Hello from Councillor Sarah Dyke Welcome to our latest edition filled with exciting green news, which is hugely reflective of our recently published Environment Action Plan for 2022/23, link found below. Look out for our new 'For the community' section in this month's edition, as well as a list of where we need more Parish Environment Champions to help deliver our Environment Strategy within our communities- please get in touch if you would like to volunteer. Aside from that, read on for your monthly dose of green news, events, grants and tips!  Best eco wishes from Sarah x

SSDC Green News

Environment Action Plan 2022/23 now live! Our Environment Action plan for 2022/23 is now live on both our South Somerset Environment website, and the SSDC website. This plan has been developed in response to our Environment Strategy that was adopted in October 2019 which sets out to mitigate the effects of climate change and continue our 10% year on year reduction of carbon emissions. The goal is to reach net-zero carbon by 2030, and our new action plan will help towards us getting there! Visit our website to find out more, and download the plan.

Thermal Imaging Camera Trial summary report Last winter we trialled the Thermal Imaging camera loan scheme. 13 parishes used the cameras to look at their homes and identify where heat was escaping. We are reviewing their responses to a survey on the trial, and will be following up to see where home energy efficiency improvements may have been made since the thermal imaging cameras were trialled. The team will also be looking at how this scheme can be rolled out across a wider area next winter, with updates to follow. Until then, thermal imaging cameras can be used in the warmer months for helping with ecology surveys e.g. bats and nocturnal wildlife. Get in touch and book one here!

Join us in our 26th year of entry into South West In Bloom! Yeovil in Bloom was initiated in 1996, and has since been managed and funded by Yeovil Town Council.  The Town’s annual entry into the Britain in Bloom South West competition involves contributions from local businesses, schools, residents, Yeovil Country Park and a number of It’s Your Neighbourhood (IYNs) community groups. The displays are designed and maintained by South Somerset District Council under the direction of the Yeovil in Bloom Steering Group. We will be assessed by the Chairman of South West in Bloom on Wednesday 27 July so keep your eyes peeled for all the gorgeous displays coming over the next month! To read the full article and find out more click here.

In the Community

Montacute Carnival The Countryside Rangers from SSDC were joined by their family and friends to take part in this year’s Montacute Carnival.   The theme for the float was ‘Wildlife of Ham Hill’ and costumes included a snail, badger, rabbit, dormouse, beetle, bee, fox, hedgehog, glow worm, deer, butterfly and the biggest pigeon you have ever seen!  The float was designed by ranger Sophie Middleditch, and depicted the wildflower meadows at Ham Hill. The team were delighted to win first prize for their efforts and are already planning the theme for next year!

Results of the No-Mow Conservation Scheme A local resident’s recent enquiry and offer of support has led to a colony of rare bee orchids flourishing near Stoke-sub-Hamdon! Two colonies of rare bee orchids that were highlighted as being at risk due to proposed verge cutting on the A356 near Stoke-sub-Hamdon have now been protected following a request from a local resident. SSDC are required to maintain these verges for the County Council's Highways team with up to 11 cuttings a year, however we have recently adopted a policy of active conservation management for verges that are considered appropriate for biodiversity improvements. This means that for many areas we will be reducing our cuttings to 4 times a year, including at this site, to allow species to flower and set seed over the summer months! Visit our website to read more!   We hope you agree that the photos are a testament to the benefits that reduced mowing can bring for nature. If you would like to have a similar impact and know of a site that might need help, please get in touch here.  

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For the Community

Asda Green Token Fund - Vote for Yeovil Country Park! The Friends of Yeovil Country Park are in the running for up to £500 from Asda’s Green Token fund. They are one of the chosen charities who could receive money towards providing children’s or community group activities at Yeovil Country Park. Every vote counts, so please click here to give your support. It only takes a few seconds. Thank you!

Final call out for Retrofit Plans Discounted Retrofit Assessments are still available but be quick to not miss out; these must be booked by 30 June! They are available as part of the Somerset Retrofit Accelerator Project, to home owners happy to share their retrofit journey with others, and are available until stocks last. In return for the discounted price for these retrofit plans, you must agree to undertake an additional online survey before and after your plan has been completed and agree to your information being shared with the Somerset Retrofit Accelerator project team for evaluation purposes - this may include an interview by phone or an invitation to take part in a focus group or case study.  6-12 months after your plan has been completed a follow up survey will be undertaken to find out what changes you may have made to your property due to your retrofit plan. Click here to apply. EV charging station goes LIVE! We are pleased to announce that the Electric Vehicle (EV) charging station installed in Marketfield carpark, Chard, is now ready to use! These have dual charging points which are powered by wind generated mains electricity and can deliver enough electricity for up to 88 miles of travel in one hour, ideal for both shorter stops, such as leisure and shopping trips, and regular charges by residents with EVs. Using them is simple! You can either download the ScottishPower app, where you can store your payment details, or there are contactless card readers on the machines! We apologise for the delay as we know many of you have been very keen to see more EV chargers around South Somerset... but the good news is more will be installed by the end of the year across South Somerset Council car parks! Click here to find out more about our EV charging strategy.

