The National Fire Chiefs Council (NFCC) has issued updated advice urging people to take extra care during extreme heat, when the risk of wildfires can increase.

Please avoid single-use barbecues and campfires, dispose of smoking materials safely, take litter home and follow the latest NFCC fire safety advice.

Cat and dog owners are being urged to safely use flea and tick spot-on treatments as part of a new national campaign helping to protect UK waterways from contamination.

Spot-on treatments are used to protect the UK’s 21 million pet cats and dogs from fleas and ticks, but there are concerns that these medicines are not always used in line with the instructions in the product leaflet, which can cause harm to the natural environment.

More households will be helped to save money on bills through plug-in solar panels as the government vows to go further and faster on clean energy in response to conflict in the Middle East.

The current conflict is yet another reminder that the only route to energy security and sovereignty for the UK is to end dependence on fossil fuel markets and accelerate the drive for clean, homegrown power, as well as new renewables and nuclear.

We’re seeking volunteers to help maintain Wilstock and Stockmoor Country Park near M5 Junction 24. We’re working with local volunteers to enhance the 42-hectare country park, with recent improvements including tree planting, new infrastructure and bridge restoration.

Our countryside team runs regular, hands-on conservation volunteering sessions on Mondays and alternate Wednesdays. Tasks include clearing tree guards and helping to improve green spaces for people and wildlife.

To find out more or get involved, email countryside@somerset.gov.uk.

The Mendip Hills National Landscape Team is calling on residents and visitors to share their views this summer as part of an important new survey aimed at shaping the future of access and recreation across the Mendip Hills.

Over the coming months, there will be researchers engaging directly with people at key visitor locations throughout the Mendip Hills, inviting them to take part in a user survey.

Over the last 6 months, Carymoor Environmental Centre has been running an alternative provision (AP) Duke of Edinburgh (DofE) programme for students from King Arthur’s School.

Students spend 1 day a week away from school, working in small groups towards their DofE award with support from youth mentors. Along the way, they build life skills, develop teamwork and gain confidence in a practical outdoor setting.

At 9 locations across the Mendip Hills National Landscape there are shiny new plates on the boundary markers to let people know they are entering an area that has been designated an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty.

These were originally installed more than 20 years ago and designed to look like drystone walls, with the intention that mosses and lichens would start to grow on them. To celebrate the rebrand to a National Landscape, these mini-monuments have been brought up-to-date with new brushed steel plates containing the logo.

We’re pleased to welcome Cllr Federica Smith-Roberts and Cllr Steve Ashton as the new Lead and Associate Lead Members for Communities, Environment and Climate Change.

Cllr Smith-Roberts takes on the role of Lead Member, overseeing services that support local communities, protect Somerset’s natural environment and drive action on climate change. The portfolio includes essential services such as waste and recycling, community resilience, and work to help the county respond to the climate and ecological emergency.

Leader Bill Revans has welcomed news that we’re set to receive £50m from the Government to invest in flood resilience and prevention schemes.

The announcement from the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra), follows a visit made by Floods Minister Emma Hardy to Somerset in February during the major incident declared after Storm Chandra.

It’s good news for avid gardeners, as our Waste team has confirmed that most plant pots can now be accepted for kerbside recycling in the Bright Blue Bag.

Most plastic pots can be accepted. However, black plastic pots remain unrecyclable.

The change comes as the national Simpler Recycling regulations come into force across the country.

2 Council projects have been recognised at this year’s Campaign to Protect Rural England (CPRE) Somerset Love Your Countryside Awards, celebrating outstanding work to protect and enhance rural communities.

Our Ham Hill Country Park project, “Uncovering Ham Hill’s past for its future”, received an award recognising its work to improve access to the countryside, protect heritage and connect more people with nature.

We’re inviting residents and businesses to have their say on how Somerset could change in future.

The Local Plan is relevant to everyone, guiding where and how change happens across towns, villages and the countryside over the next 20 years.

The Scoping Consultation (Regulation 20) is a legal requirement under the new plan‑making system for England (from March 2026).

We’re inviting residents, businesses and community organisations across Somerset to share their views as we launch an early-stage consultation on our budget for 2027/28.

The Summer Budget Consultation is the first step in our annual budget-setting process. It aims to understand what matters most to local people before detailed proposals are developed later in the year.

Somerset children are invited to get creative in Somerset Council’s latest story writing competition.

The competition, which opens today, is being run in partnership with the Council’s waste contractors, Biffa and SUEZ.

Building on the successful competition in 2025, the contest will encourage children to explore why and how food should be recycled, using Somerset’s food characters as inspiration.

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.

Artificial grass can look like an easy, low-maintenance and environmentally friendly alternative to a natural lawn. With no mowing, watering or fertilisers needed, it can seem like a simple sustainability win. However, the wider environmental picture is more complicated.

For busy spaces, or areas with limited maintenance capacity, these advantages can be appealing. But those short-term gains come with longer-term environmental costs.

This is your newsletter, and we want to hear about the great environmental work happening where you live, or what you do to make a difference every day with your brilliant eco hacks and tips.

You can make suggestions about what you would like to see more of in future editions of SEEN and have your say on previous stories and topics.

We would love to hear from you.

Get in touch at climateemergency@somerset.gov.uk.