A new wildlife camera network is coming to Kingston to help better understand and protect the borough's most elusive residents.

The network, funded by the Internet of Things, which is also responsible for a pilot scheme recently launched in Surbiton to help businesses cut back on food waste, will see wildlife cameras placed at nature reserves and other sites of interest across the borough, becoming the largest camera project of its kind in Kingston.

As part of Kingston Council's recently announced Biodiversity Action Plan, the local authority has said it is committed to increasing the ecological information available about the borough, and to continue the conservation efforts across Kingston to help mitigate the climate and ecological crisis currently faced.

Cllr Ian Manders, Portfolio Holder for Climate Action and Sustainable Transport, said: "We are fortunate to have such a wealth of biodiversity in the borough and it is important that we work to protect it from the impacts of climate and habitat change.

"The information gathered by the camera network will help the council and its partners better understand what can be done to help Kingston's wildlife thrive."

The cameras will take images of wildlife when movement is detected, which will provide the Institute of Zoology, partners on the project alongside Kingston Council, with live data and information to help care and manage the borough's wildlife.

The new wildlife camera network scheme follows in the footsteps of Hogwatch which works to halt the decline of Kingston's hedgehog population through community-led research.