A new Climate Action Group has been launched in Axminster with the support of the town council. 

Led by town councillors Bernie Steadman, Sarah Birnie and Angela Huskisson, the group recently held its first meeting and then reported back to the town council with a list of short and long-term goals.

Cllr Steadman said that the group would focus on small projects that could help tackle climate change and that they were pleased the town council had agreed to keep a small pot of funding in its budget for 2023/24, despite the current difficult financial times.

Speaking after the meeting, Cllr Birnie added: "We feel very encouraged that the town council supports us and we hope to take Axminster forward and be a beacon for other towns. But it's imperative that we, as a community, work together and as councillors we are happy to facilitate this."

Short term goals of the Climate Action Group will include:

• Gifting flower seeds to primary school leavers,
• Reducing the use of pesticides on council-owned land and encouraging others to do the same
• Sharing allotments sites to give beginner gardeners an opportunity to learn from experts
• Upgrade public bins to include separate recycling sections
• Introduce 'butt bins' to encourage smokers to dispose of cigarette butts responsibly
• Create more water refill stations in the town

Long-term goals include:

• Carrying out a biodiversity audit to find out more about the diversity of plant, animal and insect life in the area
• Set up a river monitoring group
• Investigate land suitable for a community orchard
• Stage an Axminster Arts Festival to showcase local talent and highlight concerns for the planet
• Make Axminster a more accessible town

A date for a public meeting of the Climate Action Group is expected to be announced soon, where leaders will be asking for more volunteers to help take these projects forward.