The newly completed King Charles III England Coast Path is now officially open, offering walkers an uninterrupted route around England’s coastline. Exmoor National Park celebrated the launch of its section in July 2024, following improvements along a quarter of the 36‑mile stretch of the South West Coast Path in Somerset and Devon.

These enhancements have revived ancient paths and opened up more scenic viewpoints at much‑loved locations including Hurlstone Point, Cobbler’s Park, Lee Abbey, North Hill and Glenthorne, making low‑impact, nature‑friendly exploration even more accessible.

For route details, trail sections, local highlights and guidance to plan a visit, see National Trails’ King Charles III England Coast Path page.

The Cheese and Grain has installed a new and expanded solar energy system on its roof, as part of a plan to reduce costs and dramatically cut the carbon footprint of the venue.

Alongside the additional solar panels, new battery storage has been installed. This means the venue can store energy generated during the day and continue operating even during a power cut.

Residents across Somerset, Devon, North Somerset and Dorset can now recycle or donate their unwanted small electricals at 40 new Fixy drop‑off points located in libraries and community venues.

The expanded network, funded by Material Focus, aims to make it easier for nearly 1 million households to pass on unwanted items such as laptops, tablets and mobile phones.

Our listing for repair groups in the county has now been updated with dates of when they will be running until June this year (where dates have been announced).

We’ve got more than 20 repair groups that span the county, all run by volunteers and each group able to fix a variety of items.

The Community Power Tariff is the only UK tariff powered entirely by community‑generated renewable electricity, and switching is now easier than ever.

Through Younity’s partnership with Your Co‑op Energy and Octopus Energy, the tariff is now available at the same price as standard fixed‑rate options. There’s no extra cost to you, just a straightforward way to back community energy groups across the country.

Somerset Climate Action Network (SCAN) hosted the Somerset Community Energy Network event on 6 March at Wedmore Village Hall, a venue already powered by solar PV, battery storage and air‑to‑air heat pumps. The hall’s own renewable‑energy journey featured as one of the key presentations, reflecting the focus of the day.

Sponsored by the South West Net Zero Hub, the event was led by SCAN Directors Sonya Bedford, Cara Naden and Stewart Croker, who also chaired the panel discussion.

Located between Taunton and Bridgwater, close to the canal, Hope Nature Project has been running for almost 5 years across nearly 20 acres of 3 adjoining fields.

Founded by Sue Jones and Jo Holdaway, the project is dedicated to supporting existing habitats, creating new ones, increasing biodiversity and helping people reconnect with nature.

A new community woodland at Spring Gardens, in memory of Frome resident Moko Sellars has taken a significant step forward, with more than 650 people, including community groups and schoolchildren, helping to plant 3,800 saplings at the site.

Tree varieties include common alder, goat willow, black poplar, English oak, European hornbeam and field maple, all native to the UK and chosen for their suitability to the terrain. At the centre of the woodland is a clearing, where a memorial tree to Moko has been planted by her friends and family.

A community hedgerow planted around 10 years ago was chosen by the Friends of Long Run Meadow as their winter project.

Unlike most hedges on the meadow, this one was not planted on a raised bank between ditches, so the group adopted the Midlands style of hedge‑laying. This technique encourages strong, healthy growth at the base of the hedge, creating a robust natural boundary.

You may have spotted the small walled garden outside Taunton Library, opposite the Lesser Litter cooperative shop. It’s one of several community‑adopted green spaces across Somerset, cared for by volunteer gardeners who champion diverse planting that benefits both nature and people.

These pockets of green bring colour, scent, and vital habitat for bees and butterflies.

Opposite Taunton Library, Lesser Litter is a community‑owned ethical refill shop offering packaging‑free alternatives to everyday items. It stocks dried foods, refillable cleaning and toiletry products, and has mills for grinding coffee, gluten‑free flours and peanuts for fresh peanut butter.

The store also hosts a Community Action Hub, where residents can share ideas, find nature‑positive initiatives and explore a busy noticeboard of local events and opportunities.

Lesser Litter is open Tuesday to Saturday. You can check stock or place next‑day collection orders via its website.

Burnham and Highbridge Green Team has published the first edition of its community newsletter, sharing updates on local environmental projects and simple ways for residents to get involved.

