Introduction

Below are just some of the bits we’re currently working on. Feel free to contact us with any questions by emailing us at climateemergency@somerset.gov.uk.

Case Studies

Climate Resilient Somerset films

Somerset County Council in partnership with the district councils developed a series of climate change films showcasing some of the fantastic work our communities are doing across Somerset. Check out the videos below for more information

Climate change films

• Climate Resilient Somerset – Bruton Retrofitting
• Climate Resilient Somerset – Recycle More
• Climate Resilient Somerset – Avalon Community Energy Cooperative
• Climate Resilient Somerset – E-scooters
• Climate Resilient Somerset – Good Vibe Veg
• Climate Resilient Somerset – Wells Cathedral
• Climate Resilient Somerset film – Wedmore

Millennium Wood and Meadow – Ash PC

Ash Parish Council in South Somerset purchased the 1 1/2-hectare site in 1998 to establish a community woodland and wildlife area. Following this, in 2012, a manager was appointed for the woodland and a management plan was produced to provide a coherent approach to the maintenance and management of the site. The strategy looked to increase the diversity of habitats by managing the woodland and open spaces and ensuring accessibility. To find out more read the Ash Wood case study.

Eco-School Case Study – St Margaret’s, Tintinhull

St. Margaret’s CEVA Primary School received a Gold from the Woodland Trust’s Green Tree School Award. They have also been on BBC radio talking about their environmental projects, including growing their own fruit and vegetables, planting trees around the site, and maintaining class planters, and they have recently received a grant to create a sensory garden at the front of the school for the use of pupils & the local community.

Pupils also helped to plant a Ginko tree to mark the start of Tintinhull’s Platinum Jubilee celebrations and to support The Queen’s Green Canopy project!

For details on how your school can get involved with green initiatives visit the Support Services for Education website.

Tree Planting- Haselbury Plucknett Wildlife Group

Parish Environment Champion Alison Scott and the Haselbury Plucknett community completed planting 36 semi-mature oak and beech trees along Claycastle Lane.

Alison is a founder member of the Haselbury Wildlife and Habitats group. From the outset, she received support from the Parish Council, from planning and getting permissions to implementation. The local land is intensively farmed in places, so it was good to be able to make small changes to improve local biodiversity. Residents were asked to sponsor a tree for £80. We were amazed when all the trees were quickly sponsored! For more information visit the Haselbury Wildlife Facebook page.

Chilthorne Green Steps

Chilthorne Domer has set up the Chilthorne Green Steps, a Local Action Group, working in partnership with the Parish Council and Recreational Trust. Recent projects include:

• a community e-newsletter;
• creating a wildflower area on a roadside verge in the village;
• planting a community apple orchard, and encouraging an area of unmown grass on the Recreational field;
• Taking part in Somerset Wildlife Trust’s Wilder Churches initiative, to help improve wildlife;
• Created community compost bins in the churchyard. In addition, the grass is left uncut to encourage wildflowers;
• Circulated wildflower seeds to all houses in the village, whilst also producing DIY bee hotels for every household that requested one;
• The group also have plans for tree-planting projects, in collaboration with landowners.
• “Pedal for the Planet” is a series of free workshops and activities to promote safe and fun cycling for everyone.

Why Litter Bins are not always the Answer – Ham Hill Country Park

The removal of litter bins at Ham Hill Country Park has been hailed as a success after the amount of litter at the site fell by approximately 85% annually. After a spate of anti-social littering at the site, we were forced to rethink how to address an ever-increasing litter problem at the site.

In June 2019, we made the decision to remove all 14 litter bins from the site, encouraging visitors to take responsibility for their own waste and asking them to take their rubbish home with them and recycle what they could.

The response has been overwhelmingly positive and to find out more read the Ham Hill case study.