This project is moving forward and we are now set to deliver Electric Vehicle Charging Points at 25 district owned car parks in South Somerset next year.

This is a great opportunity for parish/town councils to push forward on decarbonising their estate, and an opportunity to create a plan using experts within the industry. Read more here

Yeovil E-Scooter trial is top performing in the UK 

🛴 The latest data shows the Yeovil e-scooter trial continues to be embraced by the community and visitors to the town. The 12 month trial awarded to SSDC by the Department for Transport (DfT), in partnership with Zwings, is coming out on top with average ride time and journey length more than 30% higher than the global industry average. Yay! Go Yeovil!

Read on to find out more plus special Zwings offers and incentives and how to connect with Zwings to give your suggestions and feedback. Full story here

Year six staff at Preston C of E Primary School in Yeovil have been out testing the Yeovil e-scooters.

They concluded that there does not need to be a binary choice between cars and alternative forms of transport. These newer, eco-friendlier options are there to provide a smarter option in some circumstances. Popping out for those craft extras that went missing from the art cupboard, heading into town to meet a colleague for a coffee, or visiting those high-street essentials, like the Post Office or bank - these are when we see ourselves hopping aboard the e-scooter. Those larger shopping trips or group meetups might still require the car, but at least you can car-share on those occasions!"

Our teams across towns, villages, play parks and country parks will be adding new durable stickers to litter bins to encourage people to think about recycling and "do your bit so it doesn't end up in the tip". Bin litter is classed as mixed waste and ultimately ends up in landfill, so we're asking folk to think twice before loading up the bins and take home any rubbish that can be recycled.

Local business MTL Group Ltd who are accredited Arboricultural Association Approved Contractors are offering up FREE trees to local groups, schools, and landowners. They have purchased the trees with money raised from log donations, many of which came from the result of the devastating impact of the Ash Die-Back epidemic up in the Mendip area. Added to this they have also donated £1600 to

There are an amazing 6500 FREE trees available and MTL want these to replace some of those sadly lost to Ash Die Back.

If you are a local group, school, parish, or landowner then Joe of MTL would love to hear from you. Please send a message via their Facebook page or email info@mtlgroupltd.co.uk. MTL Group Ltd is a private business who will deal with you directly with minimal fuss. Just get in touch!

To register click here

Government 10 Point Plan For A Green Industrial Revolution

Plans to create and support up to 250,000 British jobs, covering clean energy, transport, nature, and innovative technologies. The Prime Minister’s blueprint pledges to allow the UK to forge ahead with eradicating its contribution to climate change by 2050, particularly crucial in the run-up to the COP26 climate summit in Glasgow next year. Read more here

You can also check out The Sixth Carbon Budget, required under the Climate Change Act, which provides ministers with advice on the volume of greenhouse gases the UK can emit during the period 2033-2037.

The full strategy and summary strategy with the details of all the plans for each key theme can be reviewed here 

Find out more here

Wrapping of all kinds adds lots to the post-Christmas loads collected by Somerset Waste Partnership after Christmas, whether it is in recycling boxes or in rubbish bins.

Only PAPER wrapping paper can be recycled, so residents are urged to steer clear of the glittery, foil and plastic wraps that fill the shelves at this time of year.

For more tips on how to reduce, reuse and recycle at this time of year visit www.somersetwaste.gov.uk/festive for answers to some Christmas recycling conundrums such as how to dispose of your Christmas tree and those big tins and tubs of sweets and chocolates.

If you’re going to have a tree, it’s probably better to have a real one rather than a plastic one. Most Christmas trees are grown on managed tree farms or come from thinning larger forests. They are a renewable resource and generate employment. We are very fortunate in Somerset to have several sustainable Christmas tree growers such as Vale of Camelot Growers near Sparkford, so please shop local if you can.

If you can, buy a tree with roots in a pot, to use year after year, and when it grows too big for indoors, replant it in the garden. There are more and more potted trees on the market each year. It is important to keep a real tree in a cool place and water it frequently. Keep the tree in a leak-proof container such as a strong bucket.

If you opt for an artificial tree, hopefully, you're already using the same one over and over. If you're getting one, then select a good quality product that can be used for many years to come. It's estimated an artificial tree needs to do at least 15 Christmases before it's carbon-neutral, so make sure you get a classic that can make you smile year after year!

If you’re using glitter to DIY any decorations or cards this year, use eco-friendly, biodegradable glitter. Bio-glitter is made from cellulose that is produced from the wood pulp of eucalyptus trees. You can also buy confetti made from petals or leaves for the table or you can make your own by punching holes in leaves using a hole punch! Better still why not get edible glitter!

It's great to give physical gifts at Christmas, but we often neglect one of the most important gifts we can give - time. Gifting with love and thought is not only better for the environment but so much more rewarding and special to receive.

You can download and print a gift of time voucher here at the Mental Health Foundation website

In the words of the famous Wizard song..Why don't you give your love for Christmas? x

Food For Thought

So much of the joy of Christmas is wrapped up in the food we celebrate with. But stocking up on our festive fare can contribute to the problem of food waste, with over a third of us admitting that we throw away more food at Christmas than at any other time of year. Check out Love Food Hate Waste and get food-savvy this Christmas. Shop local from local farm producers. Check out the SSDC Food Directory (link to that) and the Local Food Directory.

WALL-E - The year is 2700, and planet Earth has long been uninhabitable. For hundreds of years, WALL-E (Waste Allocation Load Lifter Earth-Class) has been taking out the trash, and collecting precious knick-knacks in order to stave off the boredom of his dreary routine. Little does WALL-E realize that he has recently stumbled onto a secret that could save planet Earth, and once again make the ravaged planet safe for all humankind. When highly advanced search robot EVE makes friends with WALL-E and realizes the value of his remarkable discovery, she excitedly races back to let the humans know that there’s hope for their home planet after all!

If you're enjoying Get SuSSed and would like to share it, you can get the PDF version here.

Or anyone can subscribe to receive it directly by request at ssdcenvironment@southsomerset.gov.uk

A: FIELD MAPLE B: HORSE CHESTNUT C: BLACKTHORNE D: BIRCH E: LARCH

F: ALDER G: OAK H: SYCAMORE

We want you to feel part of Get SuSSed and get involved. If you have any questions, an environment story to tell, news, views or ideas please get in touch at ssdcenvironment@southsomerset.gov.uk