The Duchess of Hamilton opens the flora exhibition at York Central Library

Picture: David Harrison

Library users in York are being urged to get back to nature - via the information super highway.

As part of National Science Week, the Duchess of Hamilton visited York Central Library to launch her new flora and fauna data base.

Originally unveiled at the Chelsea Flower Show last year, it is an information base, on the Internet, which tells people how to attract wildlife to their gardens. By typing in your postcode, the system will tell you which flora and fauna is indigenous to your area and how if you plant the right plants, what type of wildlife it will attract.

Marion Brookes, principal library assistant, said it was part of a drive by the city's library service to publicise its Internet sites.

Residents can access the database at York Central Library and at branch libraries at Acomb and Haxby.

At the central library, a selection of wild flowers are also on sale.

Website: http://fff.nhm.ac.uk/fff

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