HOW green is your office?

That is the question being posed today as part of a major initiative called Every Action Counts which aims to encourage voluntary and community organisations to become more environmentally friendly.

Dorset Wildlife Trust (DWT) is among those which have taken up the mantle with staff keen to promote sustainable living as well as standing up for nature.

People and wildlife co-ordinator Joy Wallis said: "We are putting a plan into place which looks at how we can reduce our carbon footprint and use resources effectively.

"It will cover management of land and reserves, and planning of events.

"For example we might see people working closer to home rather than having to attend our head office at Brooklands Farm.

"We already promote car sharing but it's a question of getting everything that we do down on paper."

DWT supported the Breathing Places campaign which encouraged people to Do One Thing' and look after a green space.

Joy said another important green project undertaken by DWT was the restoration of traditional grassland and promoting the production and sale of local beef which cuts down on food miles and reduces the farming carbon footprint.

DWT is also a member of the Dorset Climate Change Coalition - a partnership which aims to reduce the local impact on climate change.

Joy said: "As a charity the trust hasn't got the money to install things like solar panels but the coalition is lobbying MPs so funds can be made available."

She added: "As part of our commitment to the coalition we are running a project called wildlife-friendly gardens.

"We are encouraging people to provide food, water and shelter in order to build up a wildlife corridor for animals and birds which will be using gardens longer.

"Climate change will undoubtedly affect a lot of what we do as a trust but we've no idea how it will affect wildlife - it may be that some species will actually benefit with a longer breeding season.

"It's important we have mechanisms in place to allow wildlife to adapt."

A guide called Changing The Way You Work is available for organisations as part of Every Action Counts. It contains 12 simple steps to help make your office more green.

To order a free copy of the guide register your organisation at: info@everyactioncounts.org.uk/register