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SEEN
Somerset Environmental
and Ecological News
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Stepping into Dixie’s shoes is Councillor Graham Oakes, who is our new Lead Member for Environment and Climate Change.
Welcome Graham!
Graham is eager to take on the role of Lead Member for Climate Change and Environment. Driven by a strong commitment to local conservation, Cllr Oakes looks forward to contributing to Somerset’s resilience and sustainability. A key focus will be expanding the tree planting register and enhancing Somerset’s tree canopy. Stay tuned!
Lots to tell you about this month including...
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Somerset Tree Planting Register update
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Recycling initiatives and updates
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 Great news for Somerset’s wildlife and conservation, 11.2 hectares of woodland and 4,771 additional trees have been planted, since October 2023.
That’s the same as 15 football pitches and a big thank you goes to all the wonderful people and communities who have planted trees and hedgerows and added them to our register. Every tree counts to making our environment a better and greener place, it provides habitats for local wildlife, reduces Co2 and helps combat climate change, and has a positive impact on your health and wellbeing. Keep up the great work!
We know there will be many more we don't know about yet, so if you’ve planted trees since last October don’t forget to ‘root for Somerset’ and add them to the Somerset Tree Planting Register.
As part of the 10-year Somerset Tree Strategy the goal is to increase the county’s tree coverage from the current 8% to at least the national average of 13% by 2033.
The Somerset Tree Planting Register will help us track these important tree-planting goals and celebrate the efforts of those doing their bit to get trees in the ground.
Can we count on you?
Make your new trees count and put them on the map, visit The Somerset Tree Planting Register. We are interested in trees planted since October 2023. It takes less than five minutes.
If you are still in the planning stages and need advice, our woodland creation officers Craig and James are here to offer their wisdom. Drop them a line at woodlandcreation@somerset.gov.uk
Thanks to everyone who has already registered their trees. We have had a
tree-mendous response so far!
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 Exmoor National Park is celebrating its 70th year! Established on 19th October 1954 when the Designation Order made by the National Parks Commission was confirmed by the Minister for Housing and Local Government, Harold Macmillan, making Exmoor the 8th National Park in the UK. With under 10,000 residents, Exmoor boasts stunning landscapes, thriving communities, diverse wildlife, and over 1,000 local businesses. It attracts over 2 million visitors annually. The park is home to ancient woodlands, heather moorlands, Exmoor Ponies, and the largest herds of Red deer in the country. At night, it offers some of the darkest skies in the UK, perfect for stargazing.
Get Involved. Share your Exmoor photos, memories, and experiences using #Exmoor70 and #ExmoorDay.
Watch the video here.
Earlier this month The Wildfowl and Wetland Trust (WWT) celebrated the 10th Anniversary of Steart Marshes Wetland near Bridgwater - a wild, wetland landscape for the future that helps people and wildlife adapt to climate change.
Rising sea levels are putting the squeeze on our coast, so to combat this, 10 years ago WWT and the Environment Agency created Steart Marshes – one of the UK’s largest new wetland reserves. It's a working wetland that provides flood defence for local homes and businesses, showcases productive farmland and is home to a thriving nature reserve. The project proves we can fight climate change by working with nature.
The before and after picture shows how in the last decade the site has turned from a landscape with low biodiversity, into a stunning and expansive wetland reserve that is full of life!
This incredible saltmarsh habitat not only supports wildlife and plants, but also local farmers and residents, providing a thriving haven for everyone.
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 The Friends of Chard Reservoir are seeking people like you to help fundraise and contribute towards the expansion on the current amenities, so that it can continue to be an enjoyable community space for all to access.
No prior experience is needed, but a sense of enthusiasm and appreciation for the site is very much welcomed! The friends would love to hear from you, so please drop them a message on their social media, or get in touch by email at countryside@somerset.gov.uk.
Surveys in the recent State of Britain's Hedgehogs report reveal hedgehog populations have fallen by up to 75% in rural areas since 2000. These declines indicate broader environmental issues affecting food systems, water quality, and climate regulation.
The National Hedgehog Monitoring Programme, launched this year, aims to reverse this trend. Using trail cameras, AI, and volunteers, the programme will measure hedgehog populations to identify the causes of decline and develop conservation strategies. It plans to establish 40 survey sites across the country.
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 Somerset Council’s new partner Kiely Bros launched the next phase of its surface treatment schedule on roads across the county this summer.
This year’s programme is the biggest in at least four years and will see 1,000,000 sqm of road surface dressed - equivalent to 141 football pitches. This treatment is a greener and more cost-effective form of maintenance, helping to improve the road network whilst emitting significantly less carbon compared to alternative solutions.
Following an extensive pre-patching and preparation works programme throughout the spring and early summer, road surface specialist Kiely Bros, which signed a four-year contract in April, is delivering the Council’s extensive surface dressing programme on major and minor roads, and residential streets.
The importance of using seeds with local provenance has been increasingly recognised in woodland creation projects. There are four types of tree seed; nuts, cones, winged, and fruits. Each of them requires a different method of processing before they will germinate, this is called stratification. In September several nut species including hazel, sweet / horse chestnut and walnut are ready for collection. We are here to help guide you in collecting these seeds.
