Somerset Wildlife Trust is teaming up with public artists Sue Palmer and Simon Lee Dicker to host the activities as part of the Routes to the River Tone project, which aims to recreate and reconnect wildlife habitats across the town.

Photographs taken at the Getting Closer to Nature free digital photography workshop will be shown on the big screen outside the Brewhouse Theatre later in October. The workshops will be run by professional Devon based photographer Dave Green at Longrun Meadow on 6 October 10.30am - 1pm and 2pm - 4.30pm. All ages are welcome to learn more about the technical aspects of digital photography, such as quality and file size, and to pick up tips on composition and the use of macro-photography. People can also just turn up on the day for activities with cameraphones.

Miriam Woolnough, Somerset Wildlife Trust’s Taunton Living Landscape Development Officer, said: “We are working with local people to develop ways to improve wildlife habitats around the town’s rivers and water courses. The events are an opportunity to explore some of the town’s watery spaces and for us to find out what residents think about these places and what kinds of activities people would like to see happen in the future.”

Free apple juice pressed from apples in Children’s Wood will be given away on 13 October as part of Transition Taunton’s annual apple pressing event outside the Brewhouse from 10.30am - 3pm. To tempt people to explore the town’s green spaces and see where the apples come from there is a free bicycle rickshaw running to Children’s Wood and Firepool Lock where an open participation drawing workshop with Joff Winterhart and a bee-talk will be taking place.

More events are planned for the Hamilton Park and Blackbrook for Saturday, 20 October.

Routes to the River Tone has been given initial support* from the Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF) including a development grant of £33,900 and is being delivered in collaboration with Taunton Deane Borough Council, Environment Agency, Natural England, Canal and Rivers Trust and Taunton Deane Area Group. Along with survey data gathered over the summer, the information and ideas gathered at the events, will inform a programme of proposed habitat improvements and creation for 2013-2016.

The Routes to the River Tone project is part of Taunton Living Landscape which aims to recreate and reconnect wildlife habitats, as part of Somerset Wildlife Trust’s countywide landscape approach to nature conservation.

For information and bookings for the photography workshop contact simon@simonleedicker.co.uk or phone/text 07967 756 320 (children under 16 must be accompanied by an adult.)

Notes to editors

Somerset Wildlife Trust is the county’s leading environmental voluntary body, with around 21,000 members. The charity owns and/or manages 70 nature reserves all over the county. Money raised is spent to restore, recreate and reconnect our damaged countryside by creating living landscapes for wildlife and people. We help wildlife adapt to climate change, encourage sustainable living, fight to save sites where wildlife is threatened by monitoring development and inspire people to create more green space bringing environmental, social and economic benefits. The trust is one of 47 in the UK. Together, they make up the Wildlife Trusts Partnership.

*The Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF) has given Somerset Wildlife Trust initial support, including £33,900 of development funding, for its Routes to the River Tone project. A first-round pass means the project meets HLF criteria for funding and HLF believes the project has potential to deliver high-quality benefits and value for Lottery money. The application was in competition with other supportable projects, so a first-round pass is an endorsement of outline proposals. Having been awarded a first-round pass, the project now has up to two years to submit fully developed proposals to compete for a firm award. On occasion, an applicant with a first-round pass will also be awarded development funding towards the development of their scheme.

Further information

Beth Jerrett, PR and Communications Manager, 01823 652 413, email: beth.jerrett@somersetwildlife.org