County Hall in Trowbridge Photo Trevor Porter Addressing the climate crisis is to be a “critically important” goal for Wiltshire Council moving forward. Leader of the Liberal Democrats, Ian Thorn, asked the council’s leader why he did not take the climate portfolio with him into the leadership position. Richard Clewer, the new leader of Wiltshire Council said the climate emergency was vital to the administration – particularly in regards to decarbonisation. “Is there the danger, that having left it in the hands of another member of cabinet, that it rather downgrades the issue?” Cllr Thorn asked. Cllr Clewer disagreed with the point and said the county’s climate plan needed to link in with other areas such as the local and transport plans.
Verges across Wiltshire could be improved, both on a visual and ecological level, by wildflowers. Cate Watson, from the Royal Wootton Bassett Environmental Group, has spoken on the need to make space for the flowers. She was galvanised in 2018, after reading a report on climate change, to do something to make a difference. She said: “Seeing the evidence, I couldn’t not act. Joining with others, the group took off. The wildflower campaign is just a beginning. “Ninety seven per cent of our wildflower meadows have gone, so verges and lawns are one of the few spaces left for them to grow. Wildflowers are the foundation, providing food and shelter for insects, especially pollinators like bees and butterflies.