North Somerset Rewilding Champions

Holly Blue butterfly

Holly Blue ©Amy Lewis

North Somerset Council Rewilding Champions

Introduction

North Somerset is getting wilder. From vibrant verges to parks and playing fields, patches of grassland that were previously cut short will now be blooming with life. We worked with North Somerset Council to engage and upskill communities to support biodiversity monitoring efforts on these rewilded sites, so we can demonstrate the impact of changing land management practices. If you'd like to be involved, contact the team at rewilding.volunteering@n-somerset.gov.uk

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Where we're working

There are now volunteer groups established in the following areas, who meet regularly during the surveying season to monitor the plants, pollinators and other invertebrates that are thriving in their local wild patches. 

Clevedon

In Clevedon, tree planting has taken place at either end of the playing field at Hazell Close and the woodland at Strawberry Hill has been extended. These trees are a mix of native species which have been planted to create a diverse habitat, improve air quality and in places reduce noise pollution from the M5.

Elsewhere, wild spaces have been created near the leisure centre on Strode Road and verges around the town have been allowed to grow. All these spaces have been carefully selected to enhance the local environment whilst avoiding disruption to driver visibility or access to these green areas.

Speckled wood at Clevedon

Nailsea

Several areas on the outskirts of Nailsea saw real change already in the first year of longer grass management. Grassland is growing longer and tree planting has taken place on the vast green expanse of Elm Farm, along Nailsea Park and beside the ambulance station too.

These trees are a mix of native species which have been planted to create a diverse habitat and improve air quality, and paths cut through the wilder patches mean people and pollinators can walk side by side. 

All these spaces have been carefully selected to enhance the local environment whilst avoiding disruption to driver visibility or access to these green areas.

Small copper Jamie Kingscott

Portishead

In Portishead, Kilkenny fields have been transformed by tree planting in some sections, whilst in others long grassland is already buzzing with life. These habitats really add to the fields which are popular with dog-walkers, complimenting the views across the Severn to South Wales. 

Other wild patches can be found near the marine lake and Portishead Point, at Merlin Park and Welly Bottom. The trees planted are a mix of native species which have been planted to create a diverse habitat and improve air quality.

There are also other areas growing wilder around Portishead, where conservation has long been a key concern of many residents.

Kilkenny fields

Weston-super-Mare

The largest town in North Somerset, there is plenty of potential for wilder patches to pop up all around Weston-super-Mare. Sure enough, from roadside verges to popular public spaces, pollinators and other wildlife are beginning to benefit from these changes.

Grassland is growing longer at a series of sites across the town and tree planting has taken place around Hutton Moor Leisure Centre and in the corner of the playing field behind Weston Youth Centre.

Worle is also getting wilder, with trees planted at Lynch Farm Park and Castle Batch, where a large area of grassland will be buzzing with life this summer.

The trees are a mix of native species which have been planted to create a diverse habitat and improve air quality. All these spaces have been carefully selected to enhance the local environment whilst avoiding disruption to driver visibility or access to these green areas.

Common Darter Jamie Kingscott

Resources

As part of the legacy of this project, we want people to feel informed and empowered to continue identifying and monitoring their local wildlife. Read our blogs and watch our webinars to get inspired!

Volunteers can also download our survey recording sheets, to help with their biodiversity monitoring:

Plant survey recording sheet

Pollinator survey recording sheet

Sweep-netting survey recording sheet

Blogs

Webinars

Butterfly identification webinar

Bee identification webinar

Grass identification webinar

Wildflower identification webinar

Common Darter Jamie Kingscott

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(c) Barbara Evripidou

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