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Every business is responsible for their waste, and from 1 April 2025 will need to make sure the following materials are recycled: food waste, paper and cardboard, cartons, glass bottles and jars, food tins and drinks cans, foil and aerosols, plastic bottles and pots, tubs and trays, and from 2027, plastic films.
The changes mean that whether at home or in the office people can recycle the same materials.
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 Did you know that if one million of us recycled at least one cable, we could save 5,000kg of copper from going to waste.
Copper is a material essential in everyday things that we take for granted – like our phones, our transport, clean energy, lifesaving medical equipment and our green future.
In the lead up to international E-Waste Day on 14th October, the Recycle Your Electricals campaign is highlighting the importance of saving all electricals – including cables, from the bin.
The average household has around five unused cables lying around their house – what’s worse is that 5 million cables are binned each year!
Copper can be recycled again and again, so don’t let it go to waste.
Cables are easy to recycle in Somerset – just bag them (and any other unwanted small electricals up) and pop them on top of one of your recycling boxes.
Have a larger electrical item to recycle? Take to any of our recycling sites and recycle them for free.
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Tuesday 8th October 9.30am – 5pm, followed by drinks. Blackfriars Priory, Gloucester.
Join Somerset Council's Cllr Mike Stanton who is chairing one of the sessions at the Severn Estuary Forum is an annual event. Hosted by the Severn Estuary Partnership, bringing together and celebrate latest projects, research and policy developments from all around the Severn Estuary. By offering a lively and informative day of presentations and talks to a large audience of stakeholders from around the estuary, the Forum allows for a unique opportunity to learn from others, share ideas and participate in the management of the Severn Estuary.
Don’t miss out on a day filled with insightful speakers, interactive sessions and networking opportunities.
Register for your tickets by the
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Check out all the other brilliant eco events happening across Somerset. There's something for everyone. Click on the Event Calendar button below to find out what's on and don't forget to let us know about your eco events at climateemergency@somerset.gov.uk so we can tell our readers.
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Frome Town Council’s Healthy Homes team is inviting residents to sign up for Fairer Warmth, an online tool created by the Centre for Energy Equality. It helps save energy, access grants for home improvements, and get support for keeping homes warm and dry. The platform offers energy advice, retrofit assessments, and home visits from trained volunteers, and includes articles on insulation, heating systems, their costs, environmental impacts, and savings.
The Healthy Homes team also holds regular drop-in sessions at the town hall every first Tuesday of the month from 2pm to 4:30pm.
Healthy Homes is part of the lottery-funded Green and Healthy Frome, a partnership between Edventure, Frome Medical Practice and Frome Town Council.
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This Autumn a whopping 26,640 trees are being planted across Somerset by 38 community groups and 46 schools!
Attention all Somerset schools and community groups, do you dream of creating a tree paradise in your local community? Then join our 86 schools and community groups who applied for the Woodland Trust’s tree giveaway and help re-tree the county. The Trust is giving away hundreds of thousands of trees, with its next delivery in March.
Applications are still being received for spring’s tree giveaway in March. Application deadline closes in January 2025.
Need advice on how and where to plant? Consult our Woodland Creation Team who can help you choose the right trees for the right place and guide you on planting techniques and creative ideas for tree circles and imaginative planting. For FREE advice email woodlandcreation@somerset.gov.uk
Somerset Council are encouraging the planting of tree's to increase Somerset's tree canopy. If you are interested in trees and tree planting then check out the Forestry Commission.
If you would like to find out more about the events being held in your area on woodland creation or woodland management then sign up to the Forestry Commissions newsletter today. It also includes opportunities to join webinars, hear the latest news, receive guidance releases and be the first to know about updates to existing grants. We work closely with our partners so often promote their events and news too.
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Green tech company, Thermly, has announced the launch of a Somerset-wide competition, giving one lucky homeowner the chance to win a heat pump and installation, worth up to £15,000. Four runners up will also receive £9,500 towards their heat pump installation through the Thermly platform.
The competition launches on 16th September 2024 and will run until midnight on 11th October 2024.
 Visit our Grants and funding page to see what see what opportunities are available for your community environmental project.
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With colder weather coming up and bills rising get prepared with some home efficiency top tips to help save your packet and the planet!
One Home is a Somerset based Charity, helping to empower people to make changes that are good for the planet and your pocket.
We are living through turbulent times and the impact of political events and climate change is being felt by us all in the UK and beyond. Energy prices have doubled and are set to stay high for some time, but there are steps we can all take at home.
Get practical information on actions that will help stop your home losing heat and therefore help avoid wasting money. Energy efficiency is not just a solution to the energy cost crisis, but also helps us reduce our carbon footprint and adapt and become more resilient to the impact of climate change.
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 This is your newsletter, and we want to hear about the great environmental work happening where you live, or what you do to make a difference every day with your brilliant eco hacks and tips.
You can make suggestions about what you would like to see more of in future editions of SEEN and have your say on previous stories and topics.
We would love to hear from you.
Get in touch at climateemergency@somerset.gov.uk.
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