Christmas events in Somerset:
On Saturday 19th December in Yeovil Town Centre from 10 until 4, a Christmas Street Market and Somerset Farmers Market, street entertainment includes carol-singers, the Yokel Juggler and Mr Clown.

RSPB
Escape from the frenzy of the festive season to see the starling murmuration at Ham Wall, secretive snipe at Greylake and golden plovers, teal and lapwings at West Sedgemoor. Find out about guided walks at the RSPB Somerset reserves at www.rspb.org.uk/reserves

Love Nature? - RSPB’s wildlife guide to the south-west is available now. Register with Take One Distributors for copies on 01233 211411 or visit www.takeonemedia.co.uk

Mistletoe – it’s locally grown!
The National Trust and Natural England are running a campaign for people to buy home-grown mistletoe in the run up to Christmas. Somerset is one of the heartlands for mistletoe with its traditional cider orchards but, like other cider counties, the orchards have declined dramatically in the last sixty years and alongside this decline, trade of imported mistletoe is growing.

The NT / NE aim to restore traditional orchards, supporting small cottage industries producing cider and juices and promoting the growth of community run orchards. Locally at Montacute, mistletoe is harvested carefully to leave enough for the plant to survive AND for wildlife. A rare mistletoe moth was first found in the UK in South Somerset and is present at Montacute and Tintinhull.

More information on orchards and mistletoe at http://www.orchardnetwork.org.uk