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Wells goes Greener
WIN councillors (L to R) Sarah Powell, Deborah Orrett and Denise Denis
Wells Independents councillors Denise Denis, Deborah Orrett and Sarah Powell are heavily involved with the Climate Change Working Group. We aim to keep the momentum going for the environment and carbon reduction. We were in the core group of councillors on the Wells Environmental Network who put Ecoweek+ together. The events were promoted widely and there is now a Wells Environmental Network website and Facebook page where you can see how we worked with other organisations: Sustainable Wells, Sustainable Food Somerset, Somerset Wildlife Trust, Cedars Hall.
Ecoweek+ showcases local environmental action
The Ecoweek+ festival has shone a spotlight on the incredible efforts of Wells' residents and organisations to protect and nurture the local environment. Held from 11th to 20th October 2024, the event offered a wide range of engaging activities, workshops, and discussions aimed at raising awareness and inspiring action toward a more sustainable future. People were
engaged in the urgent questions: What can we do? How can I help? How can I get involved? The community's enthusiasm was evident, with many eager to learn how they could contribute to positive environmental change.​
One of the standout moments was the panel
discussion, "Floods, Farms, and Food", at Cedars Hall, where Cllr Jasmine Browne, Mayor of Wells, opened the event to a packed audience with a letter from Buckingham Palace passing on good wishes from King Charles for the event. The panel explored key environmental issues affecting Wells and the surrounding area. Attendees were
particularly captivated by passionate presentations from farmers advocating for regenerative agriculture. Their dedication to improving soil health and enhancing bio- diversity emphasised the crucial role sustainable farming
practices play inenvironmental restoration.
Another highlight was the "Greener Tomorrow" event at the Town Hall, featuring 18 organisations and five expert speakers covering a wide range of sustainability topics. One such talk, led by Richard Jones, focused on the ambitious development of the Strawberry Line, a community-driven project that has come to life through the perseverance of Richard and his team of volunteers. Brigit Strawbridge's talk on the importance of bees, especially solitary bees and bumblebees, reminded the audience of the need to plant pollinator-friendly flora in both urban and rural areas to support local ecosystems.
Flooding, a major concern exacerbated by climate change, emerged as a central theme of the week. Experts shared insights into how improved soil management can help mitigate flood risks, with one key takeaway being that a 1% increase in soil organic matter can retain up to 25,000 gallons of water per acre. Somerset Wildlife Trust's proposed Act to Adapt flood plan for Wells was discussed, and local activist "Flood Mary" provided a deeply personal account of her own experience with flooding. She offered practical advice on how to protect homes in flood-prone areas and directed attendees to her website, floodmary.com, for further information on flood resilience.
Act to Adapt is a Somerset Wildlife Trust/Somerset Rivers Authority initiative to enable communities to shape a plan to adapt to Climate Change. Wells is delighted to be one of the chosen communities to benefit from this support to create its own Act to Adapt Plan.
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Workshop/consultation events and a survey will bring local people together to talk about areas at risk from the impact of climate change, and potential solutions to adapt.
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The plan will: guide future action, help to track progress, offer advice and create actions to help our community to adjust to climate change, and incorporate planning for those that may be affected in the future.
Natalie Barnett of Act to Adapt
Litter picking team ready to go ...
... and hard at work.
The festival's hands-on activities drew much enthusiasm from attendees. The Wells Scout Group proudly displayed handmade bird boxes, while Wells Community Shed engaged children in designing bug hotels. The Active Travel stand promoted sustainable transport options, showcasing bus timetables and cycling gear. Local cycling hero Jamie Mochrie added to the excitement with an energetic and informative session on bike maintenance, which was both fun and educational. Sustainable Wells also had a strong presence, showcasing their ongoing projects, particularly the popular Repair Café, which encourages the community to reduce waste by fixing broken items rather than discarding them. They also highlighted their Tor Hill Lane Nature Project, aimed at creating a green corridor that supports local wildlife and improves biodiversity in the area.
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Throughout the week, various venues across Wells participated in showcasing environmental initiatives. The Cathedral and Bishop's Palace hosted educational nature trails for children, while Victoria Hillman renowned photographer from the Wells and District Wildlife Group, ran a nature photography workshop. Heads Up also contributed with a wellbeing and photography workshop, as well as a cookery demonstration by Sam Perrett from Charlie Bigham’s Quarry Kitchen, blending mindfulness, creativity, and sustainability in the kitchen.
The festival concluded on 20th October with the FIXY event, where local residents were invited to donate unwanted technology for reuse and recycling.
Feedback from attendees has been overwhelmingly positive, with many describing the events as both inspiring and practical. There is already growing anticipation for future editions of Ecoweek+, and the Wells Environment Network is hopeful that this year’s festival will spark a long-term movement towards a greener and more sustainable Wells.
As one participant noted, “The events not only educated us but also motivated us to take action. It’s clear that Wells is full of people ready to make a difference.”