THREE new green estates rangers have been employed to improve a number of countryside spaces including in West Somerset, thanks to Government funding.

Lydia Winthorpe, Erica Cox, and Julia Kennaby have joined Somerset Council natural environment team for six months and among other areas will help to look after Wilstock and Stockmoor Country Park.

The new roles have been funded by a grant from the Department of Culture’s Levelling Up Programme.

The trio will work to enhance and manage natural areas and help foster a deeper connection between the community and their local green spaces, promoting environmental stewardship and sustainability.

Their main responsibilities include improving green spaces for wildlife and local residents, engaging communities with these unique natural environments through public events and activities, and managing biodiversity by focusing on priority species and habitats as outlined in land management plans.

The new team is also working on five-year management plans and would like to hear people’s views via an online questionnaire available here.

A volunteer taster session is also being run at Wilstock and Stockmoor Country Park from 10 am to 2 pm on November 14.

During this session, volunteers will help rangers to remove some of the tree guards from established new trees on the site.

Anybody who wants to attend should email [email protected].

Somerset executive Cllr Graeme Oakes said: “We are pleased to welcome our new green estates rangers to the natural environment team.

“Their expertise and hard work will bring significant improvements for visitors, the diverse environments, and wildlife.”