attending the event held in the Anthony Minghella Theatre at the Quay Arts Centre.

To read the full story and see images from the night visit IWPOY.

25 stunning images were shortlisted in our supporting category 'it's a very small world: go Wild on Wight' fulfilling the brief of getting out and about and up close to the Island's unique wildlife and uncovering some of nature's treasures.

This special category formed part of the IW Biodiversity Partnership's 10th anniversary celebrations.

Many congratulations to overall winner Gay Farmer with her spectacular image entitled 'Dragonfly'. In second place was Stuart Shore with his iconic image entitled 'Red Squirrel'. In third place was Paul Blackley with a captivating image entitled 'Male Barn Owl'.

Image: courtesy of IWPOY 2009.

The judges have spoken and the shortlisting for the IW Photographer of the Year 2009 'It's a very small world: go Wild on Wight' category is complete.

Click here to view the 25 stunning images shortlisted for this category which truly celebrate the Island's rich diversity of wildlife. The three winning entries will be selected shortly and the prizes given at the awards ceremony on 21st November.

Good luck to all who have been successfully shortlisted!

The Hampshire & Isle of Wight Wildlife Trust are launching a new award scheme to find out how wildlife friendly Hampshire and the Isle of Wight's gardens are.

A wildlife friendly garden can come in all shapes and sizes, so you don't have to have a large garden to take part, it just needs to be good for wildlife!

To see if you qualify and to find out more click here or for some more wildlife gardening ideas visit the 'Do your bit' section of Go Wild on Wight.

Image: a bug box, a ideal home mini-beasts such as ladybirds and lacewings during the Winter months.

Recent surveys by the Forestry Commission have found the Isle of Wight to be among Europe's most important woodland bat habitats.

Read the full story on the BBC website here.

Find out more about the Island's bats here.

Image: Bechstein’s bats are nationally rare tree dwelling bats, mostly associated with mature and veteran trees, usually in broadleaved woodland.

On 5th December this year, Breathing Places will be asking audiences to do one thing for nature by planting a tree at their local breathing place, local park, community space, school grounds or at home in their own gardens.

As part of National Tree Week, BBC Breathing Places invites everyone to join them in setting a new Guinness World RecordTM for planting the most trees in one hour in multiple locations. Their aim is to plant a million trees beating the current record of 653,143 trees.

To find out more visit the Breathing Places website.

The People's Trust for Endangered Species, along with Natural England, is launching the third Great Nut Hunt to find out more about where dormice are across the country.

Now they would like you to get out into the woods again and help them find more nibbled nuts this autumn and winter!

The Great Golden Nut Hunt runs throughout the winter, but to encourage would-be "nutters" to take part, the PTES has hidden 21 specially commissioned "nuts", one gold and 20 silver, in woods across England and Wales beside Nut Hunt flags. Spot one, take it home and contact the PTES to claim your reward!

To find our more about the project visit the PTES website