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SEEN
Somerset Environmental
and Ecological News
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Spring is officially here! We can't help but feel excited about the longer days ahead. This Sunday, we'll set our clocks forward an hour, marking the start of British Summer Time (BST). With more daylight, we have extra time to enjoy the outdoors and reconnect with nature. After a long winter, it's the perfect opportunity to step outside, breathe in the fresh air, and soak up the beauty of the season. Enjoy!
Here are our news highlights for March:
- Protecting our skylarks at Ham Hill
- Major bus service improvements to boost green travel
- Tips for sustainable Easter eggs
- Embrace the season and enjoy woodland wild flowers
And much more!
We wish you all a wonderful April and a happy Easter.
Best eco well wishes
The Climate Team
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 Improving bus services is a key step towards creating a more sustainable Somerset. By enhancing public transportation, we can reduce carbon emissions, decrease traffic congestion, and provide reliable, eco-friendly travel options for residents.
Somerset Council is introducing wide-ranging support and improvements to bus services across the county following confirmation of a new £6 million tranche of Government funding for 2025/26.
Initiatives under Somerset's Bus Service Improvement Plan (BSIP) will incorporate improved services for Yeovil and Bridgwater including evening journeys, continued evening services for Taunton and on-going support for vital bus routes across Somerset including in Frome, Dulverton and Wiveliscombe.
In line with bus priority measures at traffic signals in Taunton, similar schemes are to be rolled out in Yeovil and Bridgwater. These will help buses avoid delays and should help ensure timetabled stops are more reliable.
Taunton’s Park and Ride fare will remain £1 for a single journey as part of the package.
With the end of the £1.50 fare trial in Taunton on 31st March, bus users are encouraged to check operators websites for up-to-date fares. The government's £3 national fare initiatives continues until 31st December 2025.
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 We want to say a tree-mendous thank you to the amazing volunteers from Leonardo, Yeovil Town Council, Yeovil Country Park and Brympton Parish Council.
Earlier this month, they generously gave their time, rolled up their sleeves, and worked alongside our parks teams and tree officers to plant 104 mature trees at Yeovil’s Lower Milford Park, Milford Park, Oak Tree Park, and Yew Tree Park.
This effort is part of our urban tree challenge to boost biodiversity and enhance urban green spaces for the town’s residents and visitors.
The council secured £500k from DEFRA’s Urban Tree Challenge fund to bring nearly 700 mature trees to towns across Somerset. The funding will cover the cost of the trees themselves, the planting, and three years of maintenance.
In the late summer of 1991, local tech recycler Simon Barfoot (of Donate-it) moved with his family to a disused smallholding in Somerset with the dream of creating a horse stud and equestrian centre. They lived in caravans while renovating the property, preparing for the arrival of their horses. Over the next 26 years, they have developed the land, raised a family, and adapted to the challenging "life on clay" in Somerset.
Then one day, a conversation with a retired dairy farmer, Edward, revealed that the land had historically been a copse, not farmland, and that during World War II, the Army cleared the trees for the war effort, using dynamite to remove the stumps. This history explained the land's unsuitability for traditional farming and led the family to rethink their approach to managing the land which led to a rewilding adventure.
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Frome Wild Bunch has partnered with local CIC Meadow in my Garden and is inviting expressions of interest from people who would like to create a ‘pocket meadow’ in a community space near them.
It's on a first come, first served basis, prior to the launch of a town-wide Pocket Meadow scheme later in the year. To take part, community groups should contact Frome Wild Bunch with an idea for a suitable space by the end of March.
Contact fromewildbunch@gmail.com to express an interest in creating a pocket meadow.
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The Wildlife Trusts and the Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) are urging gardeners to help save hoverflies, the second most significant pollinators after bees. Some hoverfly species visit more flowers than bees, playing a crucial role in pollinating crops and wildflowers, protecting plants by eating aphids, and serving as food for birds.
Hoverflies have seen a 44% decline in distribution between 1980 and 2020 due to intensive agriculture, harmful pesticides, urban development, and climate change. In 2022, the International Union for the Conservation of Nature added hoverflies to its Red List of threatened species.
These stingless insects, often mistaken for wasps, bees, or hornets, are known for their distinctive markings and names like Batman, Footballer, and Marmalade. True flies have one pair of wings and can be identified by their hovering or zigzagging behaviour around plants.
You can be a hoverfly hero! To identify which hoverflies are visiting your garden and learn how you can help save this species, please click on the button below.
Or watch this brilliant video!
