Description text here about the available downloads.

	A Review of Somerset\'s Mature Woodland Invertebrates and their Habitats, with Particular Reference to Woodland-interiors Richard Thompson 1999 [Click to Download]
	New Life for Old Trees Britain contains more large, ancient trees than anywhere else in north-west Europe (Sisitka 1996). Often referred to as veteran trees, they are a living link with the “wildwood” that covered much of the country two thousand years ago and are certainly an important part of the make up of Somerset. Many animals and plants depend upon the special conditions the characteristic features of these trees afford, such as dead wood, loose bark, bracket fungi, hollows and the like. From the famous giant ash at Clapton Court to the strange squat pollards of the Mells Valley, their sheer stature and often peculiar growth form are a striking and well loved feature of the landscape. Hence the Somerset Veteran Tree Project, the result of a partnership between the Somerset Wildlife Trust, English Nature and the Exmoor National Park Authority with additional funding support from a variety of sources including the Forestry Commission (formerly Forest Authority) and Somerset County Council. The project commenced at the end of October 1996, with the following aims: Gaining a better understanding of the county’s remaining stock of veteran trees. Encouraging their conservation. [Click to Download]
	Search Service - Enquiry Form This document is for those wishing to make use of the Search Service. Details of which are on this site. Only the last three pages need to be returned to SERC. [Click to Download]
	Search Service - Enquiry Form This document is for those wishing to make use of the Search Service. Details of which are on this site. Only the last three pages need to be returned to SERC. [Click to Download]
	Somerset Ancient Woodland Indicators This single page document contains a list of indicators for Somerset. It has been derived from the analysis of data at SERC. [Click to Download]
	Somerset Grassland Fungi Project 1997-99 In 1995, the Somerset Wildlife Trust, through SERC, had a clear enough appreciation of trends in Somerset confidently to identify agriculturally “unimproved” and hence species-rich grasslands as the most endangered, and most rapidly disappearing habitat. There was an emerging body of opinion, however, which held that grassland fungi, especially the fungi of the waxcap family, could act as indicators of wildlife value in grassland habitats. With the encouragement of the British Mycological Society, and helped with grants from English Nature and the Ernest Cook Trust, the Trust accordingly decided to invest some of its capital reserve in a piece of original research, correlating grassland fungi with more conventional indicators of wildlife value. The result was the attached report. It is the work of Richard Thompson alone; but the Trust is proud to have commissioned it, commends it to interested ecologists and land managers, and will be developing uses for its conclusions in coming years. [Click to Download]
	Somerset Notable Species Dictionary The Dictionary comprises a series of lists for the main floral and faunal groups. Each list is derived from the Red Data lists of nationally notable species, along with those species which have some degree of protection in national or international law - primarily through the Wildlife and Countryside Act (1981 amended 1988) and the European Union Habitats Directive (1992) and Birds Directive. For the first time the Dictionary also includes Biodiversity Action Plan priority species. Using these sources in combination with data held at SERC and elsewhere, lists have been produced which contain those species that have importance in Somerset. For those groups where data is plentiful, it has also been possible to identify species that are not nationally notable, but which are uncommon in the county. [Click to Download]
	Somerset Priority Species List [Excel] The criteria used to create this list was agreed by the Somerset Biodiversity Partnership. It is important to note that this is not a list of legally protected species, however this can be found on the www.jncc.gov.uk website. Nor it is the same as the Somerset Environmental Record Centre (SERC) notable species dictionary, which lists priorities for recording and data entry, including all Nationally Notable species known to occur in Somerset in 2000. This is still available as a download on the this page. Another reference list is the Somerset Rare Plants Register, available at www.somersetrareplantsgroup.org.uk. Somerset Priority Species List - CLICK HERE ONLY [Click to Download]
	Training Scheme Application Form A simple four page application form. Download and return to us if you want to apply. [Click to Download]
	Training Scheme Training Scheme Details The SERC training scheme delivers a substantial part of SERC’s core work for Service Level Agreement partners, particularly the county-wide Monitoring Strategy. The training scheme enables SERC to attract high calibre volunteers who commit to up to a year full time to deliver this work programme. Almost everyone who comes to SERC has a first degree in science, and about half our trainees have an MSc or PhD, but still find they lack the relevant work experience to be recruited in to the ecology profession. The scheme provides essential key skills and knowledge that enables trainees to fast-track progression in their chosen career path. A small team starts at the beginning of the year to help prepare for the new survey season while the previous cohort of trainees are analysing and reporting on the previous year’s survey. The full team is in place at the start of June when there is a programme of induction and intensive training to give trainees the skills they require to carry out the survey programme. While the main survey season is spring to autumn, some field survey is carried out throughout the year providing invaluable winter botanical skills. Being a trainee at SERC is a full time commitment, 9.30-5.30 five days a week, for six to twelve months. Trainees are encouraged to remain at SERC until they find paid work in the environmental sector to get the most benefit from the scheme. Most fund themselves by claiming benefits and when eligible signing on to ‘New Deal’. Those ineligible for benefits fund themselves; a year at SERC being a much cheaper option than paying for an MSc and more likely to lead to a sustainable paid career in conservation. - See the document for more information. [Click to Download]