Wessex Water is teaming up with the Hawk and Owl Trust, Natural England and the Environment Agency on a £5 million construction project to transform 25 hectares of land near Shapwick into a new integrated wetland and grassland site.

The wetland aims to reduce the concentration and impact of nutrients in agricultural run-off using natural physical, chemical and biological processes to treat and improve water quality.

OVO Energy has announced a £56m Extra Support Package to help keep households warm as millions brace for another tough winter.

While support is on offer all year round, applications for enhanced winter support open 1 October.

OVO has provided £190m in support since 2022, offering measures such as heated blankets, smart sockets, and efficiency kits, and assisted 42,000 customers last year.

British households are sending a clear message: going green needs to make good financial sense.

With saving money a top priority, Hive’s new Home Report shows that bill savings have overtaken climate concerns as the main reason people are turning to energy-saving tech like solar panels, smart thermostats, EV chargers and heat pumps.

More than 7 million households on standard tariffs have been advised to take action before their gas and electricity bills go up.

Comparison site Uswitch has warned those on standard tariffs who don’t have a smart meter and don’t submit meter readings on or about 1 October, risk having some of their September usage charged at new higher rates.

Greenpeace climbers scaled two 75m-high chimney stacks at Staythorpe – England’s largest gas-fired power station. The protest highlights the Great Gas Rip-Off: where expensive gas is pushing up bills by setting the price we pay for electricity – even though it produces just a fraction of our power.

Greenpeace is calling on the government to tackle the problem by taking more control of gas power stations, allowing cleaner British power sources to deliver lower, more stable energy bills and help tackle climate change.

More than 62,700 people died in Europe from heat-related causes in 2024, according to recent research published in Nature Medicine, with women and the elderly representing the largest part of the death toll.

Researchers at the Barcelona Institute for Global Health, known as ISGlobal, who obtained daily mortality records from 32 European countries, estimated over 181,000 people died from heat-related complications over the summer months of 2022 to 2024.

The autumn tree planting season is fast approaching. With the changing climate affecting success rates, planting earlier gives trees a better chance of surviving droughts and seasonal challenges. Generous funding is available to cover costs.

If you have land suitable for planting or need guidance, email our Somerset Tree Strategist, James, at James.chapman@somerset.gov.uk to learn more or express your interest. We’re actively encouraging projects that help increase tree canopy and biodiversity, including woodlands, copses, roundels, orchards, standards, and hedgerows. See our Somerset Tree Strategy for further information.

A new outdoor activity hub has been built at Ham Hill thanks to the generosity and support of the Friends of Ham Hill, who raised over £15,000 to fund it.

Still to be named, the new facility will be situated near the new visitor centre which is due to open later this year.

We’re looking for a new ranger to join our existing team of Rangers to manage Ham Hill, a Green Flag and Green Heritage Award winning country park centred around Britain’s largest Iron Age hillfort.

This role comes at an exciting time with 2 years left of a £3 million 4-year National Lottery Heritage Fund project: ‘Uncovering Ham Hill’s past for its future’. In the remaining 2 years of this project, this role will support our Community Ranger to deliver the Activity Plan for the project; a programme of public engagement and community participation.

Somerset Council-managed Ham Hill and Chard Reservoir Local Nature Reserve (LNR) are celebrating after receiving Green Flag Awards, achieving an international quality mark for parks and green spaces.

The sites are 2 of 2,250 in the UK to achieve the award, with Ham Hill receiving it for the 20^th consecutive year. Ham Hill has also achieved the Green Heritage Site Accreditation, supported by Historic England, for the management and promotion of its historic features, recognising the exceptional care of its historic Iron Age hillfort.

We’ve now released the latest results from our annual recycling tracker, revealing a positive shift in keeping things local, with 5.4% more recycling being processed within Somerset, compared to the previous year.

The announcement coincided with Recycling Week 2025, which ran from 22 to 28 September, a national campaign led by Recycle Now.

Our colleagues in Waste Services recently came together with SUEZ to spend a productive day volunteering at the Magdalen Farm Environmental Trust in Winsham. This year, the farm celebrated its most abundant apple harvest in recent memory – a yield so heavy it began to strain the very trees that produced it. With enthusiasm and teamwork, the group picked 3 van loads of apples, saving the trees from further damage.

These apples will be transformed into fresh apple juice for the school groups who regularly visit Magdalen Farm, offering young visitors a taste of the season’s bounty. The team shared their delight and appreciation for the chance to support such a worthwhile initiative and expressed their hope to participate in similar opportunities in the future.

Visit our events calendar for a fantastic array of upcoming climate-related activities designed to engage and inspire you – our SEEN community!

Whether you’re interested in environmental conservation, local wildlife or simply looking for a fun day out with the family, these events provide the perfect opportunity to connect with like-minded individuals and learn something new.

Similarly, if you’re holding an eco-event of your own, email us at climateemergency@somerset.gov.uk so we can tell our readers.

Exeter College, in partnership with the Green Skills Advisory Panel (GSAP) and Building Greater Exeter (BGEx), is pleased to launch a new Teacher Training cohort. This initiative has been developed in direct response to the growing demand within the Construction industry to upskill staff, strengthen further education provision, and ensure that young people are learning directly from industry experts.

The course is fully funded and delivered over an intensive 3.5-day programme between Monday, 13 October and Thursday, 16 October 2025 at the Future Skills Centre, Exeter. If you’d like further details and/or to apply, email Luke Moss at LukeMoss@exe-coll.ac.uk at your earliest convenience.

Circular Ecology provides the Embodied Carbon Footprint Database, also known as the ICE Database, as a free carbon data resource for over 200 building materials. Developed by Dr Craig Jones during research at the University of Bath, the database helps users assess the carbon impact of materials across their life cycle, from extraction to disposal.

With over 50,000 global users and growing adoption across the construction, academia, and policy sectors, the ICE Database empowers both organisations and individuals to make informed, low-carbon choices. It’s available in 2 free versions: an educational edition for learning and research, and an advanced edition for consultancy and commercial use.

The Centre for Alternative Technology (CAT) is a leading environmental charity and eco centre in Powys, Mid Wales, recognised for its postgraduate courses in environmental education.

CAT equips individuals, communities, businesses, and government with the skills and knowledge to tackle the climate and biodiversity crisis. Through courses, events, and research, CAT offers valuable resources for climate action.

Visit our Grants and funding page to see what opportunities are available for your community environmental project, from tree planting and flood resilience to energy efficiency upgrades.

Whether you're looking to green your home, business, or neighbourhood, you’ll find practical advice, funding options, and inspiring local initiatives to help you make a difference.

Together, we can build a climate-resilient Somerset.

Citizens Advice Somerset is leading a county-wide initiative to help communities across Somerset build stronger food resilience and tackle food insecurity. One of the key tools is their interactive food map, which showcases local food projects and events. If you're involved in a community food initiative or planning an event, you’re encouraged to join the network and get it featured.

The programme also supports growing and cooking projects, offers workshops to build practical food skills, and provides small grants to help improve long-term food security.

If you’re looking to support local sustainability, our Great Green Directory is a brilliant place to start. It’s a one-stop shop where you can discover eco-friendly businesses, community groups and organisations working to protect the environment across Somerset.

Whether you’re searching for green services or want to showcase your own initiative, you can explore the listings or apply to get added. It’s a practical way to connect with others making a difference and to help build a more climate-resilient county together.