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 Credit Ian Calderwell
Spring is the perfect time to explore the enchanting woodlands of Somerset. As the days grow longer and warmer, the forests come alive with a stunning array of wildflowers. From vibrant bluebells carpeting the forest floor to delicate cowslips peeking through the undergrowth, there's a world of natural beauty waiting to be discovered. Our Green Estates Ranger Julia has some tips on what to look out for and where to go. So, lace up your walking boots, grab your camera, and head out to experience the breathtaking wild flowers of Somerset's woodlands this spring. Tread carefully, embrace the season and let nature's wonders inspire you!
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 As the nesting season begins, we're urging visitors to Ham Hill to tread carefully and keep pets on leads in the plateau fields at the south end of the site to protect the endangered ground-nesting Skylarks.
Skylarks, known for their enchanting songs and flight patterns, nest on the ground among dense grasses, making them vulnerable to disturbances. Human activity can damage nests, disturb chicks, and disrupt breeding. Skylark populations have declined by 55% since the mid-1970s, with a further 11% decline from 1995 to 2022. Currently, there are around 1.6 million territories occupied by skylarks in the UK.
The Ham Hill Rangers recorded over 12 breeding pairs last year. The habitat offers opportunities for this population to expand if nests remain undisturbed.
How you can Help
Visitors can do their bit to help ensure the safety of the breeding skylarks, by being mindful and carrying out these simple steps.
- Please pay attention to signs and barriers indicating sensitive areas.
- Stick to designated paths and avoid the protected areas.
- Please keep dogs on leads and keep them on the designated paths and away from potential nesting sites.
- Keep noise levels down to avoid startling wildlife.
Experience the magic of Skylarks. If you are visiting, don't forget to stop and take a moment to witness the skylark’s magnificent aerial displays and melodious song.
In partnership with SUEZ Recycling and Recovery UK, we've donated over 100 bikes in the past six months through our bulky waste collection service. These bikes go to the local charity, On Your Bike, which refurbishes them or uses them for parts.
Donating bikes extends their life, making them more environmentally friendly and helping community members learn new skills. On Your Bike supports individuals facing social exclusion, disabilities, mental health issues, or other disadvantages.
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If you have a bike you need parts for, or want to grab a bargain used bike, check out these two upcoming events:
Jumble Your Bike hosted by On Yer Bike at The Coach House, Station Approach Taunton on Saturday 29 March from 9am - 12 Noon.
Frome Community Bike Project jumble Station Approach, Frome on Saturday 5 April from 10am until 4pm.
We've published major new plans for safe cycling and walking routes in the county’s towns to help create greener, healthier and more active streets.
The Local Cycling and Walking Infrastructure Plans (LCWIPs) for Wellington, Chard, Burnham and Highbridge were published last week. The Council has already created and published plans for Yeovil, Taunton, Bridgwater and Frome.
The LCWIPs are focussed, 10-year plans for developing a cycle and walking network within each local area. The aim is to secure funding over the next decade for significant new safe routes for cyclists and pedestrians across all Somerset’s towns.
You can access and comment on the plans via the Council’s Local Cycling and Walking Infrastructure Plans page.
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A new re-use shop in Glastonbury has opened and will continue with help from Somerset Council and SUEZ recycling and recovery UK’s Waste Not Somerset Fund.
The shop is run by a small group of brilliant local volunteers and opened to the public on Saturday 1 March, welcoming many people through its doors at the Red Brick Building.
The opening was a success with around 50 people dropping in, some with donations including electronics such as speakers, DVD players and gardening equipment. There were even a few first sales of the pre-loved items.
The shop takes donations of items from the local community and, where possible, fixes them to make them usable again.
Household items are also available to buy at a reduced cost, with new stock added depending on donations received. The public are also welcome to donate their pre-loved items for resale.
Funds from the sold items will be used to benefit other local groups and organisations invested in reducing waste and CO2.
The shop will initially be open weekly at the Red Brick Building on Fridays and Sundays, from 10am to midday (subject to volunteer availability).
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 Over the past year, Somerset Council and Somerset Local Nature Partnership have been working with local people through surveys, workshops, and direct conversations to create a Local Nature Recovery Strategy (LNRS), an initiative that is taking place across every county in England.
One of the aims of the LNRS is to balance nature recovery with food production. It recognises that farmland provides essential food and wants to support sustainable farming practices. Farmers are at the heart of Somerset’s countryside. Their knowledge and experience are vital to create a nature recovery strategy that everyone in our community can be proud of and which supports both nature and farming.
