Wildlife in Britain has probably never been under more threat than at the start of this new millennium. We have lost 98% of our limestone grassland and wetland wildlife and 90% of our ancient woodland in the last 50 years; and this trend is increasing. An RSPB report shows that many farmland birds, like the skylark (-52%), song thrush(-55%), turtle dove(-77%), tree sparrow(-87%) and many others have declined alarmingly in the last 30 years. Even house sparrows and starlings have decreased by over 55%! Human intervention seems to be the main culprit, with the intensification of agriculture (particularly the use of chemicals), increasing urbanisation and road building being obvious factors. The sheer rate of change, when an entire woodlands can disappear to the bulldozer in a day and one accidental chemical spill can wipe out all the life from a river is frightening. Wild life can also be lost by neglect when beautiful flower meadows and hillsides can revert to scrub in a handful of years through lack of grazing.
Expecting your Winter Fuel Payment? Don’t need it? Donate it! Surviving Winter is an award-winning campaign that encourages people to donate some or all of their unwanted Winter Fuel Payments to other people in their communities who need it most. A Surviving Winter grant doesn’t just pay for extra heating. It’s hand delivered by one of our small number of trusted local partners, like Mendip Credit Union, Rotary Frome and Citizens Advice Mendip. A Surviving Winter grant becomes the foundation for a new relationship that can help overcome the isolation and loneliness that many older people experience. With the support of over 300 donors, Somerset Community Foundation was able to provide vital grants to 390 older people to help them through last winter. Please help us grow this campaign to reach every isolated and vulnerable household in the county.
To find out more about Surviving Winter, please visit: http://www.somersetcf.org.uk/
Les Cloutman
The Equinox is passed and days are getting shorter, but nature is still very active - in fact in many ways creatures go into overdrive feeding up before the stark hunger times of winter.
Busy Squirrel
For me October is mushrooming time.
Fungi (for many the term fungi and mushroom are interchangeable) are neither plant nor animal but in a kingdom of their own. Popping up in the fields or through the fallen autumn leaves. They add colour and excitement to dull autumn days. They form an essential part of nature’s recycling process breaking down plant material from leaves to fallen trees to minerals for next year’s growing plants. Many trees have an even closer ‘symbiotic’ relationship, with particular fungi providing chemical defences and breaking down cellulose, which enables them to absorb nutrients.
Fungi can also be a feast
A hat full! - Picked from a local field this September.
I have eaten about 30 different sorts since coming back to Somerset in 1990 - but I never give advice on edibility, even experts can make mistakes, and I don’t claim to be an expert! The same applies to the internet – please don’t rely on the internet for positive identification -mistakes can be unpleasant! That said, fungus foraying in our local woods can be a great day out.
I am leading three forays in October, the nearest is at Stock Hill Woods on the Mendips. Meeting in the Stockhill Car Park at ST550512.
8th Oct. Start at 2.00pm. Cost £2.50 under 16s free. It is arranged by the Polden Hills Group of the Somerset Wildlife Trust – so for further information contact Anne Lees on email
Very many thanks to everyone who supported
the Crazy Golf Evening in aid of Wookey Hole
Community Hall—a profit of £140 00p was made.
We all had a great evening and are grateful to
Wookey Hole Caves Ltd. for allowing us to host
the event— the support they gave us was
fantastic.
The Commonwealth Graves Commission invited WI's to get involved in its' Living Memory Project 'in order to commemorate the centenary of the Battle of the Somme.It was suggested that we might visit the graves of WW1 soldiers who were buried in our locality and stage a commemorative event.
Wookey Hole WI took up the challenge and not only visited several graves in the area, but the grandchildren of our secretary made crosses adorned with poppies and messages and placed them on the military graves.Many of the soldiers would have died as a result of their wounds or influenza.
We expanded our tribute to the fallen by creating a WW1 exhibition which featured stories of our own family members and those of local people who were part of the conflict. A bring and share lunch at Wookey Hole gave us time
to view the fascinating and often poignant items.
The children who took part in our project not only learnt about the Battle of the Somme ,which took place from July - November 1916 ,but they were able to explore their own family history too.
Thanks to Wells Museum for introducing us to Andy Webb and Sue .They assisted us in our research and loaned us some amazing exhibits including a WW1 helmet, shells and other military items.
Jill Deane