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Latest News
24 June 2009
SWT throws down the environmental challenge to Somerset County Council
Somerset Wildlife Trust (SWT) today threw down a challenge to the new Conservative-led Somerset County Council to make a strong commitment to Somerset’s environment. Simon Nash, SWT’s chief executive, said: "Since the Conservatives won control of Somerset County Council a few weeks ago, we have been hearing worrying reports of a lack of commitment to Somerset’s environment and a reduction in resources allocated to this essential area. One, from a source close to the Council, was that the new Somerset County Council "doesn’t even have environment on its radar". "If this is true, it simply isn’t good enough. Somerset enjoys a beautiful and wildlife-rich countryside, but it is under threat from all sides, including increased development, intensive land management and climate change. "SWT’s 21,000 members believe that more action needs to be taken to protect and enhance our countryside and the wildlife within it, for the benefit of everyone."The UK Conservative Party has pledged to improve Britain’s environment, including reversing the decline in our biodiversity. We hope that the new administration for Somerset County Council will follow its own party line and make this happen. "SWT fully expects Somerset County Council to continue and increase its work in providing strong environmental leadership for the voters and taxpayers in Somerset. This includes sustaining and increasing the staffing levels and the projects that are currently underway for the environment through Somerset County Council, and also making sound, evidence-based and sustainable decisions that protect and enhance our environment. "We challenge Somerset County Council to step up and declare its support for Somerset’s environment, and to demonstrate this through its actions over the coming weeks and years." http://www.conservatives.com/Policy/Where_we_stand/Environment.aspx
22 June 2009
BBC National news films the Large Blue butterfly at Green Down
BBC News visited our nature reserve Green Down today (Tuesday June 16) to film on one of the best sites in the world to see the gorgeous Large Blue Butterfly. The national lunchtime news featured a live interview with Dr Christopher Hancock from SWT who explained about the fantastic partnership working which has meant the large blue butterfly, which was once extinct, is now thriving. The return of the large blue is a great success story and on Tuesday leading ecologists and conservationists came to National Trust property Montacute House for a celebratory event, which was attended by Sir David Attenborough. The event paid tribute to the work of Prof Jeremy Thomas of Oxford University and Britain's leading butterfly expert, who discovered the way to bring back a creature which has an astonishing life cycle involving red ants. He spent six summers researching the large blue and just a few years after it went extinct in 1979, now working with David Simcox from the Centre of Ecology and Hydrology, brought it back to the south west. See pictures and fuller report here.
18 June 2009
Advertise in our summer magazine
If you are a business and would like to help wildlife by advertising in our members' magazine please contact Alyson on 01823 652413. A quarter page full colour advert is just £100!
02 June 2009
Wardens wanted for Westhay
Could you spare a few hours each week to help Somerset Wildlife Trust?The countys leading environmental charity is looking for stock watchers, wardens for Westhay and bird recorders in the Brue Valley. The Trust needs stock watchers to help monitor stock such as goats, cattle and ponies, used to graze the nature reserve. Volunteers will work on a rota and have to count stock and check to make sure they are OK. No experience is necessary. At Westhay the charity is looking for a number of wardens to help SWT staff ensure the bird hides are in good order, help with bird surveys, talk to the public about the nature reserve and recording water levels. Bird recorders are needed for a number of our nature reserves in the Brue Valley - mainly Westhay and Catcott. People can have a degree of knowledge, but training can be given to keen amateurs. If you are interested n any of these positions, please contact Mark Blake on 01823 652430 or e-mail
To learn more about Somerset Wildlife Trust visit the website: www.somersetwildlife.org
27 May 2009
Could you be a corporate member of the Trust?
Somerset Wildlife Trust has welcomed a host of new corporate members. Corporate membership is a great way for businesses to demonstrate to staff, suppliers and customers that your company takes its social and environmental responsibilities seriously. The Trust is looking to form long term partnerships with the local business community and is ideally placed to provide a tangible link between the environment and local communities. By working together we can each benefit from an exchange of expertise, access to new opportunities and a greater understanding of our respective roles in improving Somerset for wildlife and people. Rick Szur from the Trust, said: "We can offer a range of opportunities for involvement at strategic and practical levels if desired. "We can offer employee volunteering and team building experience by working on one of our nature reserves." Corporate members receive our magazine and news three times a year, a lovely framed picture and certificate as well as access to marketing opportunities, environmental consultancy, business and staff development and invites to Somerset Wildlife Trust events. Joining recently are Bourne Leisure which runs holiday campsites all over the UK including Burnham on Sea, Western Power Distribution the electricity distribution company for the South West and South Wales, Bradfords Building Supplies which has 26 branches across the South West, Blackmore Printers of Shaftesbury, John Wainwright and Taunton Print and Mail. Other corporate members are Citi Quilter, Golledge Electronics of Ilminster, Planos Holidays, Taunton-based Summerfield Developments, Nicholas Moore Employment Lawyers, Farm and Cottage Holidays and Bridgwater-based PC Comms. For more information contact Rick on 01823 652449.