In February, Somerset Council teamed up with National Farmers Union, Country Landowners Association and Farming and Wildlife Advisory Group SW to hold a series of workshops where local farmers and landowners shared their views on a draft map that will shape nature recovery across the county as well as guide funding to support farm incomes.
The map highlights areas where habitat restoration and nature-friendly farming may be best placed to make the biggest difference, and farmer input helps to make sure it’s realistic and practical.
The well-attended workshops took place in Bridgwater, Porlock and Glastonbury, and there will be further opportunity for everyone in Somerset to provide feedback when the LNRS goes out to public consultation, most likely in mid-late May.
For more details, including a FAQ for farmers and landowners visit Somerset’s Local Nature Recovery Strategy – a guide for farmers, landowners and land managers
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Are you an individual, group or organisation with a passion for our planet, sustainability and biodiversity? Great Big Green Week returns to Frome in June, and organisers want to hear your ideas.
Great Big Green Week is the UK’s biggest celebration of community action to tackle climate change and protect nature, with Frome entering its fourth year supporting the cause and showcasing brilliant ways to keep sustainable practices in mind, and the future of ourselves and our planet at heart.
Events can be for any age, free or ticketed, indoor or outdoor, and organised by any individual, group or organisation. The only criteria for being part of Frome’s Great Big Green Week is that the event must have an environmental, biodiversity or climate-friendly theme, and takes place in and around Frome.
Frome has been part of Great Big Green Week since 2021 and the programme has featured a wide range of events including a river festival, planet-friendly family picnic, walks, talks, workshops, clothes swaps, bike rides and more.
To submit an event for Great Big Green Week 2025, fill in the form by Monday 31 March. Please direct enquiries about accessing facilities, equipment or booking community green spaces to info@frometowncouncil.org.uk.
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Check out all the other brilliant eco events happening across Somerset from bats and dark skies to music and wellbeing walks. There's something for everyone. Click on the Event Calendar button below to find out what's on and let us know about your eco events at climateemergency@somerset.gov.uk so we can tell our readers.
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 Last week, in collaboration with Bridgwater and Taunton College and supported by the Retrofit Academy, we launched an event at the college's Taunton conference centre, to encourage prospective students to find out more about careers and training in retrofit at the college.
The course aims to get more people to train as Retrofit Coordinators. These coordinators will follow the rules and standards set by the Buildings Regulations Part L and PAS 2035:2023 for making homes and buildings more energy-efficient and environmentally friendly.
With the government's ambition to become Net Zero by 2050, the need for Retrofit Coordinators is a high priority. As it currently stands, there are only 3,500 trained and accredited Retrofit Coordinators in the UK. The goal is to raise this number to 50,000 by 2030.
The event was well-supported by prospective students and delivery partners, including the Centre of Sustainable Energy, Evolve Home Energy Solutions, and ESW Construction Services Ltd. These partners play a crucial role in the council's Home Upgrade Grant Scheme and Social Housing Decarbonisation Projects. Numerous attendees and stands from various organisations showed keen interest in the event, PAS 2035 regulations, and the upcoming in-person training course.
We are excited about the upcoming launch of Retrofit Coordinator courses at Bridgwater and Taunton College, which will be announced by the college in the coming months. We will keep you posted!
If you missed this event, you can still express an interest by contacting our Retrofit team at retrofit@somerset.gov.uk
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 Visit our Grants and funding page to see what see what opportunities are available for your community environmental project.
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Easter eggs have long been a cherished spring tradition symbolising new beginnings and rebirth, but they often come in overly packaged boxes with plastic, contributing to unnecessary waste and environmental harm. Here are some tips to help you avoid excess packaging when choosing chocolate or dairy free Easter eggs:
- Choose eggs that come in simple, minimal packaging in recyclable materials like cardboard and foil packaging. Avoid those with layers of plastic and cardboard. Search on line for eggs that have no plastic packaging before purchasing. Check for recycling symbols on the packaging to ensure it's eco-friendly.
- By Easter eggs from local independent shops, your local farm shop or community store.
- Avoid any with plastic toys included as they aren’t recyclable.
- Consider buying loose chocolates or eggs from bulk bins. This way, you can use your own reusable containers and avoid packaging altogether.
- Avoid any with palm oil.
- DIY Easter Eggs: Make your own chocolate eggs at home using reusable moulds. This is a fun and sustainable alternative to store-bought eggs.
- And did you know most dark chocolate eggs are diary free! Check easter egg ingredients and buy ones that contain 100% chocolate supporting Fairtrade, Rainforest Alliance & Organic certified eggs for healthy and ethically farmed coco content.
Wishing you all a happy, tasty and sustainable Easter celebration!
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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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