Great report

Have just noticed this with one day to go, some brief comments;- * Para 5.5.2 Good to reference nature positive development. Frome will grow and a nature recovery plan has to work with this. FTC correctly declared a housing crisis (Aug 2023) and this means we have a commitment to support increases in our housing supply. Our nature recovery strategy is about opportunities that exist alongside the delivery of new housing. I know people will quote it in their planning objections but FTC shouldn’t allow it to distract from the housing crisis. * In 5.5.2 something about lighting and impact of blue wavelength LEDs used in the community as well as on FTC land. LEDs have successfully reduced electricity consumption but they severely damage the insect population which underpins natural biodiversity. Solutions exist, around daylight/reduced blue wavelength LEDs, and we should champion these. The UK Centre for Ecology & Hydrology reckon that blue wavelength LEDs reduce insect populations by 50%, https://www.ceh.ac.uk/press/LED-streetlights-reduce-insect-populations-50-percent. That’s a lot of food for our insectivorous birds and bats. * In 5.5.4 you mention allotments, I suggest all new communal spaces should have a %age set aside specifically for nature recovery & not to be cultivated for food production. * We have a high honeybee density in Frome and this has an established detrimental impact on wild bee populations. Save the bees! (but which ones?) - Buglife Blog - Buglife ( https://www.buglife.org.uk/blog/save-the-bees-but-which-ones/ ) FTC’s powers are limited but some thought leadership on encouraging support for wild bee populations instead of beekeeping would help.As it happens, this year we’ve had relatively low numbers of honeybees in our garden and therefore a good population of wild bees. I don’t know if this is the start of an encouraging trend or just a localised or temporary effect. * Our natural habitats are vulnerable and I think we should explicitly endorse one of the established codes of conduct on foraging, eg https://www.woodlandtrust.org.uk/visiting-woods/things-to-do/foraging/foraging-guidelines/ * Para 3.7, the report considers it a success story but I think the Frome Wild Bunch needs a rethink and a relaunch. Given levels of interest in wildlife gardening in Frome & nationally the reach and engagement of the Wild Bunch is low.It has potential, particularly around the use of private gardens for nature recovery. Frome’s wildlife gardeners will carry on with their good work whatever the Wild Bunch looks like. Still, worth a try.