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Country matters

REPLACEMENT: Payments for 'public goods' could be introduced, says Michael Gove. PICTURE: Owen Humphreys/PA Wire

Post-Brexit replacement for farming subsidies announced

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Rodi Greene and Russell Croker

PICTURES: Bumper crowd for new year races at Taunton

Time is running out - Get in your nominations for this year's South West Farmer Awards now

ONLY ONE DAY LEFT to get in your nominations for this year's South West Farmer Awards

WARNING: Brexit could be disastrous for bees say MEP

Brexit will be disastrous for bees says Green MEP

Guided Quantocks walk taking in Bicknoller's best scenery

Guided Quantocks walk taking in Bicknoller's best scenery

Get the latest local news straight to your inbox everyday

RARE: This young foal is the first from Exmoor’s Warren herd for seven years

Chance to name rare Exmoor foal

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BRANCHING OUT: Quantock Hills AONB volunteer Don Hobson helping to Slow the Flow of water down from Aisholt Common

Somerset Level floods slowed down with Quantock dams

CRIME: Anyone shooting birds without a licence could face up to six months in prison and/or a fine of up to £5,000

Fresh buzzard shooting sparks call for bird protection in the South West

COUNTRY COLUMN: The latest from Somerset's Young Farmers

COUNTRY COLUMN: The latest from Somerset's Young Farmers

CRACKDOWN MUST CONTINUE: The CLA South West director John Mortimer

South West countryside organisations gives backing to Christmas crackdown on fly-tipping

FALLING NUMBERS: Bumblebees

Butterflies and bees struggling amid unsettled weather

West Buckland Friendship Group encourage Woodland Trust Christmas card recycling campaign

COLUMN: Ian Liddell-Grainger MP says the countryside must not be sidelined in Brexit

Column: Ian Liddell-Grainger says the countryside must not be sidelined in Brexit negotiations

COLUMN: Somerset Wildlife Trust's bat expert Nick Tomlinson

Column: Somerset Wildlife Trust's Nick Tomlinson talks about Somerset's bats

CARING: Kirsten Larcombe, wildlife assistant at RSPCA West Hatch

COLUMN: Seal season for RSPCA West Hatch

MILESTONE: Oliver Hilliam and Chris Lewis

Countryside charity celebrates 90th birthday

SHOOTING: Swampy with her mate and chick in August this year

Shooting of Swampy the crane investigated by police

NEW BEGINNINGS: Alan Goddard, centre, with the Cornish Mutual Board of Directors outside the new office in Willand

Cornish Mutual opens new offices to support growing Somerset membership

CONSERVATION: Bittern numbers are on the up in Somerset

More than one in ten UK species now threatened with extinction

BAN: Taunton Deane MP Rebecca Pow with Andrea Leadsome.

MP's campaign to ban microbeads gets Government backing

WINNER: 'The Supermarket Starling' taken by Geoff Trevarthen, the winning photograph in the Urban Wildlife category

GALLERY: British Wildlife Photography Awards winners revealed

EXTENSION: The Southwest Coast Path will soon be extended up to Brean

Southwest Coast Path wins funding as PM says Brexit provides tourism industry opportunities

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BOOST: Somerset Wildlife Trust has helped the large blue butterfly population thrive

Best year for Britain’s rarest butterfly since 1930s

Green MEP Molly Scott-Cato

COLUMN: Badger cull is a 'failed and inhumane policy'

UNDER THREAT: There are reports the badger cull is set to be extended

Animal rights campaigners slam reported extension of badger cull

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STUDY: Professor Rosie Woodroffe from the Zoological Society of London

Badgers do not infect cattle with Bovine TB directly, study finds

CONSERVATION: The public are being called on to count mammals on the road

Somerset called on for Mammals on Road campaign

CAMPAIGN: CLA South West director John Mortimer

CLA calls for investment to connect the countryside

Post Brexit- Agricultural Accountants urge farming lobby groups to shout loud and secure good deal for UK Farming

Post Brexit- Agricultural Accountants urge farming lobby groups to shout loud and secure good deal for UK Farming

REVIEW: Postal services are essential for people living in rural areas, the Countryside Alliance has said

Rural residents assured 'universal mail' is viable

MP urges cash-strapped farmers to get in touch

LEARNING: Children will get to discover the world of farming for Open Farm Sunday

Discover all about farming on 'Open Farm Sunday'

ADVENTURE: Exmoor will be hosting the first South West Outdoor Festival

First ever South West Outdoor Festival on Exmoor

SAY CHEESE!: Wyke Farms Richard Clothier

Local businesses team up to celebrate Somerset

SCENIC: All schoolchildren will get the chance to visit National Parks

All schoolchildren will get chance to visit National Parks

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PROTEST: A police officer helps to herd a sheep back into a truck during a Farmers For Action the march

Farmers descend on capital for protest

FARMWORK: Women are taking an increasingly prominent role in the farming industry

Farm Woman of the Year nominations open

HONOUR: Tractor Ted founder David Horler with HRH the Countess of Wessex

Somerset farmer and Tractor Ted creator honoured

LEAVE: Farming minister George Eustice

Top farming ministers split on EU referendum

CAMPAIGN: Youngsters from the Mosaic Youth Project on Exmoor

Campaign to get youngsters involved on Exmoor

AIR APPARENT: Leo de Watts

Making money is a breeze for air farmers

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BOOST: More than £3m available in rural funding

More than £3m of new rural grants available

PLEA: Ian Liddell-Grainger

'It flies in the face of logic': MP criticises government's lack of rural funding

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DAMAGE: The Angling Trust believe measures to protect farmland could increase flooding in towns and cities

Fears raised over flood prevention plan

EXPERT: Paul Millard, Communications Manager for the CLA in the South West

OPINION: Importance of buying local

What now for Somerset badger cull as Wales scraps vaccination programme

What now for Somerset badger cull as Wales scraps vaccination programme

WILDLIFE FORUM:Speakers outside Dulverton Town Hall

Celebrating Exmoor's wonderful wildlife

FUNDING BOOST: Catcott Lows (Credit: Brian Phipps)

Somerset wildlife receives £122k boost

POLLUTERS: A tax on meat products could help to reduce consumption and help the environment, but what impact will it have on producers in the South West?

Meat tax would help combat climate change, claims think-tank

POLLUTERS: A tax on meat products could help to reduce consumption and help the environment, but what impact will it have on producers in the South West?

Meat tax would help combat climate change, claims think-tank

YOUNG FARMERS: Chairman Wayne Pople with Joy Davenport

Young Farmers celebrate raising £29,000 for charity this year

Heatherton Park Beekeepers, from left, Diane Troake, Mike Dillon, Dave Parry and Barbara Drakeford

50% drop in honey yield as bee numbers in Someset continue to crash

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