Mendip District Council has launched a pilot project in Wells to unlock pockets of land for community groups to re-wild. If successful it will be rolled out to other parts of the district.

As part of its Greener and Cleaner priority, the Council is identifying green spaces in Mendip to increase biodiversity and allow nature to thrive. They will be known as Mendip Ecological Areas (MEAs) and will be clearly marked as such.

Mendip are looking for individuals, groups or organisations willing to take on wildflower planting, eco-cutting and other activities in the MEAs to create sustainable habitats for bees, butterflies and other wildlife, to enhance habitats and create corridors for pollinators.

Some of the MEAs in Wells are located at the entrance to Jocelyn Drive from Glastonbury Road and plots of land on the Portway estate. If you're interested in a piece of land in your area, please get in touch by emailing [email protected] and then we can assess whether it would be suitable as an MEA.

The project will run for one year and if successful, the rewilding of other suitable green areas will be rolled out across the district. Cllr Heather Shearer, Portfolio Holder for Community Health & Services said: "We are hopeful this project will sow the seeds for many other MEAs and create wildlife havens across the district. "It will provide an opportunity for communities to work together to create spaces for wildlife to thrive in, and for locals to enjoy. "If you live in and around the Wells area, and want to make a difference in your community, whilst supporting important pollinators, please email [email protected] to express interest in this exciting project."

The Wells MEAs will be managed and maintained by volunteers from the local community and organised by local environmental group, Sustainable Wells, who are partners with the District Council in the scheme, alongside Somerset Wildlife Trust.

If you would like to take part in this trial, please get in touch by emailing [email protected]. In 2019, Mendip declared a Climate and Ecological Emergency and made a commitment to take care of the environment, leaving it in a good condition for generations to come and lead the way for Mendip to be carbon neutral.