First Ecology is the consulting subsidiary of the Somerset Wildlife Trust; a rapidly developing practice committed to upholding best practice standards whilst also achieving pragmatic ecological project outcomes.

Ecological networks are the basic, joined up infrastructure of existing and future habitat needed to allow populations of species and habitats to survive in fluctuating conditions.
The Environment Bill is currently passing through Parliament, but when passed in legislation will make it a statutory obligation for all Local Planning Authorities to have a Local Nature Recovery Plan based on the mapped Nature Recovery Network.

There are a number of specialist interest groups dedicated to conserving and recording Somerset’s rich wildlife and varied geology. Joining these groups is one of the best ways to get actively involved in recording and get support from fellow enthusiasts.

The Trust offers a number of professional services including ecological consultancy and filming locations to help fund our conservation work. We are also home to the Somerset Environmental Records Centre (SERC), the county's local environmental records centre.

Over the last few years, we’ve seen many exciting species reintroductions across the UK. The reintroduction of these native species is one aspect of tackling the ecological and climate emergencies. If our ecosystem is healthy and functioning, these returning species will thrive and be a barometer for the successful recovery of nature.