Mark resident and Somerset Wildlife Trust president Stephen Moss launches audio nature series

Author, naturalist and Somerset Wildlife Trust president Stephen Moss, who lives in Mark, has kicked off a new series of nature audio readings to boost wellbeing and spread the word about nature's value.

Somerset's special wildlife and natural environment has inspired authors throughout the ages. To celebrate this, Somerset Wildlife Trust has now introduced a new and exclusive content collection called Sundays@6.

Sundays@6 is a series of weekly nature readings by acclaimed nature writers selected by the trust.

The first series of six exclusive readings is delivered by Stephen from his books - the first of which comes from Wild Hares and Hummingbirds, which documents a year in Moss' home in Mark.

The readings are broadcast simultaneously every Sunday at 6pm on social media channels, the trust's YouTube channel and via the trust's website at somersetwildlife.org/Sundays@6. The first reading is now available to listen to.

Head of communications, Kirby Everett, said: "It's widely acknowledged that the lockdown has brought a wider audience closer to the nature on their doorstep, so people are already more tuned in to nature's frequency on digital channels.

"These new nature readings are a nice easy way to learn more about wildlife and just to relax with some soothing accounts of natural experiences to end the weekend on a gentle nature note.

"Wildlife will still be in trouble when the world starts to turn again, and hopefully the people we connect with now with the readings will be reminded that nature will need them on its side for the longer term."

Somerset Wildlife Trust its also taking part in the 2.6 Challenge. Spring and summer are one of the busiest times for events and fundraising for the trust.

The team says that not being "out there" with members and supporters championing Somerset's wildlife and working hard to preserve habitats and the wider landscape is incredibly hard - and coping with the long term financial impacts that the crisis will have on the organisation on top of funding uncertainty due to the departure from the European Union, means that there will be difficult times ahead.

This is why trust members were so pleased that the people behind the London Marathon and other mass participation events have come together to create the 2.6 Challenge - a national fundraising campaign, based on the 26.2 miles of the marathon (or 2.6 for short) to save the UK's charities.

The trust has decided to take part and hope that the people of Somerset who love nature and its landscapes will join in and support them and their work at a difficult time.

Visit the website page here for more information and details on how to join in: https://www.somersetwildlife.org/26-challenge.