The Government’s Warm Homes Plan will support upgrades for up to 5 million homes, helping households save hundreds of pounds on energy bills and lifting up to 1 million families out of fuel poverty by 2030.

Upgrading homes is one of the most effective ways to cut bills for good, and this plan marks an important step in tackling long‑term energy affordability. Installations of home insulation fell by more than 90% between 2010 and 2024, leaving millions of households facing higher energy costs as a result.

The UK’s rarest plant is being brought back from the brink of extinction in the Mendip Hills National Landscape. The starved wood-sedge is found at only 2 native sites across the country, 1 of which is at Axbridge. Conservationists from the Species Recovery Trust have cared for the plants for more than 2 decades, but despite earlier progress in boosting numbers, the species has once again come under threat.

This free, curriculum‑aligned programme from Better Planet Education makes sustainability engaging and easy to teach, offering ready‑to‑use resources for Key Stages 1 and 2. From biodiversity explorations to energy‑saving challenges, the initiative has already helped nearly 100 Somerset primary schools embed environmental education across Science, Geography and Citizenship.

What’s more, participating schools have the chance to win prizes for their work. St Margaret’s CEVA Primary School in Tintinhull recently won a hedgehog dome, insect tower and bird nesting box, plus accessories, for their outstanding efforts on the Nature and Biodiversity module, so ask your local school to sign up now and let’s build a greener future together!

Farmers and land managers in the Mendip Hills can now access expanded support through the Farming in Protected Landscapes (FiPL) programme, delivered by the Mendip Hills National Landscape Team.

Defra has committed funding until March 2029, enabling around £270,000 in grants each year for projects that help farms adapt to climate change, support nature recovery, protect the landscape and improve public engagement.

The Field Studies Council (FSC) is calling on citizen scientists to support its nationwide Signs of Spring survey, run with the Royal Society of Biology, by logging first sightings of seasonal indicators such as daffodils, snowdrops, bumblebees and ladybirds to track the season’s early stirrings.

By recording when and where 10 significant indicators appear, participants contribute valuable evidence on shifting seasons and potential climate impacts across the UK. Entries can be submitted via the FSC’s Signs of Spring portal, with the 2026 survey open until 14 June 2026.

Exmoor National Park is inviting businesses to take centre stage, as headline sponsors for 2 of the area’s most celebrated events in 2026: The Exmoor Nature Festival (16 to 31 May) and the 10^th Annual Exmoor Dark Skies Festival (16 October to 1 November).

These festivals celebrate the very best of Exmoor – from its stunning wildlife to its internationally acclaimed night skies.

Plans have been unveiled for a major new tidal lagoon off the West Somerset coast, featuring a 14‑mile barrage with 125 underwater turbines capable of generating clean energy for 2 million homes, along with proposals for new coastal facilities in Minehead.

With a public consultation now under way, local residents and businesses are being encouraged to share their views on the project and the benefits they would like it to deliver.

Yeovil Town Council’s Allotments For All initiative is offering shared plots across 11 sites to help residents grow low‑impact, locally produced food while boosting community wellbeing. Aimed at community groups, beginner gardeners, and underrepresented residents, the scheme provides mentoring, discounted plants, and opportunities to learn sustainable gardening skills that support climate resilience.

The trial runs until September 2026. To express interest or volunteer, contact sue.wheeler@yeovil.gov.uk or call 07849 643391.

A community seed swap is a social event where people get together to swap seeds, learn about seed saving and to share experiences. It can be as small or as big as you see fit. It might be a few allotment buddies working collectively to save a variety of seeds over a season and then coming together to swap varieties, or a group of activists keen to highlight the importance of seed swapping as a means of protecting local biodiversity. Over the past decade, community seed swaps across the UK have mushroomed.

When the Emma Rice Company created their new venue ‘The Lucky Chance’ at the former Portway Methodist Church in 2022, they saw an opportunity not only to create a vibrant new cultural venue, but to power it sustainably. From the outset, solar power was a key part of their vision for an environmentally responsible refurbishment.

Frome Town Council supported them to achieve their vision for this historic building. The council’s renewable energy team has also recently helped the Cheese and Grain switch to solar power as part of their ambition to be a carbon-neutral venue.

At the edge of Bridgwater lies a haven for wildlife nestled between modern housing estates. Wilstock and Stockmoor Country Park, a floodplain grazing marsh just off the M5 Junction 24 roundabout, supports a rich variety of species, including bullfinches; great white egrets; the rare, bearded reedling; badgers; foxes; pygmy shrews; water voles; and numerous butterflies and dragonflies.

Our Green Estates team took on the active management of the site in September 2024, and since then our rangers and volunteers have worked hard to enhance the park for both wildlife and visitors.

Sorting your recycling into the right box or bag can really help to speed up collections for our recycling crews, especially as boxes can often be a little fuller after the end of year festivities.

Remember to check that you’re putting the right thing in the right box. And if you have lots of extra recycling, you can take it to one of our recycling sites, or if you have space, please store it for a following week.

Our Slinky Service is a flexible, demand‑responsive community transport service, designed to help you get where you need to go while reducing reliance on private cars. By offering an easy, affordable alternative to driving, our Slinky service supports both local connectivity and our wider climate ambitions.

Whether you’re travelling for shopping, medical appointments, education or social activities, Slinky provides a vital link for areas with limited or no traditional bus routes. It’s available to everyone, helping to cut congestion and emissions across Somerset.

The recent opening of our eco-housing development at Rainbow Way in Minehead, represents a major milestone in the region’s transition toward climate‑resilient, zero‑carbon living. Delivered in partnership with Classic Builders and Homes in Somerset, this pioneering development brings 54 Net Zero Carbon homes – 33 apartments and 21 houses – to the area, marking the first new council homes in West Somerset for more than 30 years.

We’re thrilled to share that the newly opened Visitor Centre at Ham Hill has received incredible support from both the community and visitors. In our first 2 weeks of opening, we’ve welcomed more than 12,000 visitors – far beyond our expectations!

A huge thank you to our Visitor Centre team for their outstanding professionalism and commitment, ensuring every guest enjoys a warm and welcoming experience.

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.

Our grants and funding page is a one-stop resource for individuals, communities and businesses looking to take climate-positive action.

From waste reduction and energy efficiency to sustainable transport and wellbeing, the page showcases a range of live funding opportunities, including support for community-led environmental projects, fuel-poor households, and small businesses aiming to cut carbon.

Whether you’re planting trees, insulating homes or greening your operations, these grants are designed to help Somerset thrive in a low-carbon future.

Laughter is a great way to connect, boost wellbeing and lighten even the climate crisis, which can be funny (and yes, environmentalists like to laugh too!).

In his Live at the Apollo set available to watch via LinkedIn or BBC iPlayer, Stuart Goldsmith turns climate anxiety into sharp, relatable humour, spotlighting the everyday awkwardness of trying to live sustainably, from contradictory habits to guilty conversations. He even makes tough topics like carbon credits and rising temperatures land with a mainstream audience.

By acknowledging the fear while releasing tension through humour, Goldsmith keeps people engaged rather than overwhelmed. His set doesn’t trivialise the issue; it creates space to laugh, breathe and stay in the conversation.

Although the days are slowly getting lighter, winter is still very much with us. As temperatures drop and storms roll in, many of us are tempted to turn up the heating or reach for thicker jumpers.

According to Steve Howell, Founder of Eco Centre, there are several slightly unusual but surprisingly effective ways to stay warm and reduce heating costs – without much effort or expense.