There is growing awareness of how nationally important the Somerset Levels and Moors are to nature. Firstly, that part of CR parish that lies to the west of Red Hill and encompasses much of West Sedgemoor is now part of a Super National Nature Reserve named the Somerset Wetlands National Nature Reserve. The formation of the NNR was featured on a recent Countryfile programme with an item filmed around Burrowbridge. Six organisations have pooled their reserves and resources to work together to protect and enhance the biodiversity of the area(6140 hectares) mentioned above and much more in Somerset. Those six organisations are the Environment Agency, Natural England, Somerset Wildlife Trust, The Hawk and Owl Conservancy (including the Wildlife and Wetlands trust), The Royal Society for the Protection of Birds and the National Trust. In order to see the full details one needs to go to the government website (gov.uk) and search for National Nature Reserves. As the Trust’s record of nature conservation is short we are not part of this group but we were have joined the new Nature Recovery Network. Earlier this year the Government and Natural England announced a set of landmark recovery projects to protect wildlife and improve public access to nature. Somerset was one of the chosen areas, with the super National Nature Reserve at the heart of the Somerset Nature Recovery project, which is nearly ten times larger. The aim is to increase connectivity; both of the physical areas and also of the people working to conserve them. Again the project is accessible on the gov.uk website. Both of these projects make interesting reading even if your interest in nature conservation is minimal. What is striking is how much to the forefront of nature conservation our Parish isFinally, the Trust is a partner in the Somerset Climate Action Network and the work of the network is described on the website somersetcan@gmail.com. The map on the website shows the location of the partner organizations, including the Trust. An active programme of events is described on the website. It is interesting to see how quickly wildlife returns to rewilded areas. At the Knep Estate in West Sussex, where one of the first large rewilding schemes started, the first white storks that have nested in this country since 1415 have raised healthy chicks. Already the Trust land now boasts a resident population of hares who like the undisturbed grassland, I was giving the grassland its’ autumn cut recently and I disturbed a very healthy and quite plump hare who lolloped across to the trees to resume its slumbers. Please report any sightings you have of birds, mammals or insects on the Trust land. There is a contact sheet on our website. The date you made your sighting would be appreciated. Lets hope you see the hares, I am sure as responsible dog owners you will keep your inquisitive dogs from chasing any of our protected animals .Good viewing!. Example Text
