In 2019 we asked our members, supporters, volunteers, Local Area Groups and partners to contribute to the development of this ambitious 10-year plan to bring back wildlife across the county and to protect Somerset's natural environment for generations to come.

The Local Area Groups were consulted as to find out the challenges and opportunities from the perspective of the groups, and how they could be part of the developing strategy. Key successes identified were the strength and popularity of volunteer-led local events, and the knowledge and skills of long-serving volunteers.

But there were also considerable hurdles, this included ongoing issues with recruitment and succession of committee members. There were also challenges with aligning the work and expectations of the groups with the increasing workload and limited resources of the Trust, as well as keeping up with Data Protection and fundraising laws.  

Local engagement is a hugely important part of our work towards a Wilder Somerset, so it was important to thoroughly address these concerns and think realistically about how we could ensure volunteer-led events were supported for many years to come.

Our 10-year strategy, Wilder Somerset 2030, sets out an ambitious evidence-based plan for Somerset as a county teaming with wildlife, valued by everyone. To realise this vision we all need to do more, and faster. We need many more people to engage with and - crucially - take meaningful action for nature’s recovery. Importantly we also need to work across the whole of Somerset and within all our communities, in a way which the geographically limited model of the Local Area Group did not allow for. To achieve this with the limited resources we have as a charity we are working to support grassroots actions - sharing our expertise and our networks to support communities and individuals to take action for nature on their own terms, in their own local spaces. This new approach is what we refer to as “Team Wilder”, Goal 2 of our strategy.

Aligning the Local Area Groups with the strategy and addressing the concerns raised by the group was always going to be challenging, as it would impact a structure that has been in place for many years. Through consultations with the Local Area Groups it also became clear that each group had different needs, so it was important to offer a choice of direction for the volunteers, rather than impose a “one size fits all”. The options were:

1. Become an independent Wilder Community group with the support of Somerset Wildlife Trust, which would include training, funding and promotion to our membership where appropriate. This model would allow the groups to have more ownership of their image, direction and successes, and be able to communicate directly with their local supporters.
2. Dissolve the committee structures and instead coordinate together as one volunteer team, supported by the SWT staff. Local volunteers would then organise the events in their local area on behalf of SWT, much as they did under the Local Area Group structure. This model would suit volunteers who wanted to be more heavily supported by staff, but also allowed for volunteers with less time to get involved on a more flexible basis.
3. Merge with another local environment group. This could be a good option for groups struggling to recruit, running events at a loss, or looking to retire.

We are very pleased that the Wells Area Group chose to continue independently as the Wells and District Wildlife Group. The Wells Group have a long history of offering a varied program of events including surveying for adders on the Mendip Hills and ‘booming Bitterns’ walks on the Somerset levels. Their successful event programme has demonstrated there is a demand for engaging events, and they have the skills, knowledge, and enthusiasm to offer these to their community, on their own terms.

Wells is the only group that chose to go independent, but in February we had our first meeting bringing together volunteers who chose option 2, along with new recruits, species specialist groups and staff. Together we have begun coordinating an event programme for the coming year that helps people to connect with and take action for nature. Although the way we work is changing, members, communities and staff have hugely valued the Local Area Groups and all they have achieved over the years, and we look forward to building on the legacy of the Local Area Groups.

Here are just a few highlights from over the years…

With Thanks to the Ilminster and Chard Local Area Group

How can we summarise the achievements, successes, highlights of the group formed in October 1985? It’s been a great group, well-supported, effective in running at least 4 outdoor visits and 7 indoor meetings a year not to mention the “Grand Plant Sale” and what has become an annual Bluebell walk in association with Chaffcombe coffee morning.

From the beginning, the group had wanted to raise funds to support the work of SWT particularly for the upkeep of their local nature reserves. It helped to secure Dommett Wood, developed the “Wild walk” for Jann Hobbs/Bishopswood Meadows and assisted in local surveys.

Thanks need to go to members who have been loyal and committed in helping to run the group in its 37 years and to local speakers who have donated their fees. The star fund-raiser must be Joyce a founder member who has baked her produce and run her table at 35 of 36 Plant sales!  Wonderful teams ran the plant sales and provided refreshments at indoor meetings.

Members learned a lot about all aspects of wildlife and benefitted from the wealth of knowledge of our speakers. There was a social benefit too, particularly on outdoor visits especially if there was the opportunity to have a drink or bite to eat.

Many highlights include Exmouth boat trips, visit to Otter Brewery, Talks at the Warehouse Theatre, Bring & Share supper for SWT 50th Anni, Hall filled to capacity for JESBI talk & Local photographer, tractor trailer ride at Curry Rivel, Steart Marshes, coastal and guided nature reserve visits.

 – Valerie Godsmark, Chair of the Ilminster and Chard Local Area Group.

With Thanks to the Taunton Deane Local Area Group

The Taunton Deane Group aimed to promote and support wildlife issues in the widest sense through local wildlife walks, talks and events, featuring conservation issues from climate change to food production, and biodiversity both on land and in the ocean.

The Group was very involved with the Taunton Living Landscape and the Routes to the River Tone project, as one of the partners. The project brought together the community to enhance and connect green spaces with the River Tone and its tributaries so creating a network of places where wildlife can thrive, and people can engage with it. As part of the River Tone project, teams of volunteers carried out wildlife surveys across the town and gathered significant amounts of data, and as part of the legacy of the project working closely with other environmental groups in Taunton through the 'Green Forum' which has been established to bring together like-minded groups from across the town.

Two of the most successful events in recent years were a talk on the topic was Birds of Prey and their super powers. The speaker brought several birds of prey with him - including a Golden Eagle! The other was the ever-popular Fungi Foray, this one held at Dommett Wood were over 50 different species were found despite a dry year.

With Thanks to the Mendip Hills Group

Volunteers from the Mendip Hills Group are continuing to organise events as part of our new team of event volunteers. Check out the What’s On for upcoming events.

The Mendip Hills Area Group aimed to promote and support wildlife and conservation issues. They ran monthly indoor meetings from September to April, providing a varied programme covering wildlife and topical conservation issues, and also joined with one of the local churches to hold a plant sale.

With Thanks to the Heart of the Levels Group

Volunteers from the Heart of the Levels Hills Group are continuing to organise events as part of our new team of event volunteers. Check out the What’s On for upcoming events.

The Heart of the Levels group arranged a wide-range of talks and activities focusing on topic from across the natural world from bees to killer whales, buzzards to herbal remedies, as well as Somerset-specific wildlife talks. The group also arranged local walks which are accompanied by guides who can help with identification and information on flora and fauna.

With Thanks to the Southeast Somerset Group

The South East Somerset Group closed in summer 2023. This group held many educational and fundraising events including illustrated wildlife talks, a plant sale and coffee morning in the Market Place in Castle Cary. The South East Area Group also took on various conservation projects, such as toad patrols, assisting other organisations with special conservation projects and of course, fundraising to support the wider work of Somerset Wildlife Trust.