To help reduce overheating in sunny, hot weather, we can make small changes around our homes.

Replacing concrete and tarmac in gardens and driveways with gravel, permeable paving and planting areas can help reduce the heat sink effect. Where possible, planting directly into the soil is best, as shrubs, trees and climbing plants create shade and help bring moisture into the ground.

The UK Government has announced up to £30 million to improve the evidence, tools and information needed to help the country adapt to climate change. The funding includes support for the Met Office to develop new UK climate data and projections, as well as a new What Works Centre for Climate Adaptation.

The investment will help inform the Fourth National Adaptation Programme, due in 2028, which will set out how government and partners plan to improve the UK’s resilience to climate change through to 2033.

Citizen science is a simple way to help monitor wildlife where we live. By taking part in the Big Butterfly Count, you can help build a picture of how butterflies and day-flying moths are faring across the UK.

The Great British Butterfly Count (officially known as the Big Butterfly Count) runs from Friday, 17 July to Sunday, 9 August 2026. Simply spend 15 minutes in a sunny spot outdoors, record the butterflies you see, and submit your sightings to help monitor local environmental health.

We’re working with Somerset CAN (Climate Action Network) and the Somerset Community Energy Network on a new online map and case studies highlighting community energy projects across Somerset.

The map will be shared on our website later this summer and will showcase groups and organisations supporting cleaner, community-led energy locally.

If you’re involved in a community energy organisation and have not received the form, please email climateemergency@somerset.gov.uk and we’ll send you the information. We’ll share the link to the map and case studies once they’re published.

VoteWind is celebrating its first birthday and is inviting community energy groups to help shape the platform’s future. Groups can share ideas for new features, resources and tools, from more onshore wind content to practical support for community wind projects.

Community energy organisations can share their suggestions through the VoteWind.org online form.

If you’d like to support wind power in your community, you can also use Somerset’s VoteWind map to suggest where a community wind turbine could work locally.

Let’s Go Zero is working with around 100 Somerset schools, helping them cut bills, access funding and create healthier, more nature-friendly places to learn.

The team would like to support more schools with free, bespoke advice to help them develop and deliver climate action plans.

Residents and visitors are being encouraged to swap 4 wheels for 2 thanks to the expanding bike hire scheme offered by Frome Community Bike Project.

The community initiative provides a range of affordable cycling options, including electric bikes, on-street hire bikes and a cargo bike, making it easier for people to get around town, run errands and explore the local area sustainably.

Plastic Free July is a global movement encouraging people to reduce plastic in their day-to-day lives. Community Action Groups Somerset see it as a great opportunity not to try small, practical steps that fit into everyday routines. 

It’s not about eliminating plastic overnight. It’s about starting wherever you are and exploring what’s possible.

Community groups, town councils and organisations across Somerset are hosting screenings of the People’s Emergency Briefing, a film about the climate and nature crisis and the action communities can take to respond.

The film follows the National Emergency Briefing, which brought together expert voices to explain the scale of the challenge and highlight practical ways to build more resilient communities.

More than 60 screenings have taken place or are planned in Somerset. You can book a free local screening using the interactive map on the National Emergency Briefing website. Many screenings include refreshments and a discussion after the film.

Many homes in Somerset are listed or located in conservation areas, which can leave homeowners unsure whether they can install heat pumps, solar PV or other energy-saving measures.

Older homes can be more challenging to retrofit, but there are still improvements and technologies that can help improve comfort, reduce energy use and lower climate impacts. Guidance from Historic England explains how older and historic buildings can be retrofitted while protecting their historic character.

To find out whether your home is heat pump ready and how to access the Boiler Upgrade Scheme, visit thermly.co.uk.

More than 30 people joined Frome Renewable Energy Community (FRECo) in Victoria Park to celebrate 10 years of community-owned renewable energy.

The afternoon brought together shareholders, volunteers, collaborators and local residents to reflect on everything achieved over the past decade, while looking ahead to what comes next. It was a joyful occasion, with familiar faces reconnecting, new conversations beginning, and a shared commitment to creating a cleaner, more resilient future for Frome.

We’re celebrating after receiving Green Flag Awards for both Chard Reservoir Local Nature Reserve and Ham Hill Country Park, recognising them among the very best parks and green spaces in the UK.

The awards come as the internationally recognised Green Flag scheme marks its 30^th year.

This year, a record-breaking 2,391 sites across the UK achieved Green Flag status, and we’re proud that our 2 much-loved Somerset sites are among them. 

Devon and Somerset Fire and Rescue Service (DSFRS) is urging Somerset residents to think before they throw, following a rise in incidents involving lithium-ion batteries, which can cause serious fires when incorrectly disposed of in general waste.

To highlight the risks to waste crews, firefighters and communities, Councillor Richard Wilkins, our Lead Member for Transport and Roads, joined firefighters at the Material Recycling Facility in Evercreech, operated by our waste collections contractor, SUEZ, on Wednesday 22 July.

We’re developing a new Local Plan that will guide where and how development happens across Somerset over the next 20 years, and we’d like to hear your views.

As part of the consultation, we’re asking for feedback on work covering sustainability, settlement planning and options for future growth. Your input will help us create a more sustainable and climate-resilient Somerset for future generations. The consultation is open until 9 August.

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.

Green and Healthy Frome has shared free resources from its 5-year community climate action project, which helped save at least £1.1 million and avoid more than 770 tonnes of carbon emissions. The project shows how local action on health, homes, transport and waste can cut costs, support wellbeing and reduce carbon.

Explore the project’s learning, evaluation reports and practical tools via Green and Healthy Frome’s Learnings page, with additional guidance for rural communities via Edventure Frome’s at Rural Changemakers page.

The 2026 Somerset Local Skills Improvement Plan has been published, setting out local workforce priorities and training needs across the county. Climate-related areas include low carbon energy, agri-food and land stewardship, construction, transport and logistics, and other sectors linked to Somerset’s future economy.

The plan looks at how employers, training providers and local partners can work together to improve access to skills and workforce development. It may be of interest to organisations, learners and businesses looking at opportunities linked to green jobs, retrofit, renewable energy and a more resilient local economy.

Roots to Rise is a national programme giving 18 to 30-year-olds the chance to build skills, connect with other young changemakers and take practical climate action in their communities.

The free opportunity includes a Youth Climate Summer Camp from 15 to 19 August 2026 and support to launch youth-led climate initiatives locally.

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.

How Not to Save the World: Doing Good Without Annoying Everyone by Anthea Lawson explores how people can communicate more effectively about social and environmental issues.

Drawing on interviews with people working on change-making projects, the book looks at how to build understanding, encourage constructive conversations and bring others along without creating unnecessary division.

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.