Communities helping nature recover
Explore how communities across Somerset are helping nature recover through habitat creation, wildlife projects and local action
How the Wilder Enmore and Goathurst project began
Achievable, timely, and impactful local action – Wilder Enmore and Goathurst shows how nature recovery can become part of everyday community life.
Wilder Enmore and Goathurst is a joint nature recovery project led by the parish councils of Enmore and Goathurst. The project was inspired by the lockdown period, when nature showed how quickly it could recover and thrive with reduced human impact.
On 19 September 2025, Wilder Enmore became the first Somerset recipient of Somerset Wildlife Trust’s Wilder Community Award. The initiative has demonstrated how nature recovery can be integrated into community life in an achievable, timely and impactful way.
Looking at the bigger picture
The partnership between Enmore and Goathurst shows how local communities can play an important role in nature recovery. By connecting larger projects, community-led action helps create a stronger and more resilient Nature Recovery Network across Somerset. By focusing on localised projects, communities can work towards achievable and meaningful goals within their own areas.
However, when lots of communities take similar action, their individual efforts add up to create benefits across the wider landscape. This helps connect habitats and strengthen Somerset’s Nature Recovery Network. Combined action will also strengthen community spirit and bind communities together around a shared purpose for nature recovery.
The 'Wilder' approach
The term ‘wilder’ was chosen deliberately. It describes a planned and carefully managed approach to improving wildlife habitats and creating connected green corridors that support biodiversity.
To help drive this work forward, a group of around 10 residents was established to champion action within the community. Village WhatsApp and Facebook groups were used to communicate updates, share information, and coordinate calls for action.
Areas of focus for Enmore and Goathurst
About the Churchyard actvities
- Enmore Primary School held ‘wilder’ activity sessions at the churchyard, pupils built bug hotels and amphibian rock piles and took part in iNaturalist training sessions.
- A £500 magic grant was used to instal wildlife habitat boxes, plant wildflower bulbs and purchase two benches.
- iNaturalist training and bat monitoring evenings were hosted in the church.
- A wildlife heritage trail was created for locals and visitors.
- Achieved Somerset Wildlife Trust’s Wilder Churches Award.
Wilder Goathurst
Wilder Goathurst achieved the Wilder Churchyard Award by carrying out a range of actions, including:
- Securing funding from the Quantocks Landscape Partnership scheme to restore the Willis monument
- Creating bug hotels and an Easter garden with local children
- Planting donated memorial trees and buddleia
- Creating a wilder habitat strip
- Village litter picks
In February 2026, Wilder Goathurst achieved Somerset Wildlife Trusts’ Wilder Community Award.
Visit the Wilder Enmore and Goathurst website
About the Jubilee Meadow activities
Secured a 75% grant from the Greater Quantock Landscape Development Fund to:
- Plant an orchard with dedication tags.
- Create a wildflower meadow.
- Build a spring fed water trough and sink the old water trough as a small wildlife pond.
- Build a seating area, install benches, and build a bike rack.
- Install a new Jubilee Meadow sign for the village green space.
About the hedges and verges activities
- The Somerset farmland survey showed that 90% of wildlife is found in hedges which only cover 10% of the land.
- Wilder Enmore approached a local farm, who does local hedge cutting commercially, to become a test case.
- Positive feedback from the farmer as little time was involved, and the test case was free.
- The Quantock Landscape Partnership Scheme team did a hedge survey on the farm.
- They worked with the farmer to secure two grants from the Woodland Trust to plant 130m of hedge and for infill to other hedges. This involved the Friends of the Quantocks hairstreak butterfly planting scheme.
- The Friends of the Quantocks have done another hedge and tree land survey with recommendations for another farmer.
Top tips for starting a wilder community initiative
Engage your local town or parish council
They are ideally placed to form a steering group and kick-start a wilder initiative.
Set up community communication channels
For example WhatsApp or Facebook groups.
Engage with stakeholders
For example the parochial church council, schools, residents, farmers, landowners and other local community groups.
Identify funding opportunities
Create plans for each area that consider your funding opportunities.
Identify no more than five areas of focus
Aim to keep each plan up to date with your current objectives.
Engage the local community in implementation
Litter picks can be used as a good starting project.
Apply for recognition
Celebrate success by applying for Somerset Wildlife Trust Wilder Awards. This can strengthen community spirit.
Encourage work with neighbouring communities
So each area can add its piece to Somerset’s growing green jigsaw, helping to create a connected network for nature.
If you build it, nature will come
By creating the right habitats and connections, wildlife can return, thrive and spread across the landscape.
Related case studies
Community in Action: Wootton Courtenay – Citizen Science Project
The Wootton Courtenay community is an incredible example of a citizen science project in Somerset. The community came together to carry out a year-long biodiversity survey, creating a baseline record of local wildlife.
Shaped by local volunteers, this project brought the whole community together to record nature in their village.
The project includes an index of species recorded, their conservation status, actions to help improve their status and methods for the community to get involved in specific nature recovery projects.
You can find more information on our Somerset Local Nature Recovery Strategy page.
Wootton Courtney Project Summary
A summary of how Wootton Courtenay community made their project a success
Step 1 – Engage the community
- Volunteers of all ages took part
- Open and inclusive participation
- Built shared ownership of the project
Step 2 – Design simple surveys
- Paper based spotter sheets were used
- Accessible to all skill levels
- Covered birds, plants, fungi and more
Step 3 – combine digital tools
- Observations uploaded to iNaturalist
- Helped verify species
- Contributed to national datasets
Step 4 – Collect data over time
- Year-long survey
- Captured seasonal variation
- Built a strong baseline dataset
Step 5 – Share and act on findings
- Results compiled and published
- Used to inform local action
- Contributes to wider nature recovery
efforts
What made it a success
- Strong community engagement
- Combination of low tech and digital tools
- Clear purpose
- Inclusive approach
You can read the full Wootton Courtenay Biodiversity Survey 2024 to 2025 on the Somerset Eel Recovery Project website.