Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps she is taking to support the restoration of (a) habitats, (b) species, (c) woodlands and (d) peatlands in Yeovil constituency.

This Government has supported Somerset Council to develop the Somerset Local Nature Recovery Strategy (LNRS), which covers Yeovil. The Somerset LNRS will help groups and individuals target action to help nature recover and support locally and nationally important species and habitats, such as woodlands and peatlands.

Within the Yeovil constituency boundary, there are currently 480 live agri-environment agreements. Catchment Sensitive Farming advisers work closely with farmers, providing tailored advice, specialist consultancy and support for capital grants to improve water and air quality, reduce flood risk and enhance farmland habitats.

Woodland restoration is supported through a range of measures, including support for the development of Woodland Management Plans, alongside targeted capital funding for habitat restoration, infrastructure improvements, increased woodland diversity, and measures to address pests, diseases, and other threats to woodland resilience.

Peatland restoration works across England are carried out by local peatland partnerships, such as The Somerset Peatland Partnership, who are involved in managing any peatlands in the Yeovil constituency.