15 May 2009
Pond works start at Chewton Mendip
Somerset Wildlife Trust has been providing some expert advice to pupils at The primary school won our competition last year, sponsored by Western Power Distribution, to transform their outdoor space and create environmentally friendly grounds. “Their physical plans include making their current pond bigger, planting all kinds of different shrubs and flowers, creating information boards, and building quiet seating and bird feeders. “We have certainly been helping them achieve this and I was delighted to go and help them for a day recently. The pond is now much larger and a lot of planting is about to take place. Tracy Carr from Western Power Distribution, said: “Chewton Mendip were up against some strong competition to secure this financial award and I am delighted to see their efforts developed for all those involved in the winning submission.” Somerset Wildlife Trust is grateful for the financial support given to this competition from Western Power Distribution, who is also corporate members of the Trust. Janet added: “We have the know-how but it is great that local businesses and organisations can enable us to engage with more young people and stimulate their interest in the natural world.” Runners-up in the competition were Sedgemoor Manor Community Infant and Nursery School who received £500. Their plan is to make their current pond more useable, moving it away from trees is one way so the leaves do not fill up the pond or shade the pond living plants.
13 May 2009
Campaigning for the marine environment in Westminster
Somerset Wildlife Trust will today (Wednesday) add its’ voice to a campaign to secure changes to the Marine and Coastal Access Bill to ensure it delivers for the marine environment. Michelle Osbourn, planning and advocacy co-ordinator, will join representatives from other Wildlife Trusts in the UK and campaigners from the RSPB, World Wildlife Fund and the Marine Conservation Society to lobby MPs between the Bills’ first and second readings in the House of Commons. The aim is to apply pressure on MPs for changes to the Bill in the hope that it will improve its delivery for the marine environment. The four organisations fear that the future of the UK’s impressive marine wildlife, including bottle-nosed dolphins, seahorses and corals, will remain under threat if forthcoming legislation isn’t strengthened. We hope that a clear message is received by Government that the Marine and Coastal Access Bill is a positive step, but in its current form will not deliver sufficiently for the marine environment. The main focus will be on delivery of Marine Conservation Zones. The Marine and Coastal Access Bill should provide a salvation for marine wildlife: yet serious weaknesses remain. The current draft contains no guarantees that the most important areas for marine wildlife will be adequately protected. With the Bill about to enter the final phase of Parliamentary debates before it passes into law later this year, the coalition of conservation groups recognise this is the last chance to effect the necessary changes to strengthen its ability to protect the marine environment. The group is seeking three key changes to the legislation: · The inclusion of a clear duty to designate Marine Conservation Zones (MCZ) for the protection of the full range of marine wildlife or habitats. · Amendment of the Bill to ensure that individual MCZs contribute to an ecologically coherent network of marine protected areas, which must also include some ‘highly protected sites. · The removal of the clause that states socio-economic factors (such as fishing) can be taken into account when deciding whether or not to designate an MCZ. We believe the public is enthused about the need for a UK Marine and Coastal Access Bill and aware of the need for it to be a robust piece of legislation and we want it amended to strengthen its nature conservation provisions. Joan Edwards, head of marine policy for The Wildlife Trusts, said: "It is literally make or break time. With this Bill we have a ‘once in a lifetime’ opportunity. If our campaign succeeds, we will get the Bill we so urgently need and our seas will be protected and start to recover their health."
12 May 2009
New courses at the Field Studies Centre
Click here for a list of interesting courses at the Field Studies Centre in Nettlecombe, West Somerset.
07 May 2009
Thank you to all our members
We'd like to say a huge THANK YOU to all our members for continuing their membership with Somerset Wildlife Trust - and a particular thank you to our 31 new members who have joined us on line via this new website since mid February. If you are enjoying your membership, please encourage others to join us. Some 84 per cent of our income derives from voluntary sources. By subscribing to us monthly you really do make a difference. Thank you.
06 May 2009
Somerset Otter Group supports pioneering doctorate research
Somerset Wildlife Trust’s otter group is partnering an exciting project into studying two new parasites that are infecting many of these elusive creatures. For more information on SOG click here
Somerset Otter Group (SOG) is proud to be the supporting partner in a three-year PhD study being undertaken by Eleanor Sherrard-Smith at Cardiff University under Dr Elizabeth Chadwick.
Eleanor will study the life cycle and effects of the two new parasitic flukes, especially the Bile Fluke, which was first discovered in Somerset in dead otters recovered by the Somerset Otter Group.
Most of the otters from lowland rivers in Somerset now carry a greater or lesser burden of this damaging fluke, which can also affect other species, foxes, cats, dogs, and even humans.
The parasites can inflict damage to the gall bladder, potentially causing health problems such as jaundice, emaciation and ultimately cancer of the bile ducts.
James Williams from SOG said: “This research is long overdue, and we hope to support it both financially and in the field.
“Top level scientists are still baffled about these horrible parasites and we hope this research will answer so many questions.
“We have searched world literature to find out more about these parasites, but nothing exists.
“It is a feather in the cap for us and Somerset Wildlife Trust staff and volunteers to be working with Cardiff University.”
Otters were down to single figures in Somerset during the mid-eighties – now numbers are up to around 70. Their numbers have improved due to the strict restrictions placed on pesticides and pollutants and the banning of lead in fuel. If these chemicals are not getting into our water courses, otters are not eating poisoned fish.
But there is still some work to do in this area – chemicals like DDE and PCB banned long ago, are shown to still be persistent in the environment.
And now otters face new threats – these parasites about which so little is known.
James added: “We can learn so much from how good our stream and rivers are. And post mortems on dead otters, now carried out in this area by Dr Elizabeth Chadwick at Cardiff, are so important.
“We have already learned so much, but the potential to learn more about these nasty parasites is tremendously exciting.”
Eleanor’s PhD will monitor the spread of both parasites by looking at the gall bladders of dead otters and use specimens to develop screening tools. These tools will screen faeces from hosts and potential hosts – such as otters, mink and possibly even dogs and cats. She will also investigate parasite life cycles and population structure using DNA analysis.
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