60th Anniversary | Somerset Wildlife Trust

An image of a winter sunset over Cheddar Gorge

60 years of working towards a wilder Somerset

Celebrating the 60th anniversary since our foundation in February 1964.

Our Past (https://www.somersetwildlife.org/what-we-do-somerset/about-us)

Our Present (https://www.somersetwildlife.org/what-we-do-somerset)

Our Future (https://www.somersetwildlife.org/what-we-do/create-wilder-somerset-2030/about-wilder-somerset-2030)

60 years of working towards a wilder Somerset

Somerset Wildlife Trust is more than a name, a logo or a reserve. It’s an ever-growing demonstration of how like-minded individuals, from all walks of life, can take action to secure the future of wildlife and wild places in our beautiful and diverse county.

Image of John Keylock giving a talk to members at Great Breach Wood

John Keylock, co-founder of STNC, at Great Breach Wood

Image of Mendip Conservation Volunteers taken in 1979

Mendip Conservation Volunteers working on a dew-pond restoration task, 1979

An image of volunteers coppicing trees at a nature reserve

Chris Billinghurst (centre) and volunteers coppicing at Long Wood Reserve, 1989 © The Journal Series

Our very first newsletter, 1964

Image of Woodland Management course members stood together

Chris Billinghurst and Bill Butcher (both seated on fence) with Woodland Management course members, 1983

Image of Christopher Hancock with his bike from 1999

Christopher 'Kiff' Hancock cycling to 74 nature reserves in five days, 1999

Image of a group of staff and youths celebrating our 40th birthday

Celebrating our 40th birthday at Fyne Court, 2004

Somerset Wildlife Trust is proof that one small act can birth a powerful movement that makes a valuable difference every day.

Helping us make a difference

Thanks to our wonderful members, volunteers and supporters, we’ve been able to stand up for wildlife and to create amazing nature reserves over the past 60 years. With your support we can do even more to create a wilder Somerset!

Support another 60 years of our work

Your generosity today will secure the future of Somerset's wildlife and wild places tomorrow.

Garden bumblebee by Chris Gomersall/2020VISION

Get counting

Spot 60 Species

As part of our 60th anniversary celebrations, we're challenging you to spot 60 species to make wildlife count.

Find out more

Image of a young girl holding a camera up to her eye

Christian Wiediger

Take part

Photography Competition

Our 60th anniversary photo competition is now closed for entries!

Send a birthday eCard!

From small seeds grow mighty trees.

Did you know that each of our 15 founding members each paid £1 as initial capital to establish the Somerset Trust for Nature Conservation? From this small act the Trust has grown to become Somerset’s leading environmental charity with over 23,000 members.

You too can demonstrate the 'power of a pound' by sending a birthday eCard to your friends or family (or even a one-off special 60th birthday eCard to us!) and donating at least £1 in the process.

Choose an eCard

Be part of the story!

As part of our 60th anniversary celebrations, we want to hear about your memories of the Trust and to tell us what wildlife and nature means to you. We’d love to hear from you!

Share your memories