Conserving Somerset

A straw bale dam at Codsend Moors

Take a look at some of the conservation projects which are currently being undertaken in the county.

Protecting eels and water voles

Eels and water voles both play a vital part in preserving our natural environment. Eels are born in Mexico, but travel up the Gulf Stream, ending up in Somerset where they are monitored and looked after by the Environment Agency.

The project is watched internationally, as it plays a huge part in monitoring the impact of climate change on the Gulf Stream, which is the flow of water in the Atlantic ocean which acts as a blanket to the country; without it Great Britain would be a lot colder.

Project helps disappearing eels

Water voles meanwhile have been in decline nationally for many years, however a joint project between many of the county's wildlife organisations has seen them increase.

Saved from the brink of extinction - discover how water voles are prospering

Somerset Levels and Moors:

An area covering 7,500 hectares, the Somerset Levels needs constant conservation. The current project involves restoring conditions for breeding wild fowl and wading birds.

A rare plant: Devil's bit scabious

It involves re-wetting the area, which has dried up after years of drainage from agriculture and land drainage. Officer Andy Baines from the Environment Agency said they were aiming to restore the levels to their previous state of 1886, which was when the land first started to be altered.

The area is of international importance, as it homes many species on the wet grassland, meadows and flowers.

A team of five people from the agency are working on it permanently, but like many projects, they are working in conjunction with various partners, including Natural England and RSPB.

Huntspill Nature Reserve

Built in the 1940s, the Huntspill River is an artificial link-way between Bridgwater Bay and the Levels. Originally used as a reserviour, it is now a beacon for wildlife.

The current project involves turning the steep banks into more gentle slopes and to naturalise this artificial area by adding reeds and wet tree species.

Red Devon cattle

It has proved to be successful as fish stocks in the estuary have risen; barn owl populations have soared (due to better grassland management meaning more field voles - the owl's staple diet) and it has aided the water voles' recovery.

Mendip Hills Project

Starting in 2006, the Mendip Hills Project aims to protect and re-create heathland, grassland and woodland habitats across Mendip's Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty.

These areas are becoming more isolated, so this project hopes to reconnect them with other wildlife hotspots. To do this, Somerset Wildlife Trust is working with landowners to enable wildlife to roam between their land and nature reserves and to encourage them to use less fertilisers and pesticides.

By 2011, the trust aims to have restored over 200 hectares of wildlife habitat in the Mendip Hills and re-create a further 200 hectares from more intensive farmland.

Mendip Hills Project

Brue Valley Project

Covering an area of 12,300 hectares, the five-year project aims to develop a joined-up approach to conservation outside protected sites; linking core areas with an eye to water levels and the potential impacts of climate change.

Catcott Meadow

The project focuses on Brue Valley, Westhay Moor and Catcott Complex. Westhay is the largest place of peat bog in the South West and rare species, such as the protected great crested newt, can be found at this site. Both sites are vital for wintering woodcock, shoveler, teal and widgeon. A wind pump is to be installed at Westhay which is a sustainable way of bringing water onto the raised mire.

Thousands of people visit these sites each year - a key attraction being the millions of starlings at Westhay. Currently the facilities at these sites are unsustainable, so the trust is embarking on a series of projects such as better disabled access and signs.

It hopes that by undertaking these measures, the wetland animals will be able to survive any potential impacts of climate change.

Brue Valley Project

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Neroche Project

Based in the Blackdown Hills, the Neroche Project aims to 'liberalise the landscape' through a programme of wildlife, access, art, health education and community work.

A partnership project led by the Forestry Commission and funded by the Heritage Lottery Fund, the project aims to protect the area for future generations.

Neroche Project

Exmoor Mire project

Costing more than £250k, the project aims to restore the boggy places on Exmoor's uplands by re-wetting the drained moorlands. Peatlands are huge carbon stores, but damaged areas release carbon dioxide into the atmosphere. Restoration halts promote active peat growth thus increasing the absorption of CO2 from the atmosphere.

Exmoor peat bogs

A partnership project with Exmoor National Park and the Environment Agency, the restoration of the peatlands could play a major role in the prevention of climate change, while attracting wildlife back to the bogs, fens and upland streams.

Bunging up the bogs: Exmoor Mire Restoration

Saving Exmoor's peat bogs

Effective land management

This agri-environment scheme, administered by Natural England encourages farmers and land managers to deliver effective environmental management on their land.

Environmental Stewardship builds on the earlier initiatives such as the Countryside Stewardship and Environmentally Sensitive Areas schemes.

The objectives of Environmental Stewardship are to conserve biodiversity, maintain and enhance landscape quality and character, protect the historic environment and natural resources and promote public access and understanding of the countryside.

If you would like to get involved with any conservation projects, then click on the links to the right for more information.