Parish Environment Champions

We are committed to working together to make a difference A reminder that we are always looking to expand our Parish Environment Champion network; we currently have volunteers in over 60 parishes, but we are still missing representation from a number of areas across the district! If would like to support your area with sharing news and environmental initiatives and help deliver SSDC'S Environment Strategy, then click here.

Future Environment Events

Check out our events page on the South Somerset Environment Website for full details:

"Our World, Your Choice" special exhibition (25 June - 3 September) - Crewkerne and District Museum The exhibition addresses the issues of climate change and provides insight into how we can bring about change for a sustainable life, looking at how we lived in the past during and after WWll, and how that could relate to today. Grant funding from Arts Council England and South West Museum Development, has enabled the museum to offer low cost workshops to the public to help engage them in activities that relate to climate change. Discovering the use of wool in history and trying out the processing methods; creating pictures from recyclable materials, paint and print; creating something from found materials and learning about lime mortar repairs are all part of the range of workshops offered. Each will have a hands-on theme. Registration at the museum or via the website is essential. Visits to the exhibition from groups – schools, adult and youth groups are welcome by arrangement. For more information, contact them here.

Somerset Climate Action Network’s PARISH SUPPORT WEBINAR (Tuesday 5th July, 7.30pm - 9pm) - Online Join Somerset CAN for their free webinar on July 5 at 7.30pm to provide support to all those parishes which have either declared or formally recognised the Climate Emergency and to those that are thinking of taking this step. It will be a chance to share your experiences and learn what works and what doesn't as well as to understand how best to engage with your community on this topic.  Please feel free to share this with your parish council and/or other parishioners who may be interested to get involved in Climate Action in your area. You can register to join here.

Grow For Good Forum (6 July, 7:30-9:30pm)- Virtual Recent events have highlighted the important role that community growing projects can play in promoting health and wellbeing and protecting our environment. Whether you’re involved with a community allotment, therapeutic garden, or any other initiative, come along to network and share ideas with others. You can book your place here.

Somerset Green Open Homes Webinar- Retrofitting webinar: Mendip (7 July, 7-9pm)- Virtual Join the second in a series of Somerset Green Open homes events. In this live webinar, meet two households in the Mendip area. They will be sharing experiences so far on their retrofitting journey. Measures that will be discussed include cavity wall and loft insulation, secondary glazing, air source heat pumps, solar hot water and solar photovoltaic panels. Sign up here. If you missed the first webinar which looked at two households in South Somerset, watch it here.

Wilder Open Garden (10 July, 2-5pm), Fairview (The Pigpen), Over Stratton, TA13 5LB Join TWiG (Trees and Wildlife Group, South Petherton) for tea, cake and wildlife talks at this Open Garden event in aid of Somerset Wildlife Trust. There will be plant sales, teas and cakes, wildlife talks, herbaceous beds, edibles, wildlife areas and kids activities. For more details, including location, visit our website here.

The Somerset Food Trail (15-24 July)- Various Events The Somerset Food Trail Festival is a farm-to-fork showcase of the farms, landscapes, people, and places behind Somerset’s most flavourful and nature-friendly food. This 10-day Food Trail Festival sees farmers, growers and food producers open their doors to the public at set times between Friday 15 and Sunday 24 July. Click here for more details.

Yeovil Eco Fair (16 July, 10am-4pm) - Holy Trinity Church, Yeovil This FREE to attend event will bring together a range of speakers, activities and local producers at the Holy Trinity Church in Yeovil. The event aims to inspire individuals and help them work towards a more sustainable lifestyle. In addition, Fixy the repair van will be there along with Somerset Waste Partnership to help you reduce what goes to landfill and repair your broken items! Click here for more details.

Grants and Funding

Environment Grants You can find all information on external grants and funding on the South Somerset Environment website. Please click here for details, along with details of some key ones this month below:   The Somerset Local Nature Partnership Summer Fund - small grants up to £1000 available to seed future nature-based initiatives across the county promoting health and wellbeing. Open to voluntary, charitable, community or social enterprise organisations in Somerset. The deadline is 8th July – to receive an application form please email Sophie.burns@somersetwildlife.org The Learning through landscapes Local School Nature Grants - Awards of up to £500 are available to provide outdoor learning training and equipment to schools and early years providers. Apply for birdboxes, bee hotels, fire woks and nature talks! The next deadline for applications is Friday 2nd September. Apply here. The DWF Foundation - One off grants up to £5,000 are available to UK registered charities working at a local level in the areas of environment and sustainability. Apply here. The Prince of Wales’s Charitable Fund - grants of £5,000 for small grassroots not-for-profit environmental organisations in the UK that are available to small UK registered charities and organisations working in the areas of the countryside, education, environment, health and wellbeing, heritage and conservation. Apply here.

