LATEST NEWS And Updates on projects

-A LOVELY DIVERSION!
For those of you really missing getting out in the landscape Bill Butcher and Bob Rivett made this lovely film of a walk through the ancient woodland at Withycombe while the bluebells were at their absolute best. Bill identifies the various birds songs too as he walks amongst the trees. Hopefully next year we will all be able to ramble through the woods and enjoy a cream tea in the village hall! 
Click the link for the film which is on YouTube  https://youtu.be/ljijdAWh2dg

We will keep you updated of ongoing activities during the national lock down including Zoom meetings for West Somerset Together. You can also check what is happening on our Face Book page at: https://www.facebook.com/groups/213761589669556



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​The Rest and be Thankful Inn at Wheddon Cross now has an EV charge point!
For more information on electric car charging points ring David Croxton 07850 740 516 or email localfuel@gmail.com
 www.ev2charge.home/blog

 




COMMUNITY WOODLAND HELPS TO WIN NATIONAL AWARD


​EXMOOR NATIONAL PARK has won a prestigious Royal Forestry Society (RFS) Excellence in Forestry Award for its sustainable approach to woodland management and involvement of community groups, including Forum 21's management of the Woodcombe Community Woodland at Minehead. It complements a new Government accord announced last week that aims to expand and enhance woodland in National Parks**.

Moor Wood near Minehead is being slowly transformed by the National Park’s woodlands team using a technique called Continuous Cover Forestry, which harnesses the ability of woodlands to naturally regenerate.

The temporary gaps created when carefully selected trees are felled enriches the habitat for a wide variety of specialist species, such as rare birds, butterflies and fungi, while allowing commercially viable amounts of timber to be harvested sustainably. This avoids the need for largescale felling, which takes several decades to regenerate and generally involves uniform plantations that are more vulnerable to environmental pressures.

Graeme McVittie, Senior Woodland Conservation Officer for Exmoor National Park, said: “It’s great to get this kind of recognition for the work we’re doing to make Exmoor’s woodlands more resilient in the face of modern day threats from pests, disease and climate change. We’ve witnessed the loss of elm and larch in our woodlands, and are now losing horse chestnut and ash. Storms and drought have caused further damage and other diseases threaten our oaks and sweet chestnut. So it’s vital that we do all we can to prepare these places for the future.”

The Certificate of Merit was also awarded for the National Park’s commitment to creating opportunities for local communities enjoy and benefit from Exmoor’s woodlands.

Woodcombe Community Woodland is a project initiated by Forum 21, an environmental group in West Somerset.  It leases an area of woodland from the National Park to produce seasoned firewood to help local people in fuel poverty with the help of local volunteers. Graham Boswell who leads the project for Forum 21 says: “It’s great to see our idea for a community woodland brought to life through our ongoing partnership with the National Park. The next few years will be crucial in terms of developing a workforce with the necessary woodlandskills, but we’re all up for the challenge and excited by the potential benefits for the whole community.”
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Rob Wilson-North, Head of Conservation and Access at Exmoor National Park Authority, said: “Exmoor’s diverse woodlands are truly special, providing a rich haven for nature, from some of the country’s rarest birds, butterflies and bats, to seldom seen lichens, liverworts and mosses. But they’re also an important part of the local economy, providing timber and recreational opportunities, along with a host of public benefits, including educational opportunities, carbon storage and flood alleviation. Balancing these priorities isn’t always easy, but this award is a sure sign we’re on the right track.”

Presenting the Awards, RFS President Andrew Woods said: “The Excellence in Forestry Awards have once again revealed a rich seam of excellence in woodland management – from some of the most prestigious estates in the country to some of the smallest of woodlands. As landowners and woodland managers look to an uncertain future with increasing climate and environmental challenges, these are all woodlands we can learn from.

“It is also uplifting to see the fantastic work that is being carried out among communities to encourage forestry and woodland skills. These projects tap into the enthusiasm of those who will be planning, planting and managing our woodlands in the future as well as looking at how timber can be used in construction for generations to come and deserve the recognition they receive.”

​* Duke of Cornwall Award 2018 for Resilient Multi-purpose Forestry: http://www.rfs.org.uk/awards/excellence-in-forestry-winners/duke-of-cornwall-award-2018-for-resilient-multi-purpose-forestry/

** New Accord Launches to Enhance National Parks and Woodland: https://www.gov.uk/government/news/new-accord-launches-to-enhance-national-parks-and-woodland

1st August 2018

Small shops better than supermarkets for reducing plastic waste

Every supermarket in Minehead has been rated as “Poor” or “Very Poor” for their performance on single-use plastics in a survey by West Somerset Together, an initiative of local environmental group, Forum 21. But some small local food shops, including outlets in Dulverton and Brompton Regis, were rated “Good”, especially for selling loose fruit and vegetables and giving shoppers the choice of paper bags.
The Plastic Waste Campaign plans to repeat survey at intervals and hopes to see a rapid improvement in the actions taken by retailers on this urgent issue.