About
We have a statutory duty to conserve and enhance biodiversity Complying with the biodiversity duty – GOV.UK. To work towards this, we work in partnership with other organisations, voluntary groups, and local communities on projects to improve and protect Somerset’s wildlife and environment.
Similar to the trend across the UK, biodiversity in Somerset is in decline.
- 60% decline in distribution of Fritillary Butterflies over 30 years
- Lost 201.94km² of grassland in 25 years
- Reduction in the probability of seeing a dormouse
Find more information about the State of Nature in Somerset.
With a general trend of declining biodiversity in Somerset there are, however, good news stories. Through collaboration and working together success is possible with concerted effort, landscape-scale vision, and cohesive partnerships. Positive case studies, such as the Somerset Wetlands NNR and Mendip Hills ‘Super’ National Nature Reserve, demonstrate the power of collective action.
Biodiversity Net Gain (BNG)
Biodiversity Net Gain is a way of developing and managing land that aims to improve the natural environment, making it better than it was before. It focuses on creating or enhancing habitats alongside development to deliver measurable improvements for biodiversity.
Achieving Biodiversity Net Gain means that natural habitats will be extended or improved as part of a development. The goal is to design developments in a way that benefits both people and nature while reducing negative impacts on the environment.
Find out more about Biodiversity Net Gain.
Biodiversity Duty Report
The Natural Environment and Rural Communities Act 2006 (NERC Act) require local councils and other public bodies to look after and protect biodiversity. This is known as the “biodiversity duty”.
Originally, the law did not require these organisations to report on what they were doing to meet this duty. The Environment Act 2021 strengthened this requirement. It now says that all public authorities in England must actively think about how they can conserve and improve biodiversity, not just maintain it.
In May 2023, the Government published guidance explaining what organisations must do to meet this updated duty. Public authorities now need to:
- Consider what actions they can take to protect and enhance biodiversity.
- Set policies and clear objectives based on this consideration.
- Take action to deliver these policies, achieve their objectives, and report publicly on their progress.
This has led to the development of the Somerset Council Biodiversity Duty Report, covering the period 1 January 2024 to 1 January 2026.
What you will find in the report
The Biodiversity Duty Report includes:
- An overview of Somerset’s current biodiversity baseline
- Our policies, priorities and partnership work for nature recovery
- Actions delivered across planning, land management, and council-owned sites
- Progress on Biodiversity Net Gain and how we are preparing for future monitoring
- Planned actions for the next reporting period
Local Nature Reserves (LNRs)
There are currently 22 Local Nature Reserves (LNR) in Somerset where people can connect with nature and benefit from exercise in the natural environment. Several are owned and managed by Somerset Council other are owned and managed by organisations including Local Town Councils and Somerset Wildlife Trust.
- Ash Prior
- Berrow
- Bincombe Beeches
- Bickenhall Orchard
- Chard Reservoir
- Children’s wood and Riverside
- Eastfield
- Frieze Orchard
- Gadds
- Herne Hill
- Hurlestone
- Moldrams
- Netherclay
- North Hill Fort
- Otterhead Lakes
- Screech Owl
- Silk Mills
- South Taunton Rivers
- Street Heath
- Swains
- Weirfield Park
- Wellington Basins
Learn more about the Somerset’s Nature Reserves.
Local Wildlife Sites (LWS)
Local Wildlife Sites are sites recognised for their importance to nature at a local level. They complement and support wildlife rich environments, including distinctive, threatened and priority habitats and species that contribute to the character and biodiversity of the area.
In Somerset there are over 2000 sites recognised as Local Wildlife Sites and although they are non-statutory, they are important consideration for Local Planning Authorities assessing planning applications. They are some of our most valuable wildlife areas and are identified and updated in Somerset by a panel of organisations that meet to review sites against local scientifically determined criteria and surveys.
Local Wildlife Sites play a vital role in nature conservation. They provide refuges for wildlife, help protect rare and vulnerable species and habitats, and act as buffers, corridors and stepping stones that connect nationally designated sites. Together, they form a key part of the Nature Recovery Network, helping nature adapt to climate change, reverse biodiversity decline, reduce flood risk, and enhance water storage, whilst also supporting people’s health, wellbeing and enjoyment of the natural environment.
Local Geological Sites (LGS)
These are the geological equivalent of Local Wildlife Sites and represent Somersets rich and varied geology. There are over 200 sites recognised in Somerset and they are identified and updated in Somerset by a panel of organisations that meet to review sites against local scientifically determined criteria and surveys.
Pollinator Action Plan
The former Somerset County Council, in partnership with Friends of the Earth and Somerset Wildlife Trust published a county-wide Pollinator Action Plan (2018-2028). This is designed to help secure the future of pollinators in Somerset.
The importance of pollinators to Somerset cannot be overstated. In the UK alone there are over 1500 species of insects that pollinate our crops and wildflowers. This includes bees, butterflies, moths, flies, beetles and wasps. These species are important to the functioning of our ecosystems, but, sadly they are under threat.
- 50% of the UK’s bumblebee species are in decline – three of which have already gone extinct
- 71% of the UK’s butterfly species show declines
- two-thirds of moth species are in decline
- 38% of Europe’s bee and hoverfly species are in decline
There is no single cause for the decline of pollinators, with declining population trends the accumulative result of habitat loss, climate change, disease and the use of pesticides, with neonicotinoids found to have particularly harmful effects.
Nationally, pollinators are estimated to contribute over £600 million a year to the UK economy through the pollination of commercial crops. If present declines continue, it is likely to cost an estimated £1.8 billion a year for the hand pollination of commercial plant species.
The former South Somerset District Council partnered with the Bumblebee Conservation Trust to fight to save the Shrill Carder Bee.
The team at Ham Hill Country Park have begun habitat management on the site to encourage rare Shrill Carder Bees to recolonise from an existing population nearby. The habitat management will be centred around the hay meadows in the flat fields of the park and will include leaving areas of dense tussock grass for the bees to nest and hibernate.
The Shrill Carder Bees emerge from June to October, so the aim is to create a habitat that will be a haven of late-blooming wildflowers for the bees to forage from. In particular flowers from the pea, daisy, mint and broomrape plant families have been shown to be important to the shrill carder bees.
To find out more about the impact of pesticides on wildlife visit the Pesticide Action Network website.