LATEST NEWS And Updates on projects

 
 Somerset Climate Change Survey 2020
In 2019, all five Somerset councils declared or recognised 'climate emergencies'.  They are now working together to produce a joint Climate Emergency Strategy.  The strategy will identify ways for Somerset to work towards being carbon neutral by 2030 and adapt to predicted climate change impacts.

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West Somerset Together Updates on Projects as of January 2020
Sustainable communities workshops "Climate & Ecological Emergencies - & what we can do about it"
 Organised by West Somerset Together
Aimed at local residents to raise awareness and start looking at positive community level projects. 

Plastic Free Minehead and West Somerset: The campaign to give Minehead 'Surfers Against Sewage' (SAS) Plastic Free Community status is continuing. The group are hoping to work with Minehead Town Council to support it in developing a Plastic Use Strategy before the end of the year. They are also planning further beach cleans and other community events and have now awarded Plastic Free Business Awards to 8 local businesses as well as beginning work on getting local schools Plastic Free School awards. A pilot meeting is also planned with stakeholders in Watchet for them to start a parallel SAS Plastic Free Watchet campaign

Climate Change
Somerset County Council and Somerset West & Taunton District Council are working with SCAN and organising Climate drop-in events for members of the public to have their say on climate change policies. Dates TBC

Local Community Activities
Minehead Rail Group - Continuing with campaign to have Great Western Railway (GWR) to run trains from Taunton to Minehead with a 2 hourly service. This would be a community run rail service, working alongside the volunteer run West Somerset Railway.

Extinction Rebellion West Somerset - A West Somerset Extinction Rebellion (XR) group has formed (40 on the mailing list), with the main hub being the Taunton XR Group. Five people from West Somerset have so far been arrested taking part in the London International Rebellion calling on the government to state their plan on how to deal with the climate emergency declared. There are regular meetings in Minehead Quaker Meeting House, 9, Bancks Street.
New members also VERY welcome - we are a friendly bunch and don't worry if you are still unsure of XR ethos and structure, there will be someone to explain!

Somerset Wildlife Trust 
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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.