Local Projects

We are working with local communities in East Mendip to enable people to celebrate, create and restore habitats on their doorstep.

 

 

The Food Forest Project, Shepton Mallet

The Food Forest Project is a grassroots not-for-profit organisation that seeks to tackle issues such as social isolation, mental health issues, community resilience, climate breakdown and habitat depletion, by working with local land owners to plant community food forests. Each “food forest” is designed to its unique location and re-harmonizes the balance between people and nature through community permaculture projects.

SWT is undertaking a botanical survey of land at a potential new food forest site in Easton near Wells, as well as helping to connect the project with like-minded neighbours and pond enthusiasts!

For more information please have a look at their website here: www.thefoodforestproject.org

 

 

Coleford Parish Council wildflower grassland restoration

Coleford PC and local volunteers have been working with SWT staff to restore a wildflower-rich bank next to the village playing fields, which was originally sown to help struggling butterfly populations. This has included several winter scrub bashing days to control the thick bramble that had taken over the bank, as well as botanical surveys in the summer to help understand how the wildflowers are recovering. The last survey recorded 66 wildflowers and grasses, with Lady’s bedstraw, Devil’s-bit scabious and Common knapweed flourishing in the grassland.

Coleford parish council volunteers Andy and Veryan Conn have also helped to create wildflower grassland on the banks of a newly built public bike pump track in the village. This has also worked very well with colourful wildflowers covering the sides of the track, all important habitat patches for pollinators.

For any more information or to get involved please contact Andy Conn at connvexed@outlook.com or Vickie Watts at clerkcolefordsomerset@gmail.com.

 

The Beacon Hill Society, Beacon Hill Wood near Oakhill

This society was formed in 1993 when the Forestry Commission put Beacon Wood up for sale. Local people from a wide range of interests came together to see what they could do to safeguard their continued enjoyment of a much-loved woodland. Over 25 years later, the society plays its part in the management of the wood and organises events and projects to promote the archaeology, wildlife and geology value of the site. SWT continues to be in touch with group members and the Woodland Trust who manage the wood, inputting into management plans and lending kit for surveys. The society is open to everyone and information on how to join can be found on their website at www.beaconhillsociety.org.uk. 

Mendip Wildlife Links also works with a number of other projects in the area, details of these will be added soon. If you are a community group in East Mendip who would like to work with us in the future please click here to get in touch!

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Images: Poster © Olivia Finch, Wildflowers at the bike pump track ©Veryan Conn, Standing Stone at Beacon Hill Woods ©Jeff Bevan

The Mendip Wildlife Links project is working throughout East Mendip to restore habitats and engage people with the fantastic wildlife of the area.  Mendip Wildlife Links is funded through an agreement between Aggregate Industries UK Limited and Somerset County Council through the Torr Works Environmental Enhancement Fund.