TWiGSouthPetherton.org.uk

Upcoming TWiG Events 2026

Saturday 4th April
Saturday 2nd May
Hedgerow maintenance
Meet at Whitfield Lane allotments at 10am for approx 2 hours. Please bring your gardening tools and wrap up warm! A good opportunity to join in and team up with like-minded residents. All Welcome.

Saturday 16th May 2pm to 4pm.
ECO and plant fair. An exciting collaboration of like-minded groups in our community. TWiG will be there, alongside South Pethertons’ Greener Futures. Other ECO groups are being approached to get involved. Watch this space! And of course the annual plant fair inside the Parish Church of St Peter and St Paul will be packed with plants for your garden.

Our mission is to increase biodiversity and reduce the effects of climate change in our local area, the parish of South Petherton (Somerset, UK).

TWiG is now officially an Unincorporated Association!

This just means an organisation set up through agreement between a group of people who come together for a reason other than to make a profit eg a voluntary group.

At a member meeting on the 29th Jan 2026, the Constitution of TWiG was written and ratified by all present. The ‘Terms of Reference’ provide further detail.

Terms of reference for South Petherton Tree and Wildlife Group (TWiG)

Objective:

In South Petherton Parish:

Increase biodiversity, identify any land usage contributing to climate change and seek to reduce the effects of climate change

Terms of Reference:

The South Petherton Tree and Wildlife Group will engage with the appropriate responsible agencies, professionals and volunteers to develop a comprehensive action plan to increase biodiversity, identify land usage contributing to climate change and reduce the effects of climate change, including flooding, on land in South Petherton Parish. This policy will include the following key elements:

To assess the biodiversity across the parish
To improve biodiversity across the parish
To engage and support the community in projects that will increase wildlife habitats in the parish
To assess the impact of the use of land in the parish with regard to climate change
Investigate and develop uses of land in the parish that will reduce the effects of climate change

Responsibilities and activities
Conduct professional surveys of flora and fauna on areas of land in the Parish with landowners’ permission
Identify how land use in the Parish is contributing to climate change
To act as an informed body on the issue of climate change and biodiversity for the Parish
Review the Parish Tree Policy put in place in 2019 and advise the Parish Council as to appropriate actions
Provide guidance and information to residents on wildlife friendly gardening in the Parish
Provide guidance and information on low carbon impact gardening in the Parish
Review the grass cutting regime across the Parish to ensure wildlife habitats are protected and promoted
Identify and appoint wildlife and tree guardians
Identify areas in the Parish where wildlife habitats can be created
Develop areas of land in the Parish to create wildlife habitats
Develop strategies for long term wildlife habitat creation
Establish links with other similar local groups across the county and nationally to ensure best practice
Develop and support a group of local volunteers to assist with overall objectives
Liaise with residents, private landowners, local businesses, South Petherton Parish Council and Somerset Council with regard to improving biodiversity and reducing the effects of climate change in the Parish
Support South Petherton Parish Council in working towards a biodiversity action plan in accordance with section 40 of the Natural Environment and Rural Communities Act 2006
Organise biodiversity and climate change awareness events and other educational events in schools and with community groups in the Parish

Meetings and reporting
Progress updates and key findings to be documented and shared with stakeholders

Resources and funding
Apply for grants from external sources
Raise funds from local events
Donations from local residents

Review and amendments
Terms of reference and constitution to be reviewed annually and updated as necessary
Adjustments to be made in response to evolving biodiversity and climate change issues

Governance and implementation
Regular reviews and updates will be conducted to ensure the effectiveness of strategies towards achieving its objectives
Community engagements and awareness initiatives will be promoted to improve knowledge on aspects that can be implemented to assist with biodiversity and climate change

This document serves as a guiding framework for the South Petherton Tree and Wildlife Group in fulfilling its commitment to increasing biodiversity and reducing the impact of climate change across land in South Petherton Parish.

Emma Brooks
James Brooks
Rob Cotterill
Trish Harper
Kath Jones
Trevor Jones
Rosie Prins January 2026

Want to do something positive and practical?

TWiGSouthPetherton@gmail.com

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Upcoming TWiG Events 2026

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