Midsomer Norton's Wellow Brook walk is a haven for wildlife, but as councillors heard at the town council meeting, not all of it is welcome.

The area has become more wild since the livestock were taken off, but now there are plans to make the path less muddy and open up the flattest part of the greenery as a possible picnic area.

The area was originally owned by the Duchy of Cornwall, who offered the Town Council the opportunity to lease the land at the end of 2015. The charge for this year 1/1/2020 to 31/12/20, is £120.

The council listened to a detailed assessment of the walk, which is now owned by the Town Council.

The large field beside the Wellow Brook, bordered by Northmead, Vivien Avenue and the Greenway is also part owned by B&NES.

Midsomer Town Council want to create an " advanced vision for the park" where nature conservation and ecology sits alongside a user-friendly area.

Councillors commissioned a Bristol-based architectural firm to look at the site and they reported back that on site, the encroaching and non-native Himalayan Balsam, which shoots off 800 seeds from every stalk, which will need to be removed. They also recommended creating some ways for visitors to access to the brook, and re-surfacing the current muddy path with stones.

Councillors told the architect that they want to keep the site: "natural while also encouraging visitors and people who want to picnic."

The next council meeting of Midsomer Town Council is on March 2, see the Town Council web site for details.