The group promotes collective climate action and is working to make Burnham and Highbridge more sustainable places to live and work. Current opportunities include fostering a tree and booking a free thermal‑imaging energy survey, alongside other practical initiatives.

They’re also seeking new trustees to support the organisation’s development. For more information, email bandhgreenteam@gmail.com.

We’ve secured funds from the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero’s ‘Warm Homes: Local Grant’ scheme to help homeowners and private rental residents across Somerset to save money on energy bills by retrofitting their homes.

Retrofitting refers to any improvement work on an existing building to improve its energy efficiency, making them easier to heat, able to retain that heat for longer, and replacing fossil fuels with renewable energy.

Did you know that the brand‑new Ham Hill Visitor Centre has been designed not just within the landscape, but around it?

Every element of the building and its interiors has been carefully considered to reduce environmental impact and celebrate the rich heritage of Ham Hill.

The centre incorporates a range of eco‑friendly features ...

Efforts to boost the amount of food waste recycled in Somerset have been recognised nationally in the Awards for Excellence – the waste and recycling industry’s most prestigious awards.

Somerset Council and its household waste collections contractor, SUEZ Recycling and Recovery UK, have been shortlisted in the Food Waste and Organics Initiative of the Year category for work to boost food waste participation in the county.

The Overleigh Charitable Trust in Street manages 3 hectares of land, originally designed as an arboretum by the Clarks family.

Today, it is enjoyed by local schools, with children visiting the site each week as part of forest school sessions, as well as by the Street and District Allotments Association.

Often overlooked, Local Geological Sites (LGS) are the geological equivalent of Local Wildlife Sites. There are more than 200 recognised across Somerset.

In early February, volunteers from the Somerset Geology Group worked alongside staff based at our Shepton Mallet offices, with support from our Green Estate Rangers, to uncover an overgrown section of the Shepton Mallet Cutting LGS.

Our first Local Nature Recovery Strategy (LNRS) – a long-term, landmark plan to protect and restore wildlife and habitats – has been published and endorsed by our Executive councillors.

The LNRS aims to reverse the decline in nature across the county. It outlines priorities for nature recovery, recommended actions, and target areas to achieve the greatest environmental benefits.

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.

Somerset Climate Action Network (Somerset CAN) is dedicated to enabling the changes needed to drive down emissions whilst adapting to existing climate change. Following an initial 7 years of action, Somerset CAN has refreshed its strategy and is looking for new trustees to continue and expand its work.

The current board needs expanding with particular experience needed in communications, fundraising, the business world and strategy.

The Mendip Hills National Landscape Team is looking for 15 nature-loving young people who want to take part in adventures across the Mendip Hills. As one of the Young Rangers, you’ll get a taste of what it’s like to look after the Mendip Hills National Landscape, one of Britain’s most special places.

The Young Rangers will work together on a variety of activities each month. The current cohort has taken part in nature documentary making, drystone walling, first aid training, navigation skills, building dormouse boxes, practical conservation tasks and more!

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.

Channel 4’s Guy Martin’s House Without Bills follows Guy Martin as he rolls up his sleeves to explore how to make a home cheaper to heat. Using his engineering know‑how, Guy looks at practical ways to cut energy bills and reduce reliance on traditional heating systems.

In this documentary, he takes a closer look at how heat pumps work, how they can help lower a home’s climate impact, and the potential savings they offer on heating bills.

Getting around without a car can be challenging, so the idea of going on holiday by train may feel daunting. Man in Seat 61 is a trusted guide to travelling by train and booking tickets across the UK and abroad, created by an experienced rail traveller to help people plan journeys with confidence.

Travelling by train is not only more sustainable, it’s also more enjoyable. You can relax and take in changing landscapes and towns along the way, rather than focusing on the road.

As we head into the Easter weekend, many of us will be enjoying chocolate Easter eggs. With so many options available, it can be hard to know which choices are better for the planet and for the people who grow cocoa.

Ethical Consumer’s free guide explains what to look out for, from fair trade and ethical sourcing to avoiding palm oil and reducing environmental impact. Become a member of Ethical Consumer to access a full ranking of the most ethical and planet‑friendly Easter eggs.