As shown by the recent State of Nature Report, our environment is in a dire state and the scale of change required is great. We need thousands of people to take action. This new Nextdoor Nature project in Somer Valley aims to raise understanding about this urgent need for change and to recognise individuals and communities' own roles in making that change happen. We will be identifying four community groups to work closely with to support them developing their nature-based ideas into reality . Rhea is the Somer Valley Community Organiser, so here’s a bit about what she’s been up to. 

"One rainy afternoon I joined BART (Bristol Avon Rivers Trust) for their River Detectives Worskshop in Midsomer Norton to learn more about their new ‘citizen scientist’ project in Somer Valley. Molly,  BART’s Somer Valley project lead, says ‘Join our BART Detectives project and help us to monitor the health of our surrounding waterways for the benefit of both people and wildlife. You will be provided with a free monthly water testing kit and given access to upload your results onto our interactive map where you can see all the data collected by other BART Detectives!’. They still need volunteers to sign up along the Cam, Wellow and Midford Brooks, so contact BART via their website to get involved.

The wonderful Pride in Paulton group (PiP), who look after most of the community flower beds in the village, gave me a passionate and inspiring tour of their beds. They showed me photos from the beginning of their planting and told me all about the community projects they have ran over the years. From extravagant corgi-cut-out paintings, to knitting poppies, this group really do know how to make a space look beautiful and have a lot of fun time whilst doing it!

A few weeks later, I met long-time member of PiP, Hayley. She gave me a wonderful tour of the Paulton Junior School where she works, showing me the fantastic green spaces where the kids have forest school classes and can learn to grow plants in their flower and food garden. I joined their lunchtime gardening club and it was such an inspiration to see the kids get so enthusiastically involved with weeding and planting up flowers. The kids were eager to tell me how much they love spending time outside in the fresh air and enjoy getting their hands dirty!

At the Somer Valley Forum I met local councillors at The Hive, in Peasedown and even enjoyed a free loaf of bread and some bananas from The Hive’s Community Fridge on my way out! Thanks to the wonderful SWALLOW’s café for hosting us- those cakes were delicious. The Forum introduced me to another new project in the area, The Active Way, who offer a range of free activities to help increase health and wellbeing through active travel. Keep an eye out for their range of inclusive bikes available to borrow, thanks to their partnership with All Cycle Bath and West, and upcoming community events as the project develops. 
I’m happy to say that The Somersetshire Coal Canal Society continue to do great work to restore the old canal in the Paulton Basin and over in Combe Hay. They are always in need of more volunteers- both those willing to get their hands mucky on the ground and those who could help with the behind the scenes admin and finances. If you are interested in getting involved, find them on Facebook or via their website . Joining their work party was a wonderful experience, that taught me so much about the history of the local landscape.
I also met Sally Griffiths, Church Warden at Saint Nicholas, who gave me a wonderful introduction to some of the local groups and projects in the area and I am very much looking forward to further exploring Radstock and Writhlington in the coming months. I’ll keep you updated with what I get up to next.
If you have a person or project you think I should hear about, let me know!

Rhea.warner@avonwildlifetrust.org.uk, 07421226080. 

To find out more about the Next Door Nature project you can read about it here