Every area has different characteristics; whether it be the geology and landscape, local produce and recipes, or the dialect of people born and bred in the area. The man-made legacy that past generations have left us is another crucial part of local distinctiveness. It might be a type of sign, bridge, brick or roof material - anything which is found in a particular locality. In the modern world of uniformity and corporate branding our ‘sense of place’ is under considerable threat. The world would be immensely boring if every high street, road verge or sign looked the same, or if all tree planting used the same species. So we must continue to value and celebrate things which are characteristic of a particular place.

Within a region as large as the South West, which stretches from Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly in the west to Gloucestershire in the north, there is naturally a tremendous variety of features, food and drink, customs and dialects, wildlife, and building styles. Local distinctiveness is really about the fine grain of detail found in a small area. But equally there are some elements of the natural and built environment which are quite commonly found in many parts of the South West region, and are well represented in Somerset. Some examples are heathlands, granite clapper bridges, prehistoric standing stones, beech hedges and hedge banks, red deer, ponies, skittles, cider orchards and clotted cream teas! Millions of people visit the South West to enjoy our distinctive environment, so ensuring these elements continue to exist also benefits our economy.