Putting nature at the heart of Frome's identity

This seems to be an excellent and well thought through strategy. It's building on Frome's existing natural assets as well as the town's active and engaged community, which is a huge asset in itself. As I write this (during the fifth heat wave of summer 2026) the role of nature in mitigating the impact of climate change and providing safety and sanctuary during these extremes seems more important than ever. I'm not an expert on species protection or habitat restoration - and nor did I manage to read all 65 pages of the report - but would agree with the emphasis on rivers and wildlife corridors, particularly where these can provide benefits to local residents in terms of shade and places to rest and find solace. I also agree with the suggestion to ensure Nature is included 'within all reviews of policy for planning, land management and climate adaptation' - and would suggest going even further: to consider how Nature can be represented in the council chamber and in all deliberation about the future of our town. There is some useful language around engaging communities in here, but I wonder if this could be stronger. Many of these measures will require active participation from the community, and making sure that people feel part of the story of nature's recovery feels crucial to the success of this work now and for generations to come. Recent events like the Wildlife Parade and River Festival are an excellent example, and more should be done to unite the community in our love of nature and bring this sense of shared identity into the open. On funding: the plan is honest that most of Frome's nature recovery will run on developer contributions and grant funding, but that's also a risk. It might strengthen the plan to call for real creativity in how delivery is funded, rather than relying on these two routes alone. Philanthropic funders with a track record in rewilding and land restoration are one option. Corporate sponsorship is another - brands looking to attach themselves to a credible, community-rooted nature project, in the way sports clubs or festivals take on sponsors. Community share offers are a third: Mayday Saxonvale has just shown what's possible here. A green bond is a fourth - a way for residents, local businesses or even pension funds to invest in Frome's natural capital with a modest return, rather than treating nature recovery purely as a cost. Naming a handful of these routes, rather than defaulting to grants and developer contributions, would signal that the council is thinking as creatively about funding this plan as it has about the ecology behind it. In this context, I'm also interested in how Nature can become a driver of Frome's economic prosperity, providing jobs and entrepreneurial activities within the town. We receive thousands of visitors each year to attractions like Longleat and Center Parcs - how might we make our town a nature attraction in itself? How can we encourage nature based businesses - camping, birdwatching, climbing etc - to locate in and around Frome, bringing employment with them? Finally, I think we can leverage the growing understanding of nature's value to our health and wellbeing - for both citizens and biodiversity. The Medical Practice is already offering groundbreaking Nature provision through Green Social Prescribing and the 'Better Through Nature' programme, how can the council support this more fully - including in the design of spaces and amenities which facilitate ecotherapy around the medical practice and beyond. Overall, I am deeply impressed with this report and proud to live and work in a town which places Nature at the heart of its vision.