An update from Honeygar

In 2021, faced with an ecological and climate crisis Somerset Wildlife Trust took the bold act of acquiring Honeygar a former dairy farm on the Somerset Levels for a pioneering wilding project. Our aim is to put into practice theories of nature recovery as a solution to societal problems, to showcase how we can

Key achievements

 Honeygar bought from Esmée Fairbairn Foundation in March 2022 following successful early fundraising.

 Nature-based solutions plan drafted and discussions with Natural England, Environment Agency and Somerset County Council started.

 Drone and foot surveys completed - mapping topography, hydrography and drainage.

restore farmland working with nature to stimulate a new economic model for the Somerset Levels and help nature return. By rewetting Honeygar’s soils to protect its rare lowland peat, capture and store carbon and greenhouse gases, and by restoring the land for wildlife through alternative management practices, we will show how nature’s recovery can have other important benefits. It’s still early days in what is a longterm project but here are some of the key achievements in the last year…..

 Areas of historic interest recorded, including the routes of prehistoric trackways, and the burtle, on which the farm buildings sit.

 Improvements made to entrance, paths, bridges, ditches and rights of way.

 Initial rewetting works undertaken – bunding ditches, removing and blocking drains.

 Pop-up laboratory created for staff, students and volunteers.

 Honeygar Officer recruited.

Thank you!

The fantastic support we have had for Honeygar, including you our members, means we are now so close to achieving our £3.45m phase 1 target, with just £145k still to raise. Donations of all sizes have been received and we thank you for donating to Honeygar, including the almost 1,300 supporters who gave to our 2022 Honeygar appeal.

 Scientific monitoring equipment bought and installed to help record wildlife, water levels and greenhouse gases.

 Baseline habitat and species surveys completed by staff and specialist volunteers, with badger setts, bat roosts and barn owl sites identified.

 Baseline carbon and greenhouse gas data collected.

 Visits by farmers, local and national government representatives, other Wildlife

Trusts, donors, prospective funders and more.

 Wilder Carbon launched with Honeygar as one of two pathfinder projects which, in

Make or update your Will and help Somerset Wildlife Trust now and in the future. Call now to arrange a home visit from an experienced member of the