Green Business

The Great Green Directory Do you own or know of a green business operating in South Somerset that you believe would be great to include in our Great Green Directory for the community? The Great Green Directory showcases a variety of green businesses from local food producers to refill shops. Go check them out now and share with other eco businesses in the area! If you would like to add YOUR business please fill out this form.

Energy Crisis

Actions and advice New energy tariffs came into force on 1 April (and will be rising further from October onwards), which could make the average household energy bill rise substantially. Visit our environment website here for energy saving tips!

Green Titbits

COP15: What is happening with the UN’s flagship Biodiversity Summit? Later this year, COP15 (the Convention for Biological Diversity) will be taking place in Montreal, Canada – This is the biodiversity equivalent of the Climate COP that took place in Glasgow last year, and consists of an international treaty developed as part of the 1992 Rio Conference aka “the Earth Summit” which specifically looks at the conservation of biological diversity across the world. Yes, the conference is happening thousands of miles away and discussing global challenges, but decisions made will affect the wildlife you love right here in the UK. By signing up to the targets, the UK Government will be making a commitment to protect nature on a national, regional and local level. This will influence everything from changing how we farm, working with nature to create better flood defences and improving water quality for our fish, frogs and water voles! By thinking about our own actions from growing flowering plants and shrubs at home, changing our diet or using different types of compost, together our actions can support nature’s recovery. For ten easy ways to do this click here. You can read more about COP15 on our news page here.

Donate IT Donate Laptops for Learners in Somerset & Dorset! If you have a laptop, computer or iPad you don’t need anymore, Donate IT can refurbish it and rehome it to families or individuals who would really benefit. There are 15 drop off locations in the South West, and so far they’ve donated over 270 laptops to people in need and saved over 850 electronic devices from going to landfill! To find out more, click here.

Upcoming Awareness Days

Plastic Free July Plastic Free July is a globally recognised initiative that supports finding solutions to the overwhelming amount of plastic pollution. The aim is to work towards a world with cleaner streets and oceans by ridding the world of single-use plastics. Much of this revolves around behaviour change within our communities and the key is to be more conscious of what you buy! This month we ask our residents to think about what they purchase in a little more detail. How much packaging is on the product? Is it recyclable? Is there a plastic free alternative? By asking yourself these questions, you can make an informed decision about the products you buy. For further information and advice on reducing single use plastics, click here.

Love Parks Week 29 July - 5 August Love Parks Week is a campaign lead by Keep Britain Tidy and focuses on looking after our parks and green spaces. The theme for this year has not yet been announced, however you can keep up to date on the Keep Britain Tidy website. Here in South Somerset we are very fortunate to be surrounded by green spaces, not to mention the stunning Ham Hill Country Park, amongst many other incredible spaces. Our incredible teams are always working hard to maintain these areas for our residents to enjoy, but you can help too! By ensuring all rubbish is taken home, we can keep these areas looking beautiful.

Recommended Reading & Ones to Watch

Forget Me Not- Finding the forgotten species of climate-change Britain by Sophie Pavelle This insightful read follows Sophie Pavelle's low-carbon journey around Britain, as she searches for ten animals and habitats threatened by climate change. Her warm and comedic tone makes this an accessible read, however delivers a powerful message to take action.

Love Island- ITV2 We may not necessarily be promoting you to watch Love Island (no judgement here if you do) however, we thought it was worth mentioning that this hugely popular show, that racks up almost 2.5 million views, has opted to ditch the popular fast-fashion brands and instead team up with Ebay this year, as the show's first ever official pre-loved fashion partner. It is amazing to see pre-loved fashion becoming more widely accepted, and we hope this trend continues. You can shop the Love Islander looks here, or head over to your nearest high-street to find some gems in your local charity shop!

Carbon Brief Website We recommend the Carbon Brief website as a place to go to be kept up-to-date on everything that is happening with the environment nationally and internationally. Carbon Brief has a great daily or weekly ‘Briefing’ newsletter, perfect for gaining some insight on this vast subject! If this is something you would be interested in, click here to subscribe.

Final Thoughts

Supermarket Eco Swaps With Plastic Free July just around the corner we thought we would highlight just how easy it can be to make changes to the way you shop. Many supermarkets are now offering alternatives to standard home cleaning, beauty and bathing products, and instead offering products with plastic-free packaging or refill options. The image shows an entire range of cleaning products that you can now buy refills for in one supermarket chain, instead of continually purchasing new plastic bottles. Not only is this a better option for the planet, but also for your wallet! Many supermarkets have a similar section in their beauty and bathing sections too, offering products such as shampoo bars and plastic-free packaging. Look out for these sections next time you do the weekly shop and help South Somerset and the planet! Or why not look to making your own eco friendly cleaning products - there are some really great simple and petrochemical free recipes collated by Nancy Birthwhistle you can make yourself here.

Visit our South Somerset Environment Website Stay in the know about all things environment in South Somerset. Pop in and have a look around! www.southsomersetenvironment.